Casey House’s 1991 memorial quilt, which commemorates clients who died that year, has been restored thanks to volunteer quilting committee members Arthur Wong and Glenn Bell.

Memorial quilts hold deep significance in the HIV/AIDS movement and queer history. The tradition started with the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt first displayed in 1987 in Washington D.C. as a form of activism and a way for friends and loved ones to memorialize those they had lost. Casey House’s first quilt, which honours 1988 clients, was an original panel in the NAMES Project Quilt and is included in the digital archive of the Canadian AIDS Memorial Quilt.

At Casey House, quilts are designed and sewn by a volunteer committee. Quilting volunteers contribute countless hours and an incredible amount of craftsmanship to each handmade quilt. For many years, friends and family members were invited to contribute to the quilts honouring their loved one. As a result, a variety of different mediums were employed to accommodate different levels of skill and creativity, including embroidery, gel paints, digitally printed fabric, beading, fabric glue, fabric markers, and more.

The 1991 quilt marked a significant year for Casey House, Princess Diana of Wales visited the hospital and was famously photographed shaking hands with clients living with HIV. A fictional retelling of this visit was adapted into a stageplay called Casey & Diana, which premiered at Stratford Theatre in 2023.  In a rare occurrence, the 1991 quilt was loaned and displayed outside the walls of Casey House to Stratford Festival, then Soulpepper Theatre (Toronto) and Theatre Aquarius (Hamilton) to accompany their productions of the play. After a chance encounter with museum curators, the quilt was then included in the Quilts: Made in Canada exhibition at Royal Ontario Museum.

After its tour, it was sent back to volunteer quilting committee members Arthur and Glenn for repairs because while on display they’d noticed that several of the names were faded or had completely disappeared. This is from regular wear inside, but also because early quilts were taken outdoors on occasion to community events or parades and UV exposure in addition to natural aging after multiple decades, compounded the wear and tear of some quilts.

The faded names were corroborated through old photos and our archived records. In some cases where the blocks were completely blank, Arthur used UV lights to detect traces of faded pigment and make out the names. With a better understanding of the repairs needed, the duo began cutting and hand stitching fabric letters that would be more durable than the previous pigments. Structural repairs to the quilt were also made to the display rod sleeve on the back.

We are in awe of the craftsmanship and dedication of our quilting committee members, who generously contribute their time and skills to remember the legacies of those who died at Casey House. Casey House deeply thanks Arthur Wong and Glenn Bell for completing the tremendous undertaking of this reparation, and we look forward to proudly displaying it onsite once again in our seasonal rotation.

Learn more about the quilts and Arthur from Casey House’s 2023-24 impact report here.

From stages to dance floors, drag joy has long been part of Casey House.

At the height of the AIDS epidemic, when fear and stigma were widespread, the Toronto drag community rallied to support a radical idea: a hospice for people dying of AIDS.

What followed was a remarkable series of drag show fundraisers that would shape the future of compassionate HIV/AIDS care in this city.

Between 1987 and 2007, ten drag productions – collectively known as DQ – raised more than one million dollars for Casey House.

These shows were bold, glamourous, and deeply communal. With casts of more than 60 performers and multi-day runs, productions like The Sequin, Lucky Lady and Diva Oz Vegas played to full houses and enthusiastic audiences. They were theatrical, cheeky and dazzling!

But as entertaining as they were, the shows couldn’t stop the impact of AIDS, which was felt both on and off stage.

By the early 1990s, more than 20% of DQ cast members had died as a result of HIV- many at Casey House. Performers honoured those they had lost while continuing to show up, often while managing their own health challenges. They danced while grieving friends. They fundraised while facing their own diagnosis.

Joy was not an escape.
It was an act of love.
An act of resistance.
It was care.

Seventeen years after the last DQ show – a new fundraiser was reborn in that same spirit.

David’s Disco is a high-energy dance party, featuring a drag performance, music that keeps people moving, a silent auction, and unexpected moments in every corner of the packed dance floor.

In only its second year, tickets sold out and it raised over $500,000. The disco was a roaring success.

But David’s Disco is more than a fabulous party.

