TD Bank Group is being recognized with a Casey Award for their unwavering commitment through financial support of the HIV/AIDS community.

The award honours TD Bank Group’s long-standing support for the organization and its mission.

TD Bank Group is one of Casey House’s generous corporate leaders. They have demonstrated outstanding dedication to Casey House and the LGBTQ+ community through over 30 years of financial and leadership support, donating over $3 million in support of hospital programs and services.

For the past 15 years, TD has been the presenting sponsor of Art With Heart, Casey House Foundation’s largest signature fundraiser. Their leadership has helped the program expand, reach new audiences, and raise significant funds for the hospital. The leaders at TD are keen to see the event succeed and their partnership is an incredible boon to the auction organizers and volunteers.

In recent years, TD has chosen to support Casey House’s outpatient services and clinics, focusing on early detection and intervention of chronic diseases and medical conditions. Their support helps the hospital continue to decrease barriers to health care and fill gaps in services for people living with and at risk of HIV.

In addition to the ongoing financial support, TD Bank Group employees are also committed volunteers. From hands on support building harm reduction kits or helping assemble client gifts to lending their expertise as members of a committee, the TD community is present. A series of art collection curators have participated in the Art With Heart curatorial committee, which is responsible for sourcing, reviewing and selecting the artwork for each year’s auction collection.

TD Bank Group has been a leader in the LGBTQ+ community and an incredible supporter of small and medium organizations that benefit enormously from their support. They have also supported the development of intercommunity relationships through their social gatherings and networking events. The resulting impact on the HIV community is felt and greatly appreciated.

Casey House extends warm congratulations to TD Bank Group and its employees on achieving this recognition of their generosity.

Gord Hamilton is being recognized with a Casey Award for philanthropic leadership and volunteer service for the HIV/AIDS community. outstanding commitment through financial contributions.

The award honours Hamilton’s continued and extraordinary support as a generous donor and volunteer, and his resulting impact on the HIV community.

In 2020, Gord was recognized for an exemplary decade of volunteer service with Casey House. His regular presence in the house spoke to his commitment and interest in clients. Formerly a teacher, he also appreciated the learning opportunities. “It was a lot of fun”, says Gord, “and you got the opportunity to connect with other volunteers, as well as upgrade your training, your knowledge, and awareness”.

In addition to having had many friends die at Casey House, Gord saw the care first-hand when his partner Denis needed support. The attention to quality health care and dedication of the team made an indelible impact during a challenging time. Sadly, Denis passed away at Casey House in 2016.

Gord has been donating to Casey House Foundation for 27 years, since 1993. He is a loyal monthly donor, recognizing that this regular support provides the hospital with a dependable source of funds to continue its work. His unwavering monthly contributions exemplify his dedication to ensuring that Casey House can consistently deliver its vital services to those who need their care and support.

Gord’s choice to include Casey House in his will through a bequest further extends his commitment to the organization. Gord says, “We’re always going to need a place like Casey House, where there’s compassion and care.” His forethought ensures that his legacy will continue to support Casey House’s mission.

This is someone who contributes however he can, embodying the values and philosophy of Casey House, which extends warm congratulations to Gord Hamilton for his contributions.

St. Michael’s Hospital’s Positive Pregnancy Program, also known as the P3 Clinic, is being recognized with a Casey Award for leadership in social justice for the HIV/AIDS community.

For over 15 years, the program has provided quality health care for pregnant women living with HIV in the GTA. The clinic marries obstetrics and midwifery, and combines advocacy and medical expertise to support pregnant women.

Eighty per cent of the program’s clients are part of racialized and Indigenous communities and most have been living in Canada for fewer than five years and have little, if any, support. The women experience marginalization and have infrequent access to health care. Says nominator Dr. Douglas Campbell, “the women are often alone in Canada, newly arriving from conflict zones and/or forced migration…[they] bring heart-breaking stories and an incredible determination to provide better care for their babies.”

With the P3 clinic’s support and a trauma-informed approach to care almost 400 healthy babies have been born, including many siblings.

The incredible clinic team, led by nurse Cathy Beatty, midwife Jay MacGillvary and physician Mark Yudin, works extensively with each family. They care for approximately 30 clients per year and many women return for care of subsequent pregnancies.

