Scott Roose has lived with HIV for 18 years and knows the stigma and social isolation that comes from the fears that can be associated with the disease.
The Chatham man wants to help change that perception in people through his cooking skills.
Roose, who is a trained chef, is hosting a One Day Cafe on Saturday Dec. 1, on World AIDS Day to prove you don’t need to fear being near someone with HIV.
The dinner event, which includes wine pairings, is limited to 18 seats. Tickets are $75 each. It is being held at “The 425” – United Way of Chatham-Kent building. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 6 p.m.
Acknowledging society’s fear about HIV/AIDS has improved, he recalled a time shortly after being diagnosed when he was shunned by people while living in Toronto.
Chef Scott Roose
“You become a recluse,” Roose said. “I lived in a city of four million people with not a person to talk to.
“No one would come over to my house to have dinner with me,” he added.
Having seen friends and others affected by HIV/AIDS not getting the right services and supports, he said, “I wanted to do something that was going to help that out.”
Roose added with AIDS Support Chatham-Kent no longer in the community, “we need to deal with this ourselves.”
The One Day Cafe began in Toronto and this is the first time it is being held in Chatham-Kent.
Although now working as an administrative assistant for the United Way of Chatham-Kent, Roose said, “I still love to cook.
“That’s my way of showing people I care for them – if I cook for you, I care for you,” he added.
“I’ve decided I wanted to go with something with a warm, fallish theme, so I wanted to do Shepherd’s Pie,” Roose said.
He will also be doing a whiskey cheese cake.
“I’ve won some awards with cheese cakes, that’s my thing,” Roose said.
The dinner will be followed by a candlelight vigil at ‘The 425’ at 425 McNaughton Ave. W., which is open to the public. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the presentation begins at 7:30 p.m.
The vigil will include a 20-minute teaser video for a documentary by Windsor filmmaker Amanda Gellman, titled, Aging & HIV: A Story of Resiliency.
Roose said people are living longer with HIV thanks to improvements in treatment and medication.
“When I first started (treatment), I was taking 16-17 pills a day.”
He said there are people now controlling the disease by taking one pill a day.
Roose and others with HIV will also be speaking during the vigil.
He said all funds raised will be used to provide local support.
While acceptance of those with HIV/AIDS has improved, Roose said, “There’s some people that are struggling.”
He added this can be with family members or getting to doctor’s appointments.
Roose said there is a local HIV support group that meets once a month to socialize.
“We just get people out of the house and that’s a big thing.”
Contact the United Way at 519-354-0430 to obtain tickets for the dinner or vigil.
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