It’s named in honour of David Shannon, an activist, journalist, and beloved community leader who died at Casey House in 2018 at the age of 55.

In his twenties, David won hearts with his exuberant and witty portrayals of Montreal gay life through his column Out in the City and The Homo Show on McGill radio. As he experienced the devastating losses of the AIDS epidemic -including the death of his best friend – David became an articulate and passionate advocate for the gay community, speaking out against police hostility and the indifference of the wider world.

He also worked to combat the loneliness experienced by people living with HIV. David co-founded AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM) and volunteered as an AIDS buddy, offering comfort and companionship to strangers facing the end of life.

David went on to have a long and successful journalism career at CBC in both Montreal and Toronto, and he was a much-loved brother and uncle. At his request, his funeral was a disco dance party -filled with memories, laughter, tears, and, of course, dancing.

David’s Disco is inspired by that final wish.

It is an opportunity to celebrate David Shannon, to honour the drag artists and activists who came before him, and to remember all those who have been cared for at Casey House. Funds raised from the evening support compassionate care for individuals living with and at risk of HIV – today and into the future.

While years apart, DQ and David’s Disco hold similar missions. They are part of the same story. We come together. We celebrate. We move to the beat.

Who will you dance for?

David’s Disco, Saturday March 28 at The Concert Hall.

DAVID'S DISCO

Study reveals only 44% of Canadians are confident that people living with HIV receive stigma-free health care when they need it – a gap the film recognizes through storytelling

TORONTO – February 19, 2026 — Casey House – a hospital unlike any other providing care for people living with and at risk of HIV – today announces the release of Big Fucking Deal, directed by Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Hubert Davis, as part of the hospital’s ongoing Smash Stigma campaign.

Thanks to decades of scientific innovation, HIV is medically manageable for many people. But the ability to access and sustain consistent HIV care is not equally shared, especially when barriers compound and reinforce one another. A study commissioned by Casey House found that more than half of Canadians (54%) don’t feel they understand what it means to live with HIV today – a gap that leaves stigma unchallenged and barriers unseen. Big Fucking Deal responds by demonstrating how stigma intensifies and outcomes diverge when an HIV diagnosis intersects with challenges such as housing insecurity, substance use dependency, mental health challenges, and discrimination tied to identity.

“We’ve made extraordinary progress in HIV treatment, but equity has not kept pace,” said Joanne Simons, CEO, Casey House. “This film, the sixth edition of our longstanding Smash Stigma initiative, is a call to see the full humanity of people living with HIV. It asks Canadians to replace assumption with understanding and empathy, especially when other challenges are present in people’s lives.”

For people navigating multiple barriers at once, the difference between treatment being available and treatment being truly accessible and sustainable can be enormous. It can mean trying to stay connected to care without stable housing, managing mental illness amid trauma or poverty, or facing discrimination that makes seeking support feel unsafe. The film centres these realities not to sensationalize them, but to make visible what stigma often obscures: the human cost of being misunderstood, unsupported, or judged.

“We approached this as a human story first, not a diagnosis,” said Hubert Davis, founder of Folktale films and director of the film. “It’s about what people are carrying, and how that load is magnified for those living with HIV but also confronting difficult realities of housing, mental illness and substance use dependency. We wanted to honour that reality without over-simplifying it. If Big Fucking Deal does one thing, I hope it helps people see stigma differently and see the person first.”

This tension shows up in what Canadians think it takes to live with HIV today. Medication is widely understood, with 82% of Canadians saying consistent access to medication is typically required to stay healthy. However, fewer recognize the role of stigma-free health care (63%) and stable housing (48%) in making consistent care possible. Trust in care is also fragile: only 44% of Canadians say they are confident that people living with HIV in Canada receive stigma-free health care when they need it.

“The science is clear: HIV treatment works. But there are still gaps in understanding, and too little confidence that people will receive stigma-free care when they need it,” said Yasser Ismail, Chief Strategy & Knowledge Officer, Casey House. “That’s exactly the gap Casey House exists to close, by meeting people where they are and ensuring care is delivered with dignity and without judgement.”

