LET’S END HIV IN CANADA ONCE AND FOR ALL
CANFAR announces 26th edition of annual fundraiser ‘Bloor Street Entertains’ in support of HIV research
and kicks off awareness campaign
Toronto, June 28, 2022 – The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) will hold the 26th edition of its largest fundraising event, Bloor Street Entertains (BSE) on the eve of World AIDS Day, this November 30th in Toronto, under the theme Let’s end HIV in Canada once and for all. The event is presented by returning Signature Partner BMO and is co-chaired by the Hon. Scott Brison, Candice Sinclair and Maxime St-Pierre.
A long-standing tradition that plays an important role in the city and beyond, Bloor Street Entertains’ 2022 edition will serve to highlight CANFAR’s new awareness campaign, Global Lessons, Local Action, promoting the importance to act swiftly to effectively put an end to HIV in Canada, with our nation dragging behind other G7 countries in terms of its response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. CANFAR’s campaign kicks off this summer just as the International AIDS Conference, the world’s largest gathering of HIV/AIDS researchers, medical experts and advocates, takes place in Montreal this July 29 – August 2.
“Canada is still the only G7 nation with increasing HIV rates, and the only developed nation experiencing climbing HIV rates among women,” said Alex Filiatrault, CEO of CANFAR. “The International AIDS Conference is taking place in Montreal this summer, a few months before BSE, and this year, our event is part of an awareness campaign following this important event. The time to act is now, and this year’s BSE aims to be a call for support from our community in Toronto and beyond. By focusing on a program that incorporates access to testing (and self-testing), prevention and care, as well as fighting to end stigma and raise awareness among at-risk groups, including youth, we believe it is possible to achieve our goal of ending the HIV epidemic in our country,” he added.
“Year after year, it has been wonderful to celebrate the community that rallies around and for Bloor Street Entertains,” said the Hon. Scott Brison, Vice-Chair, Investment & Corporate Banking and Co-Chair of this year’s event. “Our theme this year, Let’s end HIV in Canada once and for all, reminds us that we need to act today if we want to see change. We recognize the contribution of all our guests and patrons, sponsors, volunteers, venue partners, CANFAR ambassadors and more and remind the Toronto community that our common goal of ending the HIV epidemic in Canada needs to remain a priority. We invite everyone to join our efforts by purchasing tickets to attend the event or donating directly to the Bloor Street Entertains campaign,” he added.
On November 30, 2022, guests attending Bloor Street Entertains will enjoy fine dining provided by the city’s top chefs at prestigious fashion houses and other signature venues around the Bloor-Yorkville area and they will end the night on a high note at the returning official after-party held at The Four Seasons Hotel. They will also be invited to take part in the event’s remarkable and prestigious silent auction. The auction will open ahead of the event and will close on December 1st at noon. The event is presented by returning lead partners including Mantella Corporation, Mumm Champagne, Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, Tiffany & Co., Bloor-Yorkville BIA and Yorkville Village.
The 2022 Bloor Street Entertains committee is composed of Andrea Anders, Caili and Sam Beckerman, Chad Brincheski, Melissa Campisi, Stelios Doussis, Mary Ann Gamboa, Amanda Gotlieb, Muluba Habanyama, Eva Hartling, Jamie Knoepfli, Robert Lemieux, Lily Li, Michael Liebrock, Sylvia Mantella, Ivan Mao, Jen McCain, Jay McCauley, Dale McDermott, Ashley-Rose Murphy, Bernadette Morra, Christine Rezvanian, Ralph Roach, David Simmonds, Myles Sexton and David Tremblay.
To purchase tickets to Bloor Street Entertains and/or make a donation:
ABOUT CANFAR
CANFAR’s mission is to end the HIV epidemic in Canada by funding innovative research, and awareness programs focused on increasing prevention, increasing testing, improving treatment and care, and ending HIV stigma. Over its 30-year history, CANFAR has invested more than $24 million and awarded more than 500 grants across Canada in research addressing all aspects of HIV and AIDS. Visit canfar.com to learn more and donate to the Bloor Street Entertains Campaign.
For more information:
Bria Weaver
The Brand is Female
+ 1.647.686.4568
bria@thebrandisfemale.com