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We're cooking up something good

June’s HIV+ Eatery, presented by RBC Royal Bank is the place to be March 3,4 & 5 – enjoy a delicious meal, meet our amazing team of chefs and learn about living with HIV in 2020.
 
Reverse stigma, reserve a table.
 
Limited availability for June’s Tuesday March 3^rd seating buy now
Good availability for June’s Wednesday March 4^th seating buy now
Limited availability for June’s Thursday March 5^th seating buy now

Send your love

With artists, buyers, gallerists and sponsors not able to gather for Art With Heart this year, Casey House Foundation is asking members of our community to express their love for Casey House with a drawing or words. Learn how to send your love at caseyhouse.com/love and see the love after Labour Day on social media @CaseyHouseTO.

Easing restrictions

As COVID-19 restrictions ease and community spread remains relatively low, Casey House continues to welcome day health clients for individual appointments and is once again taking referrals for new clients. And, while some sessions are still being conducted virtually, a handful of small scheduled groups are meeting on-site. Volunteers and peers continue to deliver boxes of food and harm reduction supplies to clients' homes. Refer a client to Casey House here.

Consider your legacy

Create a powerful philanthropic legacy by establishing a planned gift from your will or estate. Bequests can be made in many forms, learn about legacy giving from our website, or contact Casey House Foundation senior development officer Tracy Hatten.
 
Ensure your memory lives on through compassionate care for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Voices for World AIDS Day

December 1^st was World AIDS Day, #GivingTuesday and the premiere of our virtual variety show, Voices for World AIDS Day. Thank you to everyone who supported Casey House by participating.

Voices for World AIDS Day is now available for broader viewing, click here to watch. In addition to musical performances, see the Casey Awards recipients recognized during the show: Alex Lifeson, M?A?C AIDS Fund & Haran Vijayanathan.

Remembering

Casey House's annual service of remembrance was held over Zoom this year. It was followed by an on-site installation of remembrance, so staff members would have a quiet space to reflect and grieve the clients who passed away this year.

Accessible nursing

People living with HIV who lack health coverage or immigration status can now access care at the Blue Door Clinic. Learn about Casey House's participation in this essential service on a new podcast, Outspoken: HIV Nurses in Canada Make Noise.

Continuing to care for clients

Despite the current lockdown, Casey House continues to provide takeout lunches & book scheduled appointments for day health program clients. Learn more at http://ow.ly/tOJI50CvTRb

COVID-19 program changes

Casey House has further modified our programs in light of the community spread of COVID-19.
 
Casey House is now closed to everyone except essential staff and inpatient clients; regular on-site day health programming is suspended while the inpatient unit continues to operate.

Read more to see how we are supporting day health clients.

Take care

If you care about Casey House you have a big heart and big hearts can hurt in times such as these. Take care of yourself so you can keep helping us take care of our clients.
 
Your loyalty to Casey House buoys us, and will help in the coming months and year as we continue to support clients while keeping them and our staff team, as safe as possible.

Draw your heart online

Now you can send your love directly from your phone, tablet or desktop. Visit caseyhouse.com/love to see the love and send your own.

You can also donate. All contributions are being doubled thanks to a generous donor who is matching donations up to $50,000.

Drawing by Andrea WInkler

Reflecting on the AIDS pandemic

"Pandemics thrive on fear and myth and misconception and stigma which we experienced - and are experiencing again. The gay community has a strong point of reflection with this." Casey House CEO Joanne Simons, who along with chief medical officer Ed Kucharski was featured in Shaun Proulx's recent Toronto Sun column. 

See the impact you''re making

Introducing Casey House's 2019-20 impact report, out now in a new digital format. The report includes peer and client testimonials, an article about our podcast Positively Speaking, an update about Art With Heart with a link to the auction night video, and celebrates the #Smashstigma campaign. Find it at impact2020.caseyhouse.com

Keep sending your love

While it's sad not to be reporting on the success of Art With Heart, which would have been last night, we are thankful for the artists, galleries, sponsors, Patrons' Circle members, art buyers, auction attendees, curatorial committee members and volunteers, for sending your love.

As part of Send Your Love a generous donor is matching all contributions up to $50,000 and we have almost reached our goal. If you are able to give, please donate today.

This heart is from curatorial committee member Tess Peckover from Bau-Xi Gallery

COVID-19 and HIV

If you live with HIV or love someone who does, read this brief article of guidance and considerations around caring for people who have COVID-19 and are living with HIV and AIDS.

New inpatient beds

Casey House's new inpatient unit was officially opened for business last week with a low key ribbon-cutting ceremony. The space was converted from a dining room to a 10-bed inpatient unit in only three weeks. Read about our temporary expansion here.

Helping deliver care

We''re thankful for donors who responded to yesterday''s #GivingTuesdayNow appeal to offset the unforeseen cost of vehicle rentals for making food deliveries to clients isolating at home.
 
Caring people donated over 60 days' worth of rentals! Didn't get a chance to contribute? Donate now

Outpouring of support

Thank you to quick thinking businesses reaching out with support during the pandemic: coffee and doughnuts from Tim Horton's, fried chicken courtesy of Mary Brown's for staff, Roots clothing donation for inpatient clients and the creative 'Cuts for Casey House' by two Points Loyalty employees. We are grateful for your generosity and thoughtfulness.

Mental health week

The times are stressful and life is full of uncertainties; this pandemic is impacting everyone. During mental health week take care of yourself the way you help us take care of clients, with generosity and kindness.

Keeping clients safe during COVID-19

Casey House is working diligently to reduce the risk of infection to clients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.  As an early adopter of adaptive measures our building has been closed to guests, volunteers and peers for over a week now and is screening clients and staff upon entry.  

The day health program has been modified with a takeout model for lunch, no group activities and no new intakes. Team members are meeting individually with clients who need support and are sending care packages with 3 days worth of food to clients in need. The inpatient program continues to operate normally, although respite stays have been cancelled.

Casey House staff who can work from home are doing so, and the incredible clinical team are communicating regularly to ensure the hospital is considering all aspects of care as the situation develops.

What to watch

Finding yourself home more? It''s the perfect time to watch June''s, the 2018 documentary by Academy Award nominated director Hubert Davis about the inaugural June''s HIV+ Eatery now available on YouTube. Watch now 

Voices for World AIDS Day

If you've burned through YouTube and Netflix during the pandemic you'll appreciate having Voices for World AIDS Day to watch December 1. Tickets for our virtual variety show are on sale now, get yours at caseyhouse.com
 
This year's featured performers are Tynomi Banks, Shannon Mercer, Gavin McLeod, Jessica Mitchell, Jennifer Taverner, Rubie