Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR)

09/03/2026

Meet Jay McCauley, co-chair of Vancouver Entertains and a longtime force advocating for CANFAR’s work.

Jay has been part of our family for nearly a decade as a fundraiser and advocate. Vancouver Entertains grew from his desire to bring “a new generation and a broader community of leaders into CANFAR’s mission.”

That vision has become a night Jay describes as “one-of-a-kind”—eight intimate dinners hosted in some of Vancouver’s most sought-after boutiques and luxury spaces, each uniquely designed and paired with exceptional culinary talent, followed by one very big after-party at TELUS Garden with DESTINEAK & HAZEL.

And it all supports CANFAR’s work with BC-based community partners to advance HIV research, testing and access to care.

Canada has made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV. But as Jay puts it, “the opportunity before us is even greater.”

October 16. Vancouver Entertains. Be there.

Tables, tickets and after-party tickets are available now at CANFAR.com/ve.

09/02/2026

500 km is a long way to wait for an answer about your health.

In Kenora, HIV samples may need to travel more than 500 km to reach the nearest public health laboratory for testing and confirmation.

With funding from CANFAR and our generous supporters like the LCBO, GeneXpert technology is helping bring that capability closer to home—creating a faster path from testing → answers → care.

So far, 195 people have engaged in screening and testing, 6 people have received a positive diagnosis, and all 6 have been connected to care.

But the impact goes beyond the numbers. It’s about making HIV care more accessible, timely and community-based.

That’s what your support makes possible.

08/31/2026

A big thank you to media partner Vancouver Magazine for sharing the story behind Vancouver Entertains and what you can expect on October 16!

8+ dinners featuring some of Vancouver’s best culinary talent, followed by one giant after party at TELUS Garden feat. DESTINEAK & Hazel.

Every dollar raised stays in British Columbia, supporting innovative HIV research and community-led testing initiatives with established community partners.

Read the full story and get your tickets for October 16:

We just want to make sure you don't forget to grab a ticket to Canada's largest gala in support of HIV/AIDS research, Vancouver Entertains, on October 16.

08/28/2026

Thirty years of Bloor Street Entertains. One mission that has never changed. ❤️

As we continue looking back at the moments that built hashtag , these archival photos remind us of the people and purpose behind CANFAR’s signature fundraiser. From the very beginning, Bloor Street Entertains has brought together Canada’s fashion, culinary, entertainment and philanthropic communities to end the HIV epidemic in Canada in style.

Three decades later, that impact matters more than ever.

As HIV rates rise in under-resourced communities and barriers to testing and care persist, coming together means investing in the programs and community-based solutions that ensure everyone can access the care they need.

This November 19, we’ll celebrate 30 years of Bloor Street Entertains—and look ahead to the next chapter in CANFAR’s mission.

None of this would be possible without our incredible Co-Chairs Sylvia Mantella, Janice Fricker, Candice Sinclair and Michael Liebrock, our wonderful committee members, and the generosity of our sponsors: Red carpet sponsor Mantella Corporation, entertainment sponsor Stifel Financial Corp., illumination sponsors Labatt Breweries of Canada and Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, after party partner the Royal Ontario Museum, lounge sponsors Rob Stovel Foundation and Lycos Energy Inc., print sponsor TPH, furniture sponsor Element Event Solutions, community partners ESP Inc. and Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area, and CANFAR program partners BMO, RBC, TD, LCBO, the P. Austin Family Foundation, and Canada Life.

Here’s to the memories, the milestones and the people who have made BSE what it is today. Join us for the 30th fête on Nov. 19. Dinner tickets, tables, After Party tickets, and VIP experiences available at CANFAR.com/bse.

08/25/2026

Fashion meets HIV storytelling at New York Fashion Week on September 9.

We’re thrilled to share that Curtis Matysek's garment from the Canada collection will take the runway at New York Fashion Week on September 9 at 1 PM.

Presented by Pluslifemediaglobal and ASHM with support from ViiV Healthcare and Gilead Sciences, this special showcase brings together fashion, HIV science, and lived experience to challenge stigma and spark conversation. HIV Unwrapped creates a space where designers translate HIV research into wearable works of art.

From Canada to New York, these stories are taking centre stage. ❤️

For the 11th season, the six-day showcase will feature 138 designers, including philanthropic and social showcases such as Project Lab Coat, CatWalk FurBaby and HIV Unwrapped, closing with the first-ever Runway 7 Fashion Awards Share FacebookXPinterestLinkedinReddItCopy URL Runway 7 Returns to New Y...

08/21/2026

Meet Candice Sinclair—CANFAR Board Member and Co-Chair of Bloor Street Entertains' 30th anniversary alongside Sylvia Mantella, Janice Fricker, and Michael Liebrock.