Watch and learn more
To watch the film, learn more about the campaign and Casey House’s work to deliver compassionate, stigma-free HIV care, visit SmashStigma.ca.

High-res images and campaign assets can be found here.

To book an interview with any of our following spokespeople or for more information about Big Fucking Deal please contact:

Sheri Clish
sheri.clish@narrativexpr.com

Spokespeople available for interviews include:

  • Joanne Simons, CEO of Casey House
  • Hubert Davis, film Director
  • Norrad Bouzide, Person with lived experience accessing and providing care

About Casey House:

Casey House is unlike any other hospital. They are a specialty hospital in Toronto providing ground-breaking care to people living with and at risk of HIV. Together with clients, staff, peers and volunteers, they strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels safe. Casey House offers a growing mix of inpatient, and outpatient services that meet clients where they are in their individual journeys of health and wellness and actively dismantle barriers to care and safe living. As a hospital that strives to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels safe, they’re also tackling the deeply ingrained stigma associated with HIV. With bold ideas and brave partners, they make the humanity of each client the heart of everything they do.

Survey Methodology:

These findings are from a survey conducted by Casey House from January 16 to 20, 2026, among a representative sample of 1,511 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Solitary Iceberg (2020), Sunlit Sky (2019), Whirlpool (2022), and After the Storm (2022) by Ooloosie Saila. Installed in inpatient client rooms at Casey House.

Casey House is thrilled to share that four artworks by Inuit artist Ooloosie Saila now adorn the walls of four inpatient rooms, thanks to generous support from Yabu Pushelberg. Casey House inpatient clients frequently spend several weeks here resting and healing; however, the focus isn’t just on physical health during an inpatient stay. We strive to foster overall well-being by creating a serene environment for healing. Given our longstanding connection to the art world, we are delighted to bring artwork into inpatient client rooms.

George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, renowned Canadian interior designers became entranced/learned about/fell in love with Ooloosie Saila’s work when they bought Composition (Isolated Iceberg) at our annual art auction fundraiser, Art With Heart in 2019 and later saw Island Landscapes I in 2022. Saila is from Cape Dorset, Nunavut, and has had work in Art With Heart five times courtesy of Feheley Fine Arts gallery. Saila’s work left a lasting impression on George and Glenn; they are inspired by her use of colour and soaring landscapes. Moreover, as longtime Casey House supporters, they began to think deeply about how HIV disproportionately impacts Indigenous communities across Canada.

Yabu Pushelberg collaborated with RxArt, a nonprofit that integrates artwork into hospitals, to acquire four of Saila’s pieces for Casey House: Sunlit Sky (2019), Solitary Iceberg (2020), Whirlpool (2022), and After the Storm (2022). Installation began in August 2025 and great care was taken to reproduce the artwork with a material that could be regularly sanitized between admissions according to hospital standards.  Meanwhile, we consulted our Indigenous Advisory committee throughout the acquisition process. They suggested that our clients, who span across all different racial, sexual, gender, and spiritual identities, may wish to see art personally relevant to them in the inpatient rooms. As a result, we installed these four with plans to add work from other artists to the remaining ten inpatient rooms.

The inclusion of artwork complements the intentional design of our inpatient client rooms. The 14 private rooms were designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects with the patient experience in mind. Creating a comfortable space that could act as a client’s “home away from home” was crucial for the Hariri Pontarini team.  Each of the rooms includes a closet with hangers, cable television, windows with ample light, a seating area, wall-set wood panels that store bedside medical equipment when not in use, and private washrooms with accessible showers. While someone is admitted to our inpatient unit, doctors, nurses, a pharmacist, a physiotherapist, a occupational therapist, and social workers provide onsite support. Our kitchen services team provides three meals a day delivered to each client during their inpatient stay, so they can be nourished with delicious homecooked food while they heal. When a client is admitted to Casey House, we hope that they feel the warmth and ease that comes from our purposeful design and personalized care services.

With these new art installations, we are able to further elevate the inpatient experience to make our House feel even more like a home. Now, inpatient clients staying in these four rooms can enjoy beautiful landscapes from the comfort of their beds, even when the real skies are cloudy outside their window. Our thanks to George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg for bringing this vision to light. We look forward to adding more artwork to the remaining ten inpatient rooms.

