The Blue Door Clinic at Casey House provides free primary health care services for uninsured and precariously insured people living with HIV in the Greater Toronto Area.  Clients at Blue Door Clinic are not eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or for the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) and are therefore unable to access healthcare easily. Examples of populations with temporary immigration status include people who are newcomers, refugees, international students, and migrant workers. It was originally founded as a grassroots project between multiple local community partners, and today, in addition to permanent staff it continues to be supported by clinicians from some of its founding organizations.

Care from Blue Door Clinic is truly personalized for each client. Appointments are scheduled for a minimum of 90 minutes to ensure clients have enough time to see multiple clinicians and address their health concerns. Delivering care through an HIV-primary-care model means that clients receive holistic support for any physical and mental health conditions, in addition to routine management of an HIV infection. This appointment format is especially helpful for individuals coping with a new HIV diagnosis, those with multiple health conditions, and people who require language interpretation.

Providing support and a listening ear to someone in their preferred language can be a huge comfort. Some staff speak more than one language and there are peer workers who provide language support as well. Peers also share empathy and their experiences with Canadian health care, the immigration process, or mutual personal challenges, especially during a client’s first visit. For many clients, their initial visit can come with anxiety about their health conditions, social stigmas, and confusion about navigating the new health care system ahead.

“I really like to provide care with cultural sensitivity. To everybody who comes to Blue Door Clinic and worries about how this is going to work, I tell them, ‘Don’t worry. I have been where you are, and we’re going to take care of everything.’ It’s nice that clients see someone who they can relate to and who speaks their language. Even when they book a follow up appointment, I want them to feel stability and comfort knowing they will see me again.”

– Program assistant, Blue Door Clinic

Services offered:

Case management

During an initial appointment, the case manager introduces clients to the clinic, explains the model of care, and the roles of the interdisciplinary team. Additionally, they support clients in navigating complex Canadian social service systems including immigration, health care, and social services.

Nurse practitioner

A nurse practitioner has an important role in the team, capable of key duties such as diagnosing, prescribing new medications, and ordering medical tests and diagnostics. Since Blue Door Clinic clients do not have health insurance, a nurse practitioner or physician provides essential interim primary care until clients can be connected to a long-term care provider. Many clients may discover their various diagnoses during the medical exam of the immigration process. Not only could they learn that they live with HIV, but they may also discover other ailments like hepatitis C, syphilis, diabetes, or anemia. Nurse practitioners can provide health education and resources to address each condition.

Casey House team

Blue Door Clinic clients have access to Casey House’s outpatient services. Clients may see specialists like our mental health clinician or physiotherapists. Nurses facilitate specimen collection for blood work and STI testing, as well as ensuring clients are up-to-date with vaccines and immunizations. The Blue Door team has also referred Blue Door Clinic clients to Casey House’s Inpatient unit for those requiring 24/7 health monitoring to stabilize their conditions.

Barriers to care:

Some clients have emigrated from environments with a high prevalence of HIV stigma. These communities may have deeply engrained erroneous beliefs that being HIV+ is a moral failing, and carrying the social burden of stigma can make taking the step to access care a difficult decision. Following a referral, the team at Blue Door Clinic combats these stigmas with a warm welcome on-site. Sometimes, all it takes is some meaningful time to build trust and a relationship before someone can truly thrive. The clinical lead recalls one client, who was initially too scared to be seen entering Casey House. After bringing them in through an alternate entrance and working with them over a year, that client is now a member of the Blue Door Clinic client advisory committee and feels comfortable providing feedback and bringing forward suggestions.

In addition to seeing a physician or nurse practitioner, accessing health care procedures can be costly and inaccessible for folks who do not have insurance. In Ontario, provincial standards of health care include recommended preventative testing in addition to standards for treatment. Blue Door Clinic does its best to combat these challenges by covering the cost of select procedures based on severity, or by connecting clients with compassionate care programs that provide free medications and medical reimbursement for specific procedures that require external referrals.

