Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR)

08/25/2026

Fashion meets HIV storytelling at New York Fashion Week on September 9.

We’re thrilled to share that Curtis Matysek's garment from the Canada collection will take the runway at New York Fashion Week on September 9 at 1 PM.

Presented by Pluslifemediaglobal and ASHM with support from ViiV Healthcare and Gilead Sciences, this special showcase brings together fashion, HIV science, and lived experience to challenge stigma and spark conversation. HIV Unwrapped creates a space where designers translate HIV research into wearable works of art.

From Canada to New York, these stories are taking centre stage. ❤️

For the 11th season, the six-day showcase will feature 138 designers, including philanthropic and social showcases such as Project Lab Coat, CatWalk FurBaby and HIV Unwrapped, closing with the first-ever Runway 7 Fashion Awards Share FacebookXPinterestLinkedinReddItCopy URL Runway 7 Returns to New Y...

08/21/2026

Meet Candice Sinclair—CANFAR Board Member and Co-Chair of Bloor Street Entertains' 30th anniversary alongside Sylvia Mantella, Janice Fricker, and Michael Liebrock.

For Candice, CANFAR has always been close to home. Her connection to the organization started through her cousin, but the mission has been part of her family story for decades. Her mom hosted some of the very first CANFAR dinners in homes around Yorkville, helping build the foundation for what would later become our signature fundraiser!

Now, Candice is honoured to serve on CANFAR’s Board and co-chair —helping carry that legacy forward and ensuring this important work continues for generations to come.

Three words Candice uses to describe BSE? "Purposeful. Glamorous. Unforgettable." Which just so happen to be the same three words we use to describe Candice. ❤️

We’re grateful to have Candice’s leadership, passion, and family connection as part of the CANFAR community. Tickets available now at canfar.com/bse!

08/19/2026

Behind every stitch is a story. ✂️❤️

Go behind the scenes with Leeland Mitchell, Charles Lu and Curtis Matysek (the top three finalists from Project Runway Canada season 3!) as they bring the first three garments for the debut collection of Canada to life.

This incredible exhibition brings together fashion, HIV science, and lived experience as each designer worked with HIV researchers from across Canada and our National Ambassadors living with HIV, creating wearable works of art that challenge stigma and spark conversation.

After providing a first look of these garments at the International AIDS Society Conference in Rio de Janeiro earlier this summer, we can't wait to debut these extraordinary creations on Canadian soil at Vancouver Entertains on Friday, October 16. Guests will be among the first people in Canada to experience HIV Unwrapped Canada, with an exclusive preview of select pieces ahead of the exhibition's official launch.

The full HIV Unwrapped Canada collection, featuring these three designs and seven additional garments carefully crafted by designers from Toronto Metropolitan University will be officially unveiled at the Bloor Street Entertains After Party at the Royal Ontario Museum on Thursday, November 19, just in time for World AIDS Day.

Thank you to World AIDS Day Partner Gilead Sciences and community champion ViiV Healthcare for helping us bring this concept to life.

This is more than fashion. It's storytelling, lived experience, and science woven into every seam. 🧵✨

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08/19/2026

Faster testing. Faster care. More communities reached.

Ending HIV starts with one critical step: knowing your status. But across Canada, too many people still face barriers to testing—including stigma, distance, limited healthcare access and long waits for results.

Through CANFAR’s Bold Actions strategy, we are moving quickly to bring rapid GeneXpert testing technology to the communities that need it most. These portable diagnostic systems can confirm an HIV diagnosis in 90 minutes or less, helping people get answers sooner, start treatment faster and connect with care through organizations they already know and trust. With the support of our CANFAR community, we are partnering with community leaders across the country—from Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig Health Access Centre in northwestern Ontario, to partners in The Pas, Manitoba, and Women’s Health in Women’s Hands in Toronto, Ontario—to expand access to faster, more equitable HIV testing.

But the need is urgent. Communities are facing rising HIV rates and persistent barriers to care. We are responding as quickly as we can—but more support means we can bring this technology to more partners, more communities and more people who need it. More GeneXpert machines mean more communities equipped to respond, more people connected to care, and more progress toward ending HIV in Canada.

Learn more about our streategic implementation projects at https://canfar.com/strategic-implementation-programs/.

08/17/2026

When CANFAR National Ambassador Randy Davis was diagnosed with HIV in 2015, no one told him about U=U.

U=U means that a person living with HIV who is on effective treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load has zero possibility of s*xually transmitting HIV. It has become an important message in Randy's advocacy, which he brought to this year's International AIDS Conference in Rio.

We're incredibly grateful to have Randy as a National Ambassador at CANFAR, and encourage everyone to read his full blog post at the link in bio – reflecting on the 10 year anniversary of U=U and sharing reflections from the conference in Rio.



https://canfar.com/uu-at-10-the-message-that-changed-my-life/

08/14/2026

For Janice Fricker, Bloor Street Entertains has never been just another event.

It's a community. It's a creative home. And after years of helping shape its evolution, it feels like family.

Now serving her third term as BSE Co-Chair, Janice has helped lead two record-breaking campaigns while bringing fearless creativity to one of Toronto's most celebrated charitable evenings. A creative director and philanthropist, she is a passionate advocate for HIV research and awareness. She also champions initiatives that support survivors of s*x trafficking and advance marginalized communities.