Casey House’s lead founder and nationally acclaimed journalist June Callwood would be 100 years old this Sunday, June 2. In honour of the centenary of her birth we remember June’s words, “We are all capable of a bit more humanity than we can imagine.” As a social justice activist, she was an inspiration for our approach and philosophy of care. In reference to Casey House, June once said, “We are taking care of people who need it in ways they can accept. Casey House was named in honour of June’s son, who was killed by a drunk driver at the age of 20. The loss of such a young and vibrant adult felt similar to the loss of so many young men from AIDS.

Want to learn more about June Callwood? Read more about June on the Our Origins page of Casey House’s website, which includes her biography. You can also check out With Dignity: The Story of Casey House, a podcast created by Soulpepper Theatre, wherever you listen to your podcasts. Her published works, including Twelve Weeks in Spring (1986) and Jim: A Life with AIDS (1988), can be found at your local TPL branch. And, if you’re ever in the area, you can stop by June Callwood Park here in Toronto at 636 Fleet St.

Happy Birthday, June Callwood!

Casey House is pleased that Bill C-22 – Canada Disability Benefit Act has received Royal Assent and is now law. This new federal law establishes the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), to reduce poverty and support the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities – a population “more likely to live in poverty than working-age persons without disabilities, because of economic and social exclusion” and that requires targeted benefits. 

Casey House serves clients with disabilities, particularly those with illnesses or conditions that are “episodic” – meaning, they vary in severity and duration and can include periods of wellness. Most clients are HIV+ and contend with multiple chronic conditions – many of which are exacerbated by the drug poisoning crisis, housing crisis, and rising cost of living. Our hospital is committed to understanding our clients’ health concerns in the broader context of their lives – including their income and financial situation, which is an area of high need. 

Throughout the legislative process, Casey House appreciated the opportunity to comment on Bill C-22. As outlined in our most recent submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI), we highlighted the importance of ensuring that the CDB is designed and delivered to: 

  • Support people with episodic disabilities living in poverty: examples of episodic disabilities include chronic conditions and diseases such as HIV, mental illness, and substance use disorder. People with episodic disabilities face unique barriers to financial security and require supports that enable them to meet their basic needs. 
  • Reach people with disabilities living in poverty who face barriers to filing income tax returns: the CDB will be based on annual income tax returns, however for people living in deep poverty, such as those without housing, it can be difficult to file their taxes regularly. If barriers to tax filing are not addressed, we risk the CDB not reaching those who need it most. 
  • Ensure that people with disabilities living in poverty continue to have uninterrupted access to health benefits through provincial disability support programs: most Casey House clients receive income support from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), which also provides coverage for life-saving medications. Implementing the CDB will require coordination between different levels of government to ensure people have continued, uninterrupted access to provincial health benefits to meet their health care needs. 

As the federal government now proceeds to developing the regulations to guide the design and delivery of this new benefit, Casey House looks forward to continuing to advocate for the CDB to effectively reach all working–age persons with disabilities living in poverty, and critically, for the CDB to be adequately funded to improve the financial security of people with disabilities living in poverty. 

Casey House recognizes and acknowledges that systemic inequities deeply affect our clients, and believes it is our responsibility to advocate for compassionate and socially-just health care. Our advocacy seeks to address the structural barriers that prevent optimal health, and improve the well-being of all people living with or at risk of HIV. To learn more, visit Advocacy. 

As a specialty hospital in Toronto providing care for people living with and at risk of HIV, Casey House serves people who face multiple barriers to having their basic needs met. We acknowledge that systemic inequities have a profound effect on people’s lives, and believe that everyone deserves judgment-free care – both within and beyond our hospital. With the continuing drug poisoning crisis, housing crisis, and rising cost of living, the need to address the social factors that determine health and well-being is beyond urgent; and tackling these challenges requires thoughtful, transparent, accountable, and compassionate leadership that views people for their humanity amidst the challenges they face.