As Blue Door is expressly for people without access to health insurance, all clients eventually transition to permanent care provider, which as of fall 2026 can be at Casey House. Typically, by this time clients are on track to complete the Canadian immigration process and register for OHIP. Near this later stage, the case manager builds a transition plan that includes a six-month stabilization period as they connect clients to new health providers for HIV care, primary care, and more. These providers have more than the same services, they also have the same standards of compassionate care.  Many clients stay within the Casey House ecosystem and continue accessing outpatient services.

The staff at Blue Door Clinic feel privileged to serve this diverse population.

“I really enjoy being a nurse practitioner with the Blue Door Clinic. The clients are a lovely group of humans from diverse backgrounds, who make my work very fulfilling.”

– Nurse practitioner, Blue Door Clinic

“Clients have so much wisdom that they bring from their lived experiences. As a provider, it’s a privileged to learn and care for them.”

– Case manager, Blue Door Clinic

With their health stabilized, clients are better positioned to thrive in their lives, careers, and education. Being able to make deep human connections through health care is a special skill and magic that happens every day at the Blue Door Clinic.

Physiotherapy is a health discipline that covers a wide spectrum of treatment to improve mobility, reduce pain, and improve physical well-being. On our outpatient team, physiotherapist Carolann is an expert in physical impairments related to the nervous system, and treating people living with HIV. This is important because people living and aging with HIV experience a unique profile of chronic comorbidities and health complications, and/or may require additional considerations for their treatment plans.

As an outpatient service, physiotherapy can address acute issues like injuries, or long-term goals like adapting mobility, managing pain, or responding to life events such as surgeries. Carolann’s physiotherapy specialization means that goals of weight loss or wanting to exercise more are not suitable for physiotherapy treatment, and are instead supported through recreational therapy.

Physiotherapy in action

But before anyone starts moving, the client first describes their issue in their own words to Carolann. Oftentimes, they may have an explanation about the problem from their doctors, but are not able to understand the complex medical jargon. It can be even more challenging for aging clients exhibiting HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) who may be experiencing cognitive difficulties or memory loss. Knowing this, Carolann takes her time to provide comprehensive education with diagrams or 3D models to ensure clients truly understand what is happening with their bodies.

Next, she develops a treatment plan with the client that may include an exercise routine, fitness equipment, stretching, and manual manipulation. Some commonly addressed issues are falls-management and developing balance, building muscle mass, or increasing aerobic capacity.

Another branch of outpatient physiotherapy is mobility device distribution. Carolann works with our inpatient occupational therapist to host a weekly seating and mobility clinic. While other mobility clinics financially supported by the Ministry of Health’s Assistive Devices Program (ADP) typically have waitlists that span years before someone can obtain a device, At Casey House, having a registered authorizer and equipment on-site speeds up the process, In some cases, we also defray expenses not covered by the program. ADP covers 75% of the device cost and usually only people accessing social assistance can get the remaining 25% of the cost covered, Our team also considers individual needs. Mobility devices may be built for anyone, but care at Casey House is not one size fits all. Even quality of life changes like a different cushion for a seated device can make a big impact during daily use. Furthermore, the clinic also assists with basic device maintenance and repairs so they last longer and feel more personalized for our clients.

Carolann also combines forces with the inpatient physiotherapist and occupational therapist for the Making Sense of Pain group program. The multi-week program created by Pain BC helps individuals self-manage chronic pain. As people age with HIV, they are more susceptible to chronic pain and the associated disparaging mental impacts.

Advocating for better care

HIV symptoms can be episodic, so physical ailments may manifest only periodically; nevertheless, Carolann is ready to jump in and help. Even when she isn’t providing treatment, she can assist with client advocacy. Carolann recounts an instance where a client expressed that their surgeon was not taking their concerns seriously following a soft-tissue procedure. Carolann assessed the pain and swelling before writing a letter to the client’s family doctor advising that they receive additional imaging, assessment, treatment, and surgery.

