Courtney Milne honoured with award for exceptional service as a volunteer to the HIV/AIDS community
Courtney Milne is being recognized with a Casey Award for exceptional volunteer service to the 2SLGBTQ+ and HIV communities. Courtney inspired her community as director of Camp Rainbow Phoenix, a free summer leadership camp for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth ages 11-17, co-organized by Pflag Durham Region and AIDS Committee of Durham Region.
The first camp took place in 2010 with seven campers. Since then, more than 800 campers have attended Camp Rainbow Phoenix, with registration expanding to teens across Canada. Here, youth are given the opportunity to express themselves authentically, make new friends, and develop skills to foster personal resilience and promote community leadership. All onsite camp staff are volunteers. Courtney began as a cabin mentor for several years before transitioning to camp director in 2025.
In her new position as director, Courtney initiated a significant internal restructure of the program to prominently feature more queer voices during the planning process. She also redeveloped the camp’s learning curriculum to include trauma-informed inclusive sexual health education. Furthermore, she deepened the partnership with AIDS Committee of Durham Region to promote harm reduction and HIV awareness at camp.
In addition to broadening the education, Courtney nurtured a strong sense of community spirit through her guidance of the volunteers and campers. Her colleagues applauded her commitment to equity and inclusion, positive attitude, and empathy, all while physically caring for her newborn twins during the camp season. Feedback from the campers this past year has been overwhelmingly positive following her new program directives.
As an ally to the 2SLGBTQ+ and HIV community, Courtney has consistently made an impact through actions and advocacy. She empowers the next generation of queer youth to become community champions and to live their lives with their truest expression of their identities. Not only that, but she has also strengthened the network of supporters, families, and volunteers who are members or allies through her leadership and compassion.
Casey House extends warm congratulations to Courtney Milne as we celebrate her with a Casey Award.