Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR)

10/17/2026

The second Vancouver Entertains was an unforgettable evening, made incredibly meaningful by all of you. Over $350,000 (and counting!) was raised for BC-based community organizations supporting HIV awareness for priority populations, community-based testing, linkages to culturally safe care, and innovative implementation research!

Last night, Vancouver came together for an extraordinary evening of fashion, fine dining, community, and philanthropy. From delicious dinners in stunning boutiques to an iconic After Party where DESTINEAK and HAZEL kept us buzzing all night long, Vancouver Entertains was a celebration of what's possible when people come together with a shared purpose.

None of this would have been possible without our incredible co-chairs: , , and .mccauley who all dedicated so much time, energy, and passion to making this an energizing and meaningful evening for all. Our amazing committee members , , Carly Church, , , .deol, Sven Byl, Thomas O’Shaughnessy, and provided unwavering support and excitement throughout every step of the process, and we could not be more grateful for such a fabulous team!

We also want to thank our generous sponsors: Presenting sponsor RBC Foundation, portrait studio sponsor Oakridge Park, entertainment sponsor National Bank of Canada, event sponsors Christie & David Garofalo, venue partners TELUS Garden, Holt Renfrew, Harry Rosen, RIMOWA, Max Mara, Zegna, and Rolls Royce Open Road Auto, culinary partners Savoury Chef, KANVAS, Bon Vivant, The Lazy Gourmet, EDGE, and Holts Cafe, decor partners Folk and Faerie, Simon Cooksley Events Design, Angelica Floral Designs, By Yours Truly Floral Studio, Our Little Flower Company, Lux Affairs, May 18 Studio, and Athiana Acres, spirits partners 1983 espresso martini and Empress 1908 gin, w**e sponsors La Stella Winery and Le Vieux Pin, media partners Vancouver Magazine and Western Living, late night eats sponsors Pizza Pizza, McDonald’s Canada and Chruch’s Texas Chicken, and community partners Dr. Peter Centre, Health Initiative for Men, Ribbon Community, QMUNITY, Kilala Lelum, and the Community-Based Research Centre.

Photos by: George Pimentel & team

10/17/2026

10/16/2026

BC has helped shape the future of HIV research, treatment and prevention. But progress only matters if it reaches everyone.

Across British Columbia, community organizations are expanding access to testing, connecting people to culturally safe care, and reaching communities too often left behind. Yet stigma, discrimination and systemic barriers remain, while the organizations doing this work face growing demands and fewer resources.

You can help move this work forward.

The Vancouver Entertains charity auction has already raised nearly $19,000 in support of community-led HIV programs and implementation research in BC. Bidding closes tomorrow at 1PM, so there’s still time to make your bid count and help us realize a future free from HIV.

Explore the auction, bid on something special, and help ensure BC’s progress continues to reach the people who need it most.

HIV is still here. So is the work.

Bid now: https://trellis.org/vancouverentertains

10/14/2026

The Vancouver Entertains Charity Auction in support of Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) brings together luxury, style and philanthropy in support of the HIV response in British Columbia.

From exclusive getaways and fine jewelry to designer fashions, art and one-of-a-kind experiences, the auction offers something special for every kind of bidder. Whether you’re treating yourself or searching for the perfect gift, every bid helps make a difference.

Proceeds stay right here in BC, supporting community-led HIV programs and implementation research projects with established local partners. Because behind every dollar raised is an investment in a future where everyone has access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment.

The auction is open to bidders across Canada and closes at 1 PM on Saturday, October 17.

Explore the lots, discover something extraordinary and bid for a cause that matters. Visit https://trellis.org/vancouverentertains to bid now!

10/13/2026

What happens when research doesn’t just stay on the page—but reaches the people it was created for?

With support from CANFAR, the Community-Based Research Centre - CBRC is turning existing HIV research into accessible resources for 2S/LGBTQ+ communities across Canada.

Because information about HIV prevention and treatment should be easier to find, easier to understand, and relevant to the communities it’s meant to serve.

CBRC is bringing together research on HIV oral histories, long-acting HIV treatment, and the experiences of people newly diagnosed with HIV—and transforming those findings into reports, infographics and social media resources that can be shared through community networks.

Because communities deserve access to information that reflects their experiences and helps them navigate their options. That’s work worth investing in.

And it’s exactly the kind of work we’re proud to support with funds raised through Vancouver Entertains this October. Your support helps turn research into resources—and helps make HIV prevention and treatment information more accessible to the communities who can use it.

10/13/2026

What if connection to land could help open a door to care?

At Kílala Lelum Health Centre, the Medicine Garden at Doris Fox Lelum will bring traditional plant medicine, cultural teachings and Indigenous harm reduction together in a shared community space in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

The garden will be shaped by peers with lived and living experience, Elders and Knowledge Keepers—creating opportunities to gather, learn, share and build relationships.

And those relationships can create a different kind of entry point to healthcare: one that connects people with HIV testing and supports them to stay engaged in wholistic care.

With funds raised through Vancouver Entertains this October, CANFAR is proud to support a vision where land, culture and HIV care come together.

10/10/2026

For too long, Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer communities have been left out of conversations about HIV.

QMUNITY is creating space for community members to shape HIV education, storytelling and dialogue on their own terms.

With support from CANFAR, the project will support community-led education, peer leadership and connections to resources like PrEP, PEP, testing and culturally relevant care.

Because addressing HIV means more than sharing information. It means building trust, challenging stigma, honouring community knowledge, and creating space for people to see their experiences reflected.

Funds raised through Vancouver Entertains this October will help QMUNITY put resources behind that leadership—supporting the people and partnerships building stronger, more culturally relevant HIV conversations in community.

This is what your support makes possible.

10/09/2026

We are heartbroken by the passing of Salah, a true titan and a remarkable champion of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Salah wasn’t just first to leave the party. He was first to show up when it mattered. Read our full statement on this monumental loss:

We are heartbroken by the passing of Salah, a true titan and a remarkable champion of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Salah wasn’t just first to leave the party. He was first to show up when it mattered.

10/08/2026

The Vancouver Entertains Charity Auction is your chance to bid on something extraordinary — from luxury getaways and fine jewellery to high fashion, art and unforgettable experiences.

There’s still time to find your favourite lot and make your bid count. The auction closes at 1 PM on Saturday, October 17. Every dollar raised stays in BC, helping fund community-led HIV programs and implementation research with local partners.

Visit https://trellis.org/vancouverentertains to browse, bid and support the HIV response in BC!

10/07/2026

Ten years ago, PrEP changed what HIV prevention could look like.

It gave people something new: choice. A way to plan ahead, take control and make prevention fit their lives.

But a breakthrough doesn’t end with approval.

Canadian researchers like Dr. Darrell Tan have helped us understand what happens next—who can access PrEP, what gets in the way, and what it takes to make a new prevention tool work in the real world.

And today, with HIV diagnoses rising in parts of Canada and barriers to prevention still standing in the way, the work continues.

Because science can create the option, but research helps make sure people can actually use it.