Vancouver Entertains, the West Coast Edition of the award-winning Bloor Street Entertains, takes over luxury retailers for exciting philanthropic dinners the evening of October 24, 2025.
For Immediate Release
VANCOUVER, July 21, 2025–The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) is thrilled to announce the first edition of the ‘Vancouver Entertains’ gala taking place in Vancouver on Friday, October 24, 2025.
The West Coast edition brings the Award-winning ‘Entertains’ gala to Vancouver in style, with guests enjoying intimate multi-course dinners inside some of the most fashionable global luxury retailers before descending upon TELUS Garden for the Official After Party.
Over 200 attendees will dine at multi-course pop-up dinners in haute lifestyle establishments including Holt Renfrew, Harry Rosen, Zegna and RIMOWA, to support CANFAR’s investments in BC-based HIV/AIDS research and strategic implementation projects.
Vancouver Entertains is the newest edition of CANFAR’s ‘Entertains’ gala format, building on the 29-year success of Bloor Street Entertains in Toronto. Since its inception, the ‘Entertains’ galas have raised over $16.6 million for CANFAR’s mission to end the HIV epidemic in Canada.
The event is Co-Chaired by philanthropists and community leaders Christie Garofalo, Jay McCauley and CANFAR board member Candice Sinclair, who wanted to bring the gala fundraiser to Vancouver in response to rising rates of HIV in British Columbia and Canada and cuts to international HIV/AIDS relief programs.
Funds raised at Vancouver Entertains will support efforts within the province, and support CANFAR’s investments in community partners: the Dr. Peter Centre (‘Culture as Medicine’ program), the Community-Based Research Centre (expansion of the Two-Spirit Medicine Bundle program), QMUNITY (improving the lives of queer, trans, and Two-Spirit people) and providing community organizations with HIV self-test kits to minimize barriers for people to learn their status and get connected to treatment.
Live entertainment, culinary and floral partners to be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets are $850 per seat or $8,500 per table of 10 and include access to the Official After Party. Tickets to the Official After Party are $175. Tickets can be purchased at CANFAR.com. Guests will receive a tax receipt for 65% of the ticket fee.
For more information or to arrange an interview with the Vancouver Entertains co-chairs, please contact:
Adam Mazerall
Director of Marketing, CANFAR
amazerall@canfar.com
(416) 986-9375
ABOUT CANFAR
The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) is a national, independent organization advancing HIV knowledge and science. Fueled by fundraising, we invest in and foster effective research, build awareness, and cultivate partnerships to share expertise and encourage joint action. We have given more than $26 million in grants to HIV/AIDS research and implementation projects. Together, these nearly 575 projects have helped achieve breakthroughs in HIV prevention, testing, access to treatment, combatting stigma, and the search for a cure.
WEBSITE: canfar.com
INSTAGRAM: @canfar1987