Dear CANFAR community,
We are now just a few months away from 2021 and we still find ourselves navigating in uncharted waters! With the ups and downs of our new pandemic reality, it feels like CANFAR, like many other organizations, has been reinventing itself again and again over the past few months. We held a highly successful edition of Can You Do Lunch? using a hybrid hosting formula in September and now it’s time to look ahead at our biggest event of the year, Bloor Street Entertains sponsored by our Signature Partner BMO.
Given the current state of affairs and the restrictions we are all respecting as a result of the second wave of COVID-19, we know it’s impossible to gather as large groups for the event, as we usually do. In the spirit of keeping the BSE tradition alive, and to celebrate major milestones including the approval of self-testing kits in Canada slated to be announced this fall, we have come up with a different formula for this November 25th, which will include a broadcast featuring special guests including Honourary Chair Salah Bachir, with more surprises for you. Hence why we invite you to “join” the Magic of Bloor Street Entertains… at home! for this year’s edition.
Simply put, we’d like you to have a nice dinner at home on the evening of November 25th and dedicate your night to BSE and CANFAR. With any donation of $1,000 or more, you will receive a luxury gift basket including GH Mumm Cordon Rouge Champagne and several treats for you and your guests at home.
It wouldn’t be BSE without our fabulous silent auction, and of course the auction will be taking place virtually, along with a platform for live donations leading to and on the night of the event. We have much to accomplish over the next 5 years (which we have set as the new deadline for ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Canada) which is why your support means the world to us at this time!
Speaking of our Honorary Chair, Salah Bachir has played an instrumental role in the successful execution of CANFAR’s mission over the years. At this year’s BSE, we will be honouring Salah with the new CANFAR Patron Circle Award in recognition of his years of dedication to helping us win the battle against HIV/AIDS. Since this year’s edition also marks the official twelve-month countdown to the highly anticipated 25th anniversary of BSE, November 25th will mark the start to a year-long campaign where all past BSE Chairs will be celebrated.
We hope you will partake and join us in this evening of pared-down festivities, where we will have a few surprises to keep you entertained!
And as always, we are grateful to our lead Community Sponsors including Labatt Breweries of Canada, Mantella Corporation, Holt Renfrew, Dior, Tiffany & Co., Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and the Bloor-Yorkville BIA.
Register for BSE 2020, make a donation and find out more about our campaign as well as BSE’s programming for November 25th.
I appreciate your support and friendship.
My best,
Alex Filiatrault
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