Toronto events raise money for AIDS research and programs to help war-affected children | Canada Voices

CANFAR Bloor Street Entertains, Nov. 28, Toronto

A record-setting $1.7-million was raised at the 28th edition of Bloor Street Entertains, held Nov. 28 in Toronto. The event supports the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR), with proceeds being directed to numerous research grants and a bevy of implementation projects across Canada. New HIV cases in this country rose by 25 per cent in 2022 with cases among youth and women representing an alarming trend. To combat these stats, CANFAR launched in 2022 a national youth awareness sexual-health platform called SEXFLUENT, which has reached some three million people since its inception. Additionally, the express HIV testing laboratory at the HQ clinic in Toronto has completed 200,000 tests since its launch two years ago. The format for this year’s gala remained untouched: a couple dozen dinners popped up across Yorkville, with big brands including Max Mara, Tiffany & Co. and Saint Laurent opening their doors after hours for swish, chef-led suppers. Yours truly was a guest at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, where Michael Liebrock, one of this year’s co-chairs, and committee members including Scott Brison and Maxime St-Pierre (past gala co-chairs) and Jay McCauley were hosting their respective guests. Across from me at dinner was Catherine Nugent and nearby was decorator Lee Wells, who were both part of the group that founded the event in the early years of the AIDS crisis. After dinner, gala-goers from across the neighbourhood convened in the hotel ballroom downstairs for the after-party. Crystal Waters, the house- and dance-music legend, was this year’s headliner. Her 1991 megahit Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee) had everyone, including gala co-chairs Candice Sinclair and Janice Fricker and honorary chair Sylvia Mantella, on their feet. Also in attendance was CANFAR board chair Andy Pringle and his wife Valerie; Belinda Stronach, chairman, CEO and president of the Stronach Group, and her son Frank Walker (who DJ’d the after-party); actor Emily Hampshire; CANFAR ambassador and CEO of Pendo International Projects Ciro Muiruri; cosmetic surgeon Trevor Born; and of course Alex Filiatrault, CEO of CANFAR.

War Child Gala, Dec. 4, Toronto

In the same hotel ballroom the following week, it was Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo fame performing at the sold-out the World That’s Possible gala held by, and in support of, War Child. The evening marked the organization’s 25th anniversary and raised an impressive $1.14-million for War Child’s programs that help conflict-affected children and families escape cycles of violence and poverty in Yemen, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Sudan and South Sudan. This year the event honoured three individuals who have long supported War Child’s efforts: author and poet Margaret Atwood, music and media executive Denise Donlon and philanthropist Stephen Smith. After dinner, the aforementioned Cuddy and Keelor were joined on stage by War Child ambassador Chantal Kreviazuk and guests Kim Stockwood and Damhnait Doyle.