“I advocate for our clients, because sometimes they have issues navigating the health care system and they’re not listened to, or don’t feel like they’re being heard. I also take the time to make sure that they know I hear what they’re saying and I’m going to try and help them get better.”

– Carolann, physiotherapist

Carolann admires the clients she sees and recognizes the importance of trauma-informed care. “The clients that I work with are the best. There’s a huge variety, but they’re very interesting, resilient, and very grateful for any help. […] You have to be genuine with them or they’ll know if you’re not.” Moreover, she appreciates how our physiotherapy services are low-barrier; it’s easy to access them when all our services are in one place and clients can even receive public transportation support to visit Casey House. You can find Carolann at lunch chatting with clients, sharing a meal, inviting them to her group exercise classes, or even attending to a client on the spot if they’ve had a fall.

Outside the house

Beyond Casey House, Carolann also contributes to clinical research relating to HIV and physiotherapy.  She uses her clinical knowledge alongside her ongoing practice to advance HIV knowledge.  In 2024, her work was celebrated with the Elisse Zack Award for Excellence in HIV and Rehabilitation. We’re honoured to have Carolann leading outpatient physiotherapy at Casey House and providing exemplary holistic care for our clients.

Table of materials for drawing, knitting, social tea, journaling, block printing, and other crafts. 

Therapeutic recreation is a clinical discipline that engages people with practical skills to improve mental well-being and belonging. Recreational therapists provide engaging activities to boost confidence, increase independence, build skills and social connections, and help find a renewed sense of purpose.

Activities are categorized by one of five domains of well-being—physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual. For example, a client who lives with chronic physical challenges after a stroke may work with our physiotherapist to regain range of motion in their limbs. Meanwhile, a recreational therapist may be integrated into their care plan to find physical adaptations for playing a sport they love.

At Casey House, clients access recreational therapy through both drop-in group programming and individual appointments. Rec therapy group programs are offered every weekday, with at least one program related to each domain available each season. Programs range from athletic activities, creative pursuits like journaling or art, life skills including cooking workshops, social discussion groups, and leisurely relaxation such as sound baths.  Also, sometimes there are special pop-up events often in partnership with community organizations, like clinics to get reduced-priced eyeglasses, mobile dentistry, hair grooming and make up, or free clothing.

The recreational therapy group program calendar, updated quarterly on our website, offers programs each day. These programs range across the five domains. 

Recreation to strengthen mental resilience

Anyone can benefit from therapeutic recreation. However, clients who experience social exclusion, or live with mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric disorders can significantly benefit. And, while boredom may be mildly unpleasant for some, it can lead to harm for others. For people with abundant free time– due to injury, unemployment, or retirement — a lack of schedule or purpose can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression. In other instances, boredom may be an escape for someone looking to reduce or stop using legal or illicit substance.

For instance, those looking to stop a nicotine habit, Casey House has partnered with the Centre of Addictions and Mental Health’s nicotine replacement therapy program. Our recreational therapists can dispense nicotine alternatives like gum or inhalers.

Engaging in activities, especially new ones, can be daunting. Barriers can include trying to figure out how to get started, feeling emotionally capable of learning a new skill, or even being physically able to commit. In these instances, recreational therapists can start with one-on-one appointments with a personalized approach.

“You can go to a doctor and they’ll write you a prescription for your problem, but they don’t always consider the means to achieve those goals—like the availability, affordability, or accessibility of the solution relative to the client. That’s [one of the ways] where recreational therapists come in, to help bridge those gaps and make those goals more obtainable.”

– Recreational therapist at Casey House

Taking the lead  

Our recreational therapists work closely with clients to build trust and discover their interests. For many clients without a stable social support system, Casey House staff, peers and volunteers may be some of the only people they interact with regularly. With time and sustained practice, many clients gain enough confidence to demonstrate their progress. Sometimes the next step means joining group sessions, and other times, it can even mean leading them with their own ideas Group environments can foster bonding and bring up fond memories of the past while making positive new ones too. Not only do clients feel more independent, but they also achieve a sense of pride in improving their abilities.

