Stephen Lewis, the UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, will deliver the keynote address Friday as the International AIDS Conference wraps up in Toronto.

Anders Nordstrom, the acting director general of the World Health Organization, will also be among the final speakers during the closing ceremonies, which will also feature a cultural performance.

Dr. Mark Wainberg, left, and Helene Gayle smile during the closing ceremonies of the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto on Friday.
(Aaron Harris/Canadian Press)

The six-day conference, which attracted an estimated 31,000 delegates from 140 countries, drew a number of high-profile speakers, including former U.S. president Bill Clinton and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

Frontline workers, heads of state and scientists talked about issues including the search for a vaccine, the stigma around HIV and AIDS and circumcision as a form of prevention.

On Thursday night, thousands gathered in downtown Toronto for a candlelight vigil to honour, remember and celebrate the lives of those who have died from AIDS.

Speakers and candlebearers included representatives from South Africa, Tanzania and Namibia.

Federal Health Minister Tony Clement, Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman and Toronto Mayor David Miller were among those who lit the candles.

There had been speculation Ottawa would use the conference to announce new AIDS funding or whether it would renew the mandate of Vancouver's safe injection site — issues that motivated demonstrations during the week.

But Prime Minister Stephen Harper said it wouldn't be the right time to make announcements because the issue had become "so politicized" during the week.

Harper was criticized for not attending the conference, as some accused the Conservatives of not considering fighting HIV/AIDS a priority.

But Harper said there was appropriate representation from his government, noting that the conference was attended by three of his cabinet ministers, including Clement, as well as Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean.

Canadian co-chair of the conference, Dr. Mark Wainberg, said he thinks the federal government was caught off guard by the scale of the event. He said he thinks the Conservatives initially saw it as just another medical conference.

During the closing ceremonies, Wainberg and Toronto Mayor David Miller will participate in a handover ceremony with Julio Frenk, Mexico's minister of health. The next International AIDS Conference will be in 2008 in Mexico City.