With less than a month until the mayoral by-election, we are sharing three principles that the next Mayor of Toronto must champion to improve health care and outcomes for people in high need:

1. Housing is a human right, and stable housing and safe living conditions are essential to health and well-being

2. Substance use is a health issue, not a criminal justice issue, and people who use drugs should not be criminalized

3. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect amidst the challenges they face, when interacting with local government

1. Housing is a human right, and stable housing and safe living conditions are essential to health and well-being

It is well known that homelessness and precarious housing are at crisis points in Toronto; in fact, Toronto City Council recently declared homelessness an emergency. In addition to a lack of affordable housing options for all income levels, there is a constant lack of emergency shelter spaces to accommodate the volume of people experiencing homelessness – a population in which Black, Indigenous, and other racialized groups continue to be over-represented. Given this reality, many people are sleeping outdoors, including in homeless encampments. The absence of a safe, stable place to sleep and access to the necessities of life makes it difficult to attain stability and adhere to a daily routine, which negatively impacts people’s physical and mental health, particularly during periods of inclement weather. As one Casey House nurse expressed, “For people without housing, managing their health requires so many things they just don’t have access to.”

The city’s housing charter and action plan recognize that housing is essential to the inherent dignity and well-being of the person, however this human right to housing is far from realized. While progress has been made, and while other orders of government have a role to play, there is much more work to do. The next Mayor of Toronto must exercise their power and responsibility to uphold and fulfill the human right to housing for all Torontonians. This entails allocating the maximum available resources, and using all appropriate means, to provide equitable, low-barrier access to adequate housing; and heeding the recommendations of Toronto’s Ombudsman to ensure a fair, consistent, transparent, and accountable response to homeless encampments.

2. Substance use is a health issue, not a criminal justice issue, and people who use drugs should not be criminalized

Despite substance use being a health issue it is treated as a criminal justice issue in Canada, which creates barriers to health services, particularly for people living in deep poverty. It leads health care providers to require that people stop using drugs in order to receive care; deters people from accessing services and supports which would build their resilience and improve their well-being; and drives the inevitable market of illegal drugs which have become increasingly toxic. Moreover, the criminalization of drugs is rooted in colonialism and racism, not in science or public health, and disproportionately impacts Black and Indigenous communities.

In Toronto, promising work is underway to address this systemic barrier: Toronto Public Health’s request to Health Canada to decriminalize illicit drug possession is a decisive policy action. Allowing the possession of drugs for personal use is imperative for decreasing stigma, creating pathways to health care, and improving health outcomes. Equally critical is how this policy change is implemented: it must be supported by a wide range of health and social services that respond to the diverse needs of people who use drugs, including harm reduction – a people-centred and evidence-based approach that aims to reduce the risks of substance use without judgment or preconditions of support. The next Mayor of Toronto must continue to lead and support the critical work underway to help protect people from a toxic drug supply; reduce the harms of substance use, including stigma and discrimination; and respect the health, dignity and human rights of people who use drugs.

3. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect amidst the challenges they face, when interacting with local government

The city’s community safety and well-being plan strives for Toronto to “Become a Trauma-Informed and Responsive City”, one that is “grounded and directed by a thorough understanding of the complete impacts of trauma, adversity, racism and violence on people, families and neighbourhoods.”

A trauma-informed approach accepts and understands the impact of trauma on someone’s life; provides an opportunity for people to express their needs and experiences without feeling judged; and cultivates safety in every interaction to build trusting relationships. In our city, this means providing supports and infrastructure that are accessible and responsive to people’s circumstances and reflect the lived experiences of people from all walks of life, so that everyone feels safe, supported, and respected. The next Mayor of Toronto must champion Toronto’s commitment to becoming a trauma-informed and responsive city by acknowledging the profound effects of systemic inequities on people’s lives; ensuring that city services are delivered to help people to achieve stability in their lives and address the barriers they face; and espouse the fundamental notion that everyone deserves judgment-free care and support.

Leading with unequivocal compassion

All levels of government have a vital role to play in addressing the social factors that determine health and well-being, and in improving health care and outcomes for people in high need. As Toronto embarks on a new chapter of municipal political leadership, thoughtfulness, transparency, accountability, and compassion are imperative to promoting the health, dignity, and human rights of all Torontonians.