Participants in group programs are encouraged to lead a gathering with their own expertise, like tie dying or origami for the art studio, or bringing in a recipe for the cooking workshops.  

Progress often leads people to explore options outside of Casey House. Recreational therapists encourage clients to seek other programs within the community in addition to their participation here. Recreational therapists can also assist in finding external groups that are affordable or accessible. It comes down to keeping the momentum and engagement going as it transitions beyond Casey House.

Recreational therapy can bring clients a newfound purpose in their lives and assist them in finding strategies tailored to their needs to see it through. Clients are empowered to try new skills and explore opportunities for growth.  Success can look like many things: a slam dunk, a watercolour painting, a pleasant group gathering in the park, over even a homecooked meal. With recreational therapy, the real work happens intrinsically, and it’s more than meets the eye.

The social work team at Casey House plays an important role helping clients navigate systems that come with accessing health care. This is particularly important for people who do not have identification, are disconnected to health care systems, are new to Canada, have cognitive conditions, or otherwise have more limited experience managing their health. Being able to receive health care typically requires government identification, insurance coverage, a mailing address, contact information, coordination with other members of your health care team, transportation—and that’s all before you even attend the appointment.

Casey House’s social service workers (SSWs) help clients navigate administrative systems to find resources. Their relationships with clients begin during the intake process. when discussing what goals they hope to achieve. From there, clients can book appointments or attend drop-in hours to work on their objectives with a member of the social work team. Drop-in appointments are especially useful for people without reliable contact information like a phone number or email address, so staff can make the most of a client’s presence on-site.

Nowadays, more social support services are online, which is difficult for people without a smartphone, computer, internet, or without the digital literacy skills to find resources. Once they access a form for a client, they decipher and relay institutional jargon, acronyms, and the filing processes into simple language. Additionally, many systems are intertwined with prerequisites. For example, applying for social housing or the Canadian Pension Plan requires a piece of Ontario photo identification, your tax return notice of assessment, and proof of Canadian citizenship. Even missing just one of these elements means working backwards with a new process to obtain the missing piece. This occurs with housing programs; financial services like Old Age Security, Canadian Pension Plan, and Ontario Disability Support Plan; applying for government identification; and registration for other community services. Each task is a larger puzzle to uncover, and the social service workers help people solve it.

For more complex situations that require in-depth knowledge, SSWs refer clients to housing support agencies, legal support, immigration services, or to an external dedicated case manager.

However, even when clients can access services from other organizations, sometimes they still need help advocating for themselves. It can be daunting for someone not well-versed in the health care sector to articulate their needs or expectations for standards of care, so it helps to have an intermediary ally on their side. Behind the scenes, SSWs also connect with external health providers to get status updates such as waitlist positions for procedures or booking follow-up appointments on their behalf. Navigating these formal and intricate systems can be difficult, so it’s a tremendous help to have support from an SSW that speaks your language—whether that’s using live-translation services for someone whose primary language is not English or even for those who are illiterate and require information verbally. Social service workers continually rise to the task of meeting people where they are at in order to provide care that has a meaningful impact.

Having a warm introduction by a social service worker to another clinician, such as a nurse, mental health clinician, or harm reduction worker, makes the hospital feel more communal rather than hostile. Contributing shared team knowledge about each client and demonstrating that knowledge means clinicians are not faceless names on an appointment booking system, they are people making personal connections and building trust with clients and community members.

“As someone that used to volunteer here at Casey House, I’m very fortunate and appreciate the opportunity to work here.”