When asked why she returned to co-chair BSE's milestone 30th anniversary, her answer was simple. She was honoured to be asked. She treasures the creative trust CANFAR has always given her. Most of all, she values the people who have become lifelong friends along the way.

"It no longer feels like work at all. It feels like helping out family."

That spirit is exactly what makes BSE unlike any other event. Every guest, volunteer, donor, and partner comes together with the same purpose. To stand beside a community. To fuel life-changing HIV research. To create a future rooted in compassion, hope, and belonging.

As Janice says, "Come with good intentions." The rest will follow.

Join Janice and our incredible BSE community on November 19 as we celebrate 30 years of impact and look ahead to what's next.

Tickets are available now at canfar.com/bse.

08/12/2026

We are so honoured to have Christie Garofalo returning as a co-chair for the second edition of Vancouver Entertains, happening Friday, October 16, presented by RBC.

For more than 30 years, Christie has been deeply involved in her community, bringing people together and helping turn good ideas into meaningful impact.

Through volunteer leadership and philanthropy, she has supported organizations locally and across Canada, helping raise tens of millions of dollars for causes she cares deeply about — while always putting family at the centre of her life.

We are incredibly grateful for Christie’s energy, leadership and longstanding commitment to CANFAR’s mission.

When asked to describe Vancouver Entertains, Christie calls it unique, energetic, and impactful—a celebration that brings people together while making a meaningful difference in the fight against HIV.

Scroll through to learn more about Christie's connection to CANFAR, what to expect at this year's Vancouver Entertains, and how you can get involved in supporting community-led, evidence-based initiatives and innovative HIV research across British Columbia.

Tickets and tables are available now at canfar.com/ve. We can’t wait to see you there!

08/11/2026

Stigma is learned, and it's important for all of us to educate ourselves and others on what living with HIV in Canada looks like today. Starting Home Fires is honouring and recognizing the communities of Indigenous people living with HIV, including women, Two-Spirit and trans people, and Elders, who have led the way in HIV advocacy and care for decades. We must learn from them, and continue to pass on these lessons.

Visit startinghomefires.ca to watch all eight short films and learn more about what living with HIV in Canada looks like today.

08/06/2026

What an incredible week at in Rio de Janeiro.

CANFAR's VP of National Awareness, Roxanne Ma, was proud to represent CANFAR alongside our National Ambassador, Randy Davis, connecting with researchers, advocates, artists, educators, and changemakers from around the world working toward ending HIV.

A major highlight was debuting HIV Unwrapped Canada at the Opening Ceremony, where garments designed by Project Runway Canada Season 3 finalists were showcased alongside the Brazilian HIV Unwrapped exhibition. Randy Davis modeled a design by Cutis Matysek, helping spark conversations about HIV science, stigma, resilience, and the power of creativity to advance education and awareness. We were also thrilled to finally meet Brent Allan, the visionary behind HIV Unwrapped, in person.

Another standout moment was co-hosting a Canadian networking reception with CATIE, bringing together organizations and leaders from across Canada's HIV sector—including CBRC, CAAN, the HIV Legal Network, GMSH, Let's Stop AIDS, PurposeMed, ACDR, TMI: Theatre Making Impact, REACH Nexus/Unity Health, Realize, ViiV Healthcare, researchers, and many more—to strengthen connections and celebrate Canada's collective impact on the global stage.

Throughout the week, we explored the Global Village, attended inspiring sessions led by global HIV experts, spoke with Karl Schmid of Plus Life Media, and were proud to see TMI: Theatre Making Impact sharing its innovative Canadian approach to s*x education in Rio.

We left Rio with new connections across the global HIV community and fresh perspectives to bring home to Canada. Thank you to everyone who shared their work, challenged our thinking, and helped make AIDS 2026 such a meaningful experience.

08/05/2026

We can't wait for the biggest, boldest, most iconic yet! The 30th edition of Bloor Street Entertains is happening on Thursday, November 19, with this year's After Party happening Royal Ontario Museum!

From the spectacular fashion, to the stunning venues, to the glamorous decor and the expertly crafted meals, the CANFAR family will come together across Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area in support of CANFAR's mission. We know that ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030 will require renewed investment in research, implementation and equitable access to treatment–making CANFAR's work more urgent than ever. That's why every dollar raise at BSE directly supports community-based implementations projects across Canada, increased access to HIV testing, and funding innovative research for HIV prevention, treatment, care, and the search for a cure.

With co-chairs Candice Sinclair, Sylvia Mantella, Michael Liebrock, and Janice Fricker leading our incredible events committee, we know that this year's BSE will be another unforgettable evening for all. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our sponsors: red carpet sponsor Mantella Corporation, entertainment sponsor Stifel, illumination sponsors Labatt Breweries and Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, after party partner the Royal Ontario Museum, lounge sponsors Rob Stovel Foundation and Lycos Energy Inc., print sponsor TPH, furniture sponsor Element Event Solutions, community partners ESP Inc. and Bloor-Yorkville, and CANFAR program partners BMO, TD, LCBO, and the P. Austin Family Foundation.

You can purchase tickets now at CANFAR.com/bse – purchase a ticket for dinner & After Party, After Party only, or check out a VIP experience for you and your friends!