This World TB Day, Results Canada staff, volunteers, and partners came together to shine a light on tuberculosis (TB) – a disease that is curable yet continues to claim 1.25 million lives each year. We'd like to thank everyone who joined us to commemorate this day and call for action to #EndTB.
As author John Green writes in his new book Everything is Tuberculosis, we can no longer say TB is simply caused by a bacterium because we know how to kill that bacterium. Instead, TB persists because of the choices we make and the systems we uphold. It is a disease of injustice, not inevitability.
But that means we also hold the power to end it. By raising awareness, pushing for policy change, and demanding sustained resourcing to support TB programming, we can be the cure for tuberculosis. Ending TB starts with us.
The success of this World TB Day could not have been possible without our volunteer advocates. People across the country came together and demonstrated that they care about ending TB. A record-breaking 54 landmarks across Canada were lit up in red to spotlight TB. Groups of volunteers in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, and Victoria got together at illuminated landmarks to raise their voices for a TB-free world.
To mark World Tuberculosis Day, Results Canada hosted Unite to End TB: World TB Day in Toronto for volunteers, Fellows, and partners to raise awareness and show solidarity with the millions of people affected by TB. Participants heard from Himanshu – a TB survivor, advocate, and member of TBPeople Canada – along with tuberculosis experts Dr. Elizabeth Rea and Dr. Charity Oga-Omenka during a panel discussion on how they could advocate for policy action and change. We also celebrated volunteers’ advocacy efforts and concluded the event with a walk to Nathan Phillips Square, where the Toronto Sign was lit in red.
Results Canada volunteers, partners, and staff gathered once again at the Ottawa Sign in the Byward Market, which was lit in red for World TB Day. Volunteer Zenelia led a trivia game on tuberculosis and the importance of continuing our efforts to eradicate this highly infectious disease.
Results Canada group leaders took action on World TB Day by visiting Parc Olympique (Tour de Montreal) which was lit in red to commemorate the significance of the day!
Calgary volunteers hosted an event featuring tuberculosis experts Nancy Bedingfield and Dr. Andrea Hull. Their event concluded with a visit to the Calgary Tower and Confluence, which were once again lit in red for World Tuberculosis Day.
Victoria volunteers visited Confederation Garden, the Legislature Fountain, and the Capital Regional Building, which were all lit in red for World Tuberculosis Day.
Our advocacy is far from over. Results Canada remains committed to generating the political will to end TB at home and abroad. Stay tuned for our campaign later this year in support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – the largest international financing mechanism for TB.
Over 26 volunteers and Fellows contributed to the success of the campaign to illuminate monuments and landmarks in red across the country, including:
ALBERTA
Calgary: Calgary Tower, The Confluence, Telus Spark
Edmonton: The High Level Bridge
Lethbridge: Lethbridge City Hall
Red Deer: City Hall
BRITISH COLUMBIA
New Westminster: City Hall
Oliver: Town Hall
Port Coquitlam: City Hall
Trail: Victoria Street Bridge
Vancouver: Science World, BC Place Stadium, Vancouver Convention Centre, Pacific Coliseum, Burrard Street Bridge
Victoria: Legislative Assembly of BC, Capital Regional District Building
MANITOBA
Selkirk: Water Tower
Winnipeg: RBC Convention Centre, Winnipeg sign, Esplanade Bridge
NEW BRUNSWICK
Edmundston: City Hall
Moncton: Avenir Centre, Downing Street, Downtown Place, City Hall
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
St John’s: Confederation Building
NOVA SCOTIA
Halifax: City Hall, Province House
ONTARIO
Burlington: Burlington Pier
Collingwood: Town Hall, Clock Tower
Fort Erie: Peace Bridge
Guelph: Market Square Guelph, City Hall
Hamilton: Hamilton Sign, City Hall
Kingston: City Hall, Springer Market Square
London: Sifton Properties, Canada Life Building, City Hall
Mississauga: Civic Centre Clock Tower
Newmarket: Fred A. Lundy Bridge
Niagara Falls: Niagara Falls
Oakville: Town Hall
Ottawa: Ottawa sign
Quinte West: Quinte West Sign, Veterans Skyway
Toronto: Toronto Sign at Nathan Phillips Square, CN Tower
Vaughan: City Hall
Welland: Bridge 13
PEI
Charlottetown: Shaw Building
QUÉBEC
Montréal: La Tour du Stade Olympique
SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatoon : City Hall
