$1.1M raised in support of CANFAR’s mission to end HIV in Canada at the 25th anniversary of Bloor Street Entertains
December 1, 2021
On November 25th, 2021, CANFAR hosted the 25th edition of its milestone fundraising event, Bloor Street Entertains (BSE), raising an impressive $1M for HIV research thanks to the generous support of our donors.
More than 850 guests attended the event, marking a return to in-person dining at prestigious locations in Bloor-Yorkville. Presented by Signature Partner, BMO Financial Group, and chaired by The Hon. Scott Brison, Vice-Chair, Investment & Corporate Banking at BMO, this 25th anniversary edition of BSE honoured long-time CANFAR partners and patrons, as well as paid tribute to healthcare communities, including Canadian HIV research scientists who have been hard at work fighting two pandemics these past 18 months, COVID-19 and HIV.
Twenty-five years of BSE deserves to be celebrated and on November 25th, the Toronto community showed us their dedication to the cause of HIV,” said Alex Filiatrault, CEO of CANFAR.
“There are still 65,000 people living with HIV in Canada with 14 per cent who are unaware of their status. We’ve made tremendous progress in the past year with the approval of self-testing kits that allow everyone to safely learn their status and seek out treatment or prevention services. But there is still a lot of work ahead and I could not be more grateful to all our BSE patrons and partners who continue to show their support. I am now more confident than ever that together, we can make ending HIV in Canada a reality,” he added.
The event returned to its traditional, intimate dinner format in prestigious locations in Bloor-Yorkville, among them returning partners, The Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, Tiffany & Co., Dolce & Gabbana, RIMOWA, Christian Louboutin, Brunello Cucinelli, Taglialatella Galleries, Gardiner Museum, Park Hyatt Hotel Toronto, Hazelton Hotel Toronto, Vintage Conservatory and Holt Renfrew. Red carpet receptions took place in select venues. The event required proof of vaccination for all guests.
In addition to Signature Partner BMO Financial Group, BSE25 Sponsors included Air Canada, Labatt, Mumm Champagne and Mantella Corporation – CANFAR could not be more grateful for their support.
To learn more about Bloor Street Entertains, click here.