– Darwin, SSW

Connecting clients to care can be life-altering. Specialized services covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, like physiotherapy or psychiatry, can have new client waitlists that span multiple years for a first appointment. At Casey House, these wait times are significantly reduced. In one instance, a social service worker helped an aging client who became severely limited in mobility following a health incident.  After the SSW connected them to care from our physiotherapy and occupational therapy team, they were able to procure an automated mobility device. This improved their quality of life while also restoring their autonomy and ability to reengage with the world by being able to move once again. This process took mere months and the client transitioned from being homebound to independent trips outdoors.

“I really like the clients and community that we have, and the folks that we work with [at Casey House] are wonderful. I’m happy that I’m able to support the community”

– Taegan, SSW

Social service workers at Casey House possess diverse skillsets, not only in the services they provide but in their holistic approach. The SSW team provides compassionate, judgement-free care for everyone in the community. This includes folks that face increased stigma, like people who use substances or communities that are at higher risk of HIV. At Casey House, the social service team is always ready to welcome you with open arms, whenever you’re ready.

When someone arrives to use the SCS, staff bring them to one of the three private booths and provide any sterile equipment they may need for their session. Take-home harm reduction kits for safer substance use and safer sex are also available. After using their substances, clients are directed to the SCS lounge, where they can relax in comfortable seats with calming music and snacks as they are monitored for adverse effects.

If adverse symptoms appear, like low breathing rate or trouble breathing, the harm reduction team is quick to engage with a humanistic response. “Sometimes all we need to do is just keep the client engaged and encourage breathing, so we don’t have to jump to naloxone or get emergency medical services involved. It’s a more compassionate approach to actually engage with somebody rather than the carceral approach of flashing lights and vigorous sternal rubs,” says one harm reduction worker. However, if symptoms escalate towards an overdose, the team stabilizes the client, brings in a nurse to deploy oxygen or naloxone, and if needed, call for paramedics.

Adverse effects from substance use are so well managed in the SCS that in 2025-26, there were 1801 visits to Casey House’s inpatient and outpatient SCS, and amongst those there were only 8 overdoses, all of them successfully and safely managed by staff without EMS support.

Overdose management isn’t the only outcome. Harm reduction workers and peers build community and develop connection with clients. Staff and peers also chat with clients outside, in the lobby, or at lunch. Services are tailored to the needs of each individual, and harm reduction workers are nimble. Staff may call central intake for emergency shelter referrals to find someone a bed for the night; contact an external health provider to help them book an appointment; offer a shower and clean clothing; or act as a confidante to the successes, happenings, or struggles that clients are experiencing.

Toronto, ON – Casey House announces that starting in summer 2026, the specialty HIV hospital will be introducing interdisciplinary primary care that includes doctors and a nurse practitioner to its existing outpatient services. The clinical service expansion will connect Casey House’s client community of people living with and at risk of HIV to long-term comprehensive care. This project is executed in collaboration with Women’s Health in Women’s Hands and South Riverdale Community Health Centre as a part of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan.

Casey House provides medical and social services for people who are living with HIV and people from communities at increased risk for HIV due to population-based factors, behavioural risk, and those facing barriers such as mental health challenges, substance-use disorder, or being street-involved. Many of their clients are a part of the 1.9 million Ontarians who are unable to access primary care, and resort to unfixed services such as hospital emergency rooms, walk-in clinics, or community drop-in clinics for care. With this new addition of providers, Casey House will serve as a first point of contact for health care with its embedded approach to providing stigma-free, dignified care. Primary care clients will have the option of self-selecting other outpatient offerings such as nursing services, recreational therapy groups, and supervised consumption services, for full wraparound support.

“With this new chapter of primary care, our goal is to continue to build longitudinal relationships with clients that keeps them healthy and connected to prevention, screening, treatment, and health management. By providing low-barrier primary care, we can help keep people healthy and reduce the need for them to seek out care in emergency rooms and meaningfully re-engage folks back into the health care system with our judgement free care,” says Joanne Simons, CEO of Casey House.

Current Casey House clients will be identified for initial attachment, and community health partners will be encouraged to refer their clients age 18 years or older post-launch. Attachment to Casey House’s primary care team is set to begin in June with appointments beginning in summer 2026. For more information, visit caseyhouse.ca.

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 their clients, staff, peers and volunteers, they strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels safe. Casey House offers a growing mix of inpatient, outpatient and community-based services that meet clients where they are in their individual journeys of health and wellness. Building on a legacy of advocacy and social justice, they actively dismantle barriers to care and safe living. Casey House provides a community and sense of belonging that connects people to care. The humanity of each client is at the heart of everything they do.

Set Smash Rally, a volleyball fundraising tournament in support of people living with and at risk of HIV

Toronto, ON – June 10, 2026 – Ten former Canadian Olympians and elite athletes will step on the court Saturday, June 13 as part of the inaugural Set Smash Rally in support of Casey House’s HIV health care.

This brand-new local event is a high-energy, one-day indoor volleyball tournament at Kerr Hall Gymnasium (Toronto Metropolitan University), where corporate teams celebrate their fundraising achievements by competing in short, action-packed games of volleyball.

Each corporate sponsored team has a captain and six or more additional players. Each team is linked with an Olympian or elite athlete to help coach them to the win. Morning and afternoon games are broken up with a hearty lunch and an engaging courtside chat by Olympic champions Mark Tewksbury and the honourable Marnie McBean in conversation with Casey House chief medical officer Ed Kucharski.

Mark Tewksbury says, “I’m thrilled to be participating in the inaugural Set Smash Rally for Casey House as co-honorary chair with my fellow Olympian, the Honourable Marnie McBean.  Casey House provides care and support for almost 1,000 clients every year, people in need of their stigma-free, compassionate approach. This tournament is an opportunity to celebrate fundraising through athletic play which, coming from sport, I love!”

When someone participates in Set Smash Rally, they’re not just staying active – they’re supporting life-changing health care at Casey House. In advance of game day Saturday, June 13, each player fundraises towards a team total. Funds raised through Set Smash Rally fuel the hospital’s inpatient and outpatient programs that meet people where they are in their individual health journey with dignity, compassion and respect. Gameplay participation helps ensure people living with and at risk of HIV receive the specialized care they deserve.

Through sport, Set Smash Rally aims to raise vital funds, celebrate community, and smash HIV stigma – while building a new tradition that champions health, dignity, and team spirit.

WHAT: Casey House’s Set Smash Rally volleyball tournament
WHEN: Saturday, June 13, 2026
WHERE: Kerr Hall gym, TMU, 379 Victoria St.
TIME:  9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
INFO: SetSmashRally.ca

Honorary co-chairs: Olympians Mark Tewskbury and the Honourable Marnie McBean

Athlete coaches: Heather Bansley, Daniel Dearing, Crystal Emmanuel, John Epping, Nikkita Holder, Monique Kavelaars, Kristina May (Valjas)

Media Contacts

Lisa McDonald
Director, Communications & Public Policy
lmcdonald@caseyhouse.ca | 416-962-4040 ext. 4006 | 647-224-4415

Chanel Attema
Communications Advisor
cattema@caseyhouse.ca

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 their clients, staff, peers and volunteers, they strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels safe. The hospital offers a growing mix of inpatient, outpatient and community-based services that meet clients where they are in their individual journeys of health and wellness. Building on a legacy of advocacy and social justice, they actively dismantle barriers to care and safe living. Casey House provides a community and sense of belonging that connects people to care. The humanity of each client is at the heart of everything they do. Caseyhouse.ca

In this nursing week spotlight, we’re introducing Christene, director of clinical services at Casey House. Christene oversees programs and clinical offerings provided by both the outpatient and inpatient teams.

Christene initially started her career with one goal in mind: to become an emergency room nurse. As a student, she seized every opportunity to achieve this, including taking on extra educational courses and training. She succeeded in getting an emergency room nurse role upon graduating, and after moving to a bigger hospital in Toronto, she quickly climbed the ranks to new positions with her continued resolve. Over the years, Christene has worked as an emergency and trauma room nurse, charge nurse, occupational health and safety nurse, and an organ donation coordinator, before being promoted to leadership positions.

Looking back, Christene cites her drive and initiative as key factors to her success. There was not a specific pathway through her journey, she found new opportunities, and the more she raised her hand the more she got her foot in the door working on new projects. She grew and learned from those experiences, eventually acquiring more skills. Simultaneously, Christene enrolled in more professional education programs for pediatric life support, advanced care life support, and business courses like finance and management, before she ultimately acquired her master’s degree in nursing. Christene’s perspective on her ongoing journey of upgrading her abilities was that no one else was going to do it for her – she had to go out and reach for it herself. Her hard work did not go unnoticed, her mentor and fellow colleagues nominated her to new positions as a supervisor and manager; and at Casey House, she now acts as a director.

While she no longer attends to bedside nursing duties, Christene uses her perspective as a nurse to inform her approach to leadership. Nurses have frontline experience with clients and work with diverse peers in a variety of disciplines. Having a solid foundation of clinical best practices keeps Christene grounded as a leader.

“Anybody can be a leader. Sometimes, people are leaders without even realizing it,” says Christine. “At the end of the day, you gain a list of experiences and opportunities that help shape you and help guide you to be ready for the next position.”

At Casey House, Christene finds that the best way to manage two diverse interdisciplinary teams – inpatient and outpatient – is to remain flexible and adaptive. Christene asks questions to understand best practices of each team and brings in her own history from working at different organizations to solve problems, make decisions, and find new strategies.

“I’ve been enjoying getting to know our clients and seeing how amazing our staff are: they support clients in so many different ways, going above and beyond. I’ve seen nursing staff offer to host painting sessions with clients, arrange special events for clients, or even stay late to attend events for clients. Casey House is a very special place.”

Thank you for being a part of our team Christene!

For Nursing Week 2026, we’re spotlighting nurses who work in different areas of Casey House. First up, meet Jamie, a charge nurse in the inpatient unit. Jamie was also the recipient of the first-annual Casey House Nursing Award in 2025.

Our inpatient unit has 14 private rooms for sub-acute stays requiring 24/7 care. Throughout an inpatient admission, nurses typically perform tasks like monitoring symptoms, conducting health assessments, and administering medication. Charge nurses have additional responsibilities in coordinating client admissions, appointments, and discharges, all while maintaining a leadership role supporting the other nurses, RPNs and health care aides in the unit.

One thing that Jamie appreciates at Casey House is our approach to connecting with clients. Nurses work collaboratively with clients to build trust, which includes supporting clients to identify their own goals and ensuring that they feel supported upon discharge. She says, “We’ve had some clients refer to us as family. You really get to know the clients. I think [Casey House is] different because [clients] aren’t just a number, they’re a person.”

For clients who use substances, Casey House’s proactive harm reduction approach allows them to be more comfortable during their stay and receive care in an accepting space. Jamie notes that inpatient nurses do it all – they build relationships with clients, maintain complex care plans, and work with a variety of different clinicians on the client’s care team.

While she had already been considering working in health care and was volunteering at SickKids Hospital. Jamie was inspired to become a nurse after meeting an incredible ICU nurse during her grandfather’s admission to hospital. When this nurse heard about Jamie’s interest, she showed Jamie the different functions and duties of the job. That sealed the deal for Jamie, she admired how the ICU nurse demonstrated not only medical skill, but compassion for both clients and their families.

From there, she completed her nursing student placement at Casey House, was hired for a full-time position, and worked her way up to charge nurse. Jamie’s exemplary skills were recognized with a nursing award last year. She was nominated by her colleagues, which she considers to be a real honour. As for the 2026 recipient? She says that they should be “caring, compassionate, and a good advocate. Someone who represents Casey House’s values while being passionate about nursing.”

Thank you for your years of dedication to our inpatient unit Jamie! We can’t wait to announce who will be the Casey House 2026 nursing award recipient.