Casey House recognizes and acknowledges that systemic inequities deeply affect our clients, and believes it is our responsibility to advocate for compassionate and socially-just health care. Our advocacy seeks to address the structural barriers that prevent optimal health, and improve the well-being of all people living with or at risk of HIV. To learn more, visit Advocacy.

 

Black History Month is an opportunity to honour Black Canadians and the contributions they make to this country, which span hundreds of years, back to the early 1600s. As a hospital with HIV expertise, it is also an opportunity to call attention to the reality that Black communities are over-represented in rates of HIV, and to consider this population’s distinct health care needs. Statistics show that African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities are disproportionately affected by the virus: although these communties made up less than 5% of Ontario’s population in 2015, they accounted for 25% of all new HIV diagnoses.

Barriers to accessing education and employment opportunities, and systemic racism, contribute to the ACB population in Ontario being at higher risk of acquiring HIV, and all too frequently stigma prevents people from accessing prevention, testing and treatment.

A recent study of HIV prevalence and risk factors among ACB people in Ontario¹ suggests that addressing social determinants of health, in particular income and employment related factors, might help lower their risk of acquiring HIV. As a hospital that embraces a holistic approach to health care, we are committed to considering these social factors that determine health and well-being when planning an individual’s care and to providing opportunities to address those factors through our services and programming. We also help reduce barriers to accessing health care by meeting clients where they are on their individual journeys of health and wellness, and taking time to partner with them to reach their health goals.

Another part of our hospital’s approach is to provide culturally-sensitive care without judgement. Creating an inclusive environment takes time, and trust, and in addition to refining our own service offerings, we build partnerships in the community to learn, share knowledge and make connections.

While Casey House’s philosophy and model of care helps support this population, having a team of staff, peers and volunteers that is reflective of the people we serve is also important; providers with lived experience is integral to delivering equitable health care. Casey House is committed to building such a team; one that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live and serve, and encourages learners, job seekers, and those wishing to volunteer, to explore opportunities to join our team.

In addition to highlighting the health needs of the ACB population during Black History Month, we are committed to celebrating Black achievement by continuing to build internal knowledge and by hosting month-specific programming. At the same time, we are also taking the opportunity to look at how Casey House as an organization, and how each team member, is contributing to anti-Black racism and re-committing ourselves to dismantling the structures and behaviours that perpetuate racism. This is critical to the health of our team, our organization, and the clients we serve.

  1. A cross-sectional investigation of HIV prevalence and risk factors among African, Caribbean and Black people in Ontario: The A/C Study, October 2022. Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Winston Husbands, Shamara Baidoobonso, Daeria Lawson, Muna Aden, Josephine Etowa, LaRon Nelson, Wangari Tharao

As a specialty hospital in Toronto that provides care for people who face multiple barriers to having their basic needs met, Casey House was pleased to share our recommendations for the 2023 Ontario Budget, as part of the public consultation process.

Casey House is committed to understanding our clients’ health concerns in the broader context of their lives. With the continuing drug poisoning crisis, housing crisis, and rising cost of living, the need to address the social factors that determine health and well-being is beyond urgent.

Casey House’s recommendations at a glance

While progress has been made in communities across the province, there is much more work to do – particularly to support people in high need for housing, mental health, and substance use supports. As a hospital, Casey House encourages the Ontario government to increase and improve access to:

  • Supportive housing for people coping with mental health and substance use challenges
  • Mental health and addictions care that doesn’t require abstinence from substance use
  • Wide-ranging harm reduction services and supports as part of overall health care

Casey House's recommendations

Read our full pre-budget submission for the 2023 Ontario Budget

Read now

The provincial government will table its 2023 Budget this spring.

Casey House recognizes and acknowledges that systemic inequities deeply affect our clients, and believes it is our responsibility to advocate for compassionate and socially-just health care. Our advocacy seeks to address the structural barriers that prevent optimal health, and improve the well-being of all people living with or at risk of HIV. To learn more, visit Advocacy.