Over the past three years, I have had the privilege of leading this remarkable community in an endeavour that has just succeeded at raising $1 million -- funds that will keep 17,000 people alive in 2009 at the Tsepong HIV/AIDS clinic in Lesotho, Africa.

I expected to take a moment this Christmas season and enjoy the victory, the accomplishment, maybe relax a little and appreciate how tremendous a feat this was, but the wisdom and knowledge that myself and my team have gained have taken away some of our naiveté, some of our joy.

We have learned that the world is a very difficult and troubled place. We have witnessed unimaginable suffering and we have been seasoned by the tenacious almost herculean persistence and determination that is required of us as we continue to struggle against one of the world's largest and most daunting crises: the AIDS pandemic.

We have been humbled.

At the annual general meeting of the Masai for Africa board this month, we raised a glass to our successes, rejoiced for those whose lives our efforts will sustain and then humbly -- and respectfully -- mourned the thousands upon thousands of young lives that have already been lost and will be lost in 2009. Five million to be exact.

Guelph can be proud, very proud. The entire community heard the call to create a better world for those suffering the devastation of the AIDS pandemic half a world away.

Citizens from every church, every school, our university, every service club and every business stood up and became part of this compassionate revolution.

People of all ages across this city took part, all wearing red and white bracelets, a symbol of our solidarity and commitment to see one country AIDS free.

In the Christmas carol O Holy Night, we sing :"A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.

"For Yonder breaks a new and glorious morn"

Guelphites do not need New Year's resolutions. We have already started an irresistible Revolution of Hope that this struggling world so desperately needs.

Our efforts, which have seen more than 100,000 bracelets distributed across this city, have inspired our neighbours, with Waterloo Region poised to launch its Region of Hope campaign in January.

Their goal is to raise $2.5 million by year's end for Bracelets of Hope.

The Students at the University of Guelph who helped inspire the Bracelet of Hope campaign are ready to launch similar campaigns on the campuses of 10 universities and colleges in two provinces.

Their goal -- to raise $20 million for Bracelets of Hope.

The city of Woodstock has caught the fire and has pledged another cool million.

We have lit a spark that will ignite a nation. Thirty two million Canadians, 32 million bracelets and enough funds to assist the tiny Kingdom of Lesotho to overcome its AIDS pandemic and the vicious cycle of poverty in which this beautiful country is locked.

"For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn"

I yearn for that new and glorious morn, for our children and for future generations.

Our world has never faced such an array of escalating human, economic and environmental catastrophes.

Striving to focus our attention on another country, working diligently on pulling that country back from the brink of extinction while our country begins to face a very difficult 2009, will pull out of us those human characteristics that seem to have been lost in the last 20 years of affluent consumption and materialism: selflessness, integrity, compassion, courage, strength and honour.

These are the values and characteristics that make us truly human and give us the power to move mountains.

Millions of Canadians reaching out to a dying continent, regardless of our temporary troubles, has the power to save a country, transform ours and start a process of global co-operation that could overcome the serious problems the world faces and ultimately take shape as a global movement to achieve peace, prosperity and environmental stability.

I believe that new and glorious morn is within our reach. A national effort created by ordinary Canadians will create the glorious era we all hope for.

Here's to a new year -- a year of hope, a year of change, the dawn of that new era.

January 31, 2026