For Candice, CANFAR has always been close to home. Her connection to the organization started through her cousin, but the mission has been part of her family story for decades. Her mom hosted some of the very first CANFAR dinners in homes around Yorkville, helping build the foundation for what would later become our signature fundraiser!

Now, Candice is honoured to serve on CANFAR’s Board and co-chair —helping carry that legacy forward and ensuring this important work continues for generations to come.

Three words Candice uses to describe BSE? "Purposeful. Glamorous. Unforgettable." Which just so happen to be the same three words we use to describe Candice. ❤️

We’re grateful to have Candice’s leadership, passion, and family connection as part of the CANFAR community. Tickets available now at canfar.com/bse!

08/19/2026

Behind every stitch is a story. ✂️❤️

Go behind the scenes with Leeland Mitchell, Charles Lu and Curtis Matysek (the top three finalists from Project Runway Canada season 3!) as they bring the first three garments for the debut collection of Canada to life.

This incredible exhibition brings together fashion, HIV science, and lived experience as each designer worked with HIV researchers from across Canada and our National Ambassadors living with HIV, creating wearable works of art that challenge stigma and spark conversation.

After providing a first look of these garments at the International AIDS Society Conference in Rio de Janeiro earlier this summer, we can't wait to debut these extraordinary creations on Canadian soil at Vancouver Entertains on Friday, October 16. Guests will be among the first people in Canada to experience HIV Unwrapped Canada, with an exclusive preview of select pieces ahead of the exhibition's official launch.

The full HIV Unwrapped Canada collection, featuring these three designs and seven additional garments carefully crafted by designers from Toronto Metropolitan University will be officially unveiled at the Bloor Street Entertains After Party at the Royal Ontario Museum on Thursday, November 19, just in time for World AIDS Day.

Thank you to World AIDS Day Partner Gilead Sciences and community champion ViiV Healthcare for helping us bring this concept to life.

This is more than fashion. It's storytelling, lived experience, and science woven into every seam. 🧵✨

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08/19/2026

Faster testing. Faster care. More communities reached.

Ending HIV starts with one critical step: knowing your status. But across Canada, too many people still face barriers to testing—including stigma, distance, limited healthcare access and long waits for results.

Through CANFAR’s Bold Actions strategy, we are moving quickly to bring rapid GeneXpert testing technology to the communities that need it most. These portable diagnostic systems can confirm an HIV diagnosis in 90 minutes or less, helping people get answers sooner, start treatment faster and connect with care through organizations they already know and trust. With the support of our CANFAR community, we are partnering with community leaders across the country—from Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig Health Access Centre in northwestern Ontario, to partners in The Pas, Manitoba, and Women’s Health in Women’s Hands in Toronto, Ontario—to expand access to faster, more equitable HIV testing.

But the need is urgent. Communities are facing rising HIV rates and persistent barriers to care. We are responding as quickly as we can—but more support means we can bring this technology to more partners, more communities and more people who need it. More GeneXpert machines mean more communities equipped to respond, more people connected to care, and more progress toward ending HIV in Canada.

Learn more about our streategic implementation projects at https://canfar.com/strategic-implementation-programs/.

08/17/2026

When CANFAR National Ambassador Randy Davis was diagnosed with HIV in 2015, no one told him about U=U.

U=U means that a person living with HIV who is on effective treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load has zero possibility of s*xually transmitting HIV. It has become an important message in Randy's advocacy, which he brought to this year's International AIDS Conference in Rio.

We're incredibly grateful to have Randy as a National Ambassador at CANFAR, and encourage everyone to read his full blog post at the link in bio – reflecting on the 10 year anniversary of U=U and sharing reflections from the conference in Rio.



https://canfar.com/uu-at-10-the-message-that-changed-my-life/

08/14/2026

For Janice Fricker, Bloor Street Entertains has never been just another event.

It's a community. It's a creative home. And after years of helping shape its evolution, it feels like family.

Now serving her third term as BSE Co-Chair, Janice has helped lead two record-breaking campaigns while bringing fearless creativity to one of Toronto's most celebrated charitable evenings. A creative director and philanthropist, she is a passionate advocate for HIV research and awareness. She also champions initiatives that support survivors of s*x trafficking and advance marginalized communities.

When asked why she returned to co-chair BSE's milestone 30th anniversary, her answer was simple. She was honoured to be asked. She treasures the creative trust CANFAR has always given her. Most of all, she values the people who have become lifelong friends along the way.

"It no longer feels like work at all. It feels like helping out family."

That spirit is exactly what makes BSE unlike any other event. Every guest, volunteer, donor, and partner comes together with the same purpose. To stand beside a community. To fuel life-changing HIV research. To create a future rooted in compassion, hope, and belonging.

As Janice says, "Come with good intentions." The rest will follow.

Join Janice and our incredible BSE community on November 19 as we celebrate 30 years of impact and look ahead to what's next.

Tickets are available now at canfar.com/bse.