Extensive consultation and collaboration outside of the hospital transpires with community partners such as Teresa Group, Women’s Health in Women’s Hands and The Hospital for Sick Children.

The program was established 15 years ago, when women living with HIV were experiencing intense stigma and discrimination, particularly when admitted for delivery. It was a welcome innovation. “A program that would be non-judgmental, where women were treated with respect while their needs were attended to was urgently needed,” says Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre director of research and programs, Wangari Tharao. The Positive Pregnancy Program delivered what was needed. It led the standardization of care in delivery for women living with HIV. With a values-led model of care where all the care providers are involved in an individual woman’s journey to childbirth.

Through kindness, collaboration and innovation, the Positive Pregnancy Program exemplifies the heart and spirit of the Casey Awards. Casey House extends warm congratulations to the P3 Clinic.

Blue Door Clinic is being recognized with a Casey Award for leadership in social justice for the HIV/AIDS community.

The award honours the innovation and successful implementation of a novel health care solution.

Blue Door Clinic is a relatively young community collaboration providing interim health care and social supports to people living with HIV in the greater Toronto area who have precarious or no health insurance coverage.

Being HIV+ without access to medication can be life-threatening. The clinic’s free and confidential services include HIV primary care, laboratory testing, connection to medication access programs, and support navigating community services such as housing, legal and immigration support. These services are provided by a remarkable team of interdisciplinary professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, case managers and peer support workers, who provide services in-kind from over 12 different service organizations.

People living with HIV, who have precarious, or no health care coverage represent a significant gap in the HIV care engagement cascade. The people most likely to be without access to health care are those with precarious or no immigration status. According to Ryan Peck of HALCO, this population is, “overwhelmingly comprised of racialized people who may be marginalized due to HIV stigma, racism, homophobia, transphobia, poverty, immigration status, violence, and more.” Even those with immigration status may be without identification needed to access care.

Since opening in August 2019, this low-barrier clinic has provided care to over 300 people from over 40 different countries of origin and has almost 160 active clients. The multidisciplinary coalition of health and community service agencies was originally hosted by Regent Park Community Health Centre, but recently found a new home at Casey House in October 2023, thus beginning a new chapter for the clinic.

This recognition honours the launch of a unique, collaborative and holistic care model, and for the culturally competent, lifesaving services provided to individuals who would not otherwise have access to HIV care or treatment. Says Ower Oberto, board chair for Latinos Positivos, “Their commitment to social justice, leadership, and compassion for individuals living with HIV, especially those with precarious immigration status, is nothing short of inspiring.” Waheeda Ali from CAYR Community Connections, the only ASO in York Region said, “one individual stated that they are no longer fearful of tomorrow…”.

Casey House extends warm congratulations to the Blue Door Clinic team on achieving this recognition.

Elder Wanda Whitebird is being recognized with a Casey Award for leadership in social justice and harm reduction for the HIV/AIDS community.

The award honours Whitebird’s work in solidarity with those who are incarcerated, people living with HIV and people who use drugs.

Wanda has long been passionate about social justice for people who are incarcerated. She began as a penitentiary liaison in the Maritimes, before moving to Ontario in 1986 to work with Indigenous people in the prison system, becoming among the first of the Indigenous community in Toronto to do ‘in-reach’ to incarcerated members of the community.

She also worked for Anishnawbe Health in Toronto for 13 years and was instrumental in starting the Traditional Healing Program before becoming an outreach worker for the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (OAHAS), building relationships and providing education for members of the community who were street-involved.

Her activism around HIV led to her early adoption of harm reduction. Indigenous health promoter Les Harper says Wanda was one of the first Elders he knew who embraced the concept of reducing harm rather than requiring a change in behaviour.

In addition to the direct support for people who use substances, Elder Wanda’s willingness to share teachings has been important for others working in the harm reduction community. Community scholar and activist Zoë Dodd says that while the majority of service-users she works with are Indigenous, most are accessing support from non-Indigenous organizations, making Elder Wanda’s capacity-building skills extremely valuable. She also praises Elder Wanda’s ability to support others, and says, “her teachings of unconditional love and support have been instrumental in keeping many of us well in this challenging work.”

When Wanda lost the ability to walk in 2019, she extended her activism to the disability community, and in the past year guided the development and construction of a wheelchair accessible sweat lodge, where she continues to conduct ceremony.

Additionally, she has supported gender-based initiatives, notably organizing an annual Valentine’s Day Strawberry Ceremony in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Toronto for almost 20 years. The ceremonies are held in front of Toronto Police headquarters in protest of police complicity and the settler colonial state. In 2021, Wanda was an Elder for the Northern Feather Program, a project included a regalia-making workshop for Indigenous women who access harm reduction programing at South Riverdale Community Health Centre. Said one participant, “[this group] believed that even at our lowest and while using drugs that we should be able to take part in all activities in our culture…this is what Wanda teaches.”

Casey House extends warm congratulations to Elder Wanda Whitebird on achieving this recognition.

Muluba Habanyama honoured with award for leadership in social justice for the HIV/AIDS community

Muluba Habanyama is being recognized with a Casey Award for leadership in social justice for the HIV/AIDS community. The award honours Habanyama’s work as an international community activist.

As a trained journalist, with skills in writing, public speaking, sexual health education and content creation, Muluba has been advocating for all people living with HIV since she publicly declared herself positive in 2014, at just 21 years old. Her willingness to speak openly about her experience living with HIV since birth has illustrated what it was like to come of age and simultaneously navigate a world of HIV disclosure, school, work, and social relationships.

Muluba honed her advocacy skills from a young age, using them to speak on behalf of those from marginalized and under-represented communities. Supporter and fellow HIV advocate Greg Robinson says her work helps say, “we see you” and conveys that everyone is a “valid and equal members of our broad and diverse HIV community.”

Muluba has been involved in multiple awareness campaigns, including Casey House’s own #SmashStigma campaigns since their inception in 2017.  Her volunteer work with the Ontario Health Treatment Network (OHTN) on the governance committee helping ensure greater diversity and a wider range of voices on its board of directors led to a paid position, where she developed the Positive News campaign. Muluba created a series of video and television spots to bring awareness to the progress made in HIV prevention and treatment and reduce stigma by showcasing people with HIV living long, healthy lives. Muluba hosted and interviewed other people living with HIV and clinicians. Says Jean Bacon, executive director of OHTN, “Her compassion and caring, her activism, and her love of life shines through in all the Positive News work.”

Her activism extends to work to dismantle anti-Black racism, and her latest role at OHTN is to provide leadership for their diversity, equity and inclusion work alongside anti-stigma initiatives.

Muluba is not yet thirty and yet, she has accomplished much already amidst health setbacks and building a career. She is a long-term survivor. According to nominator Encrico Mandarino, “Muluba embodies everything about the… Casey award – through dedicated activism, volunteerism, leadership, and compassion [she] has made our world a better and more humane place.”

Casey House extends warm congratulations to Muluba Habanyama on achieving this recognition.

Laurie Edmiston honoured with award for decades of leadership in social justice for the HIV/AIDS community

Laurie Edmiston is being recognized with a Casey Award for decades of leadership in social justice for the HIV/AIDS community. The award honours Edmiston’s many years of work in harm reduction, HIV treatment and prevention, and U=U.

For more than 35 years, Laurie was an outstanding leader in mobilizing a response to HIV locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally. A response grounded in the principles of social justice and health equity for vulnerable populations. Having recently retired, she leaves behind an impressive legacy of accomplishments.

In 1986, she began working in HIV as the manager of Youth-Link Inner City, a program for Toronto street youth. There, Laurie advocated for and helped start the first needle and syringe distribution program in Toronto. She pushed for free condoms in youth hostels and other youth settings amidst the resistance of colleagues and community norms of the time. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s she was also involved in volunteer work with community-based organizations responding to HIV

In 1997, Laurie went on to lead People with AIDS Foundation (PWA) amidst a time of resistance to new HIV treatments and people skeptical of health care. Laurie led the agency and its staff to provide initiatives addressing the complex social and health care needs of people living with HIV. They created practical and financial support as well as social programs for people who were isolated, and under her leadership they also started support programs to help people making decisions about initiating, adhering to, and changing HIV treatments. At this time, the organization launched the Friends for Life Bike Rally, a popular fundraiser celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Following her time with PWA, Laurie was the executive director of CATIE (Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange) for 21 years until she retired in 2022. During her tenure, CATIE expanded its mandate to include prevention, testing, treatment, and care for hepatitis C as well as HIV. She was the first executive director among local and national community partners to publicly support U=U (Undetectable=Untransmittable), and her credibility as a leader in the community was key to broader acceptance in Canada of the U=U message. Says the current executive director Jody Jollimore, “Coming to CATIE after Laurie’s tenure truly feels like standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Laurie was known for caring deeply about the real impact of her work on the communities most affected by HIV, and the related issues they encountered. She built a reputation as a fearless advocate for HIV and harm reduction, and as a strong mediator, facilitator, and negotiator in her dealings with partnering organizations, funders, and other HIV stakeholders. She is well known for her considered and informed decision-making, her articulate vision, and her inclusive collaboration.

Casey House extends warm congratulations to Laurie Edmiston on achieving this recognition.

Notisha Massaquoi honoured with award for leadership in social justice and equity for the HIV/AIDS community

Notisha Massaquoi is being recognized with a Casey Award for leadership in social justice and equity for the HIV/AIDS community. For nearly 30 years, she has championed access to life-affirming health care for people living with HIV.

She is a fearless advocate, academic and leadership volunteer at local grassroots organizations, the provincial health care sector and is regularly invited to volunteer and lead federal policy roundtables on issues of HIV, gender justice, anti-Black racism, and the collection of race-based data.

She helped found Africans in Partnership Against AIDS in 1992, which tackles the prevalence of HIV in African communities. In 2000, she spearheaded the development of Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre and led it as executive director for over 20 years; the only health centre in North America providing specialized primary health care for Black and racialized women.

With a PhD in social justice education, Dr. Massaquoi is an assistant professor in health education and promotion with the department of health and society at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, and holds a cross appointment with the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and a faculty affiliate at both The Centre for Research & Innovation for Black Survivors of Homicide Victims (The CRIB), and the Women and Gender Studies Institute.

In her professional and volunteer service, and in her studies she recognizes and advocates to address the intersectional dimensions of gender, race, sexuality and identity as well as violence and criminalization and their overlapping effects on the social determinants of health.

This past year, Notisha became the founding director of The Black Health Equity Lab (The BHEL) and among other board positions, is currently a board trustee for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, CAMH, and CANFAR. As an expert advisor, she consults globally.

Through small gestures and heroic actions, Notisha embodies the heart and spirit of the Casey Awards. Casey House extends warm congratulations to Notisha Massaquoi for her dedication to breaking down barriers to health care for people living with HIV.

The Shevlen family honoured with award for outstanding philanthropic leadership for the HIV/AIDS community

The Shevlen family, Jane, her late husband Colin, John, Spencer, Andrea, and Gillian, are being recognized with a Casey Award for their outstanding commitment through financial contributions. The award honours the Shevlen’s continued and extraordinary support as generous donors, and their resulting impact on the HIV community.

Jane and Colin began supporting Casey House in 2010, when they first participated in the art auction, Art With Heart. Since that first art purchase their support has consistently continued to grow. With increasing contributions, volunteer roles, and an investment in profiling emerging artists, the Shevlens have increased their support every year for well over a decade.

Jane and Colin always asked to be recognized as ‘the Shevlen family’, demonstrating their commitment to contributing as an entity. They felt a responsibility to give and taught their children through example. As a result, John and Spencer are engaged and committed supporters, and now the entire family is involved.

The Shevlens continue to be prominent contributors to Art With Heart. Together, the family chooses a selection of works by emerging artists to support each year, then challenges art buyers to bid high and bid often by promising to match the winning bids with equivalent donations. Spencer volunteers on the curatorial committee, responsible for sourcing, reviewing and selecting the artwork for each year’s auction collection.

During the first year of the pandemic, the Shevlen’s recognized the impact shutdowns would have on event fundraising, and the ensuing funds the hospital relies upon, and contributed an outstanding $50,000 matching commitment to kick off a challenge to the Art With Heart community. The matching gift opportunity was the heart of Casey House Foundation’s Send Your Love campaign.

This family has truly blended their passion for Canadian art with their love and kindness for compassionate client-centred care at Casey House.

Casey House extends warm congratulations to the Shevlens on achieving this recognition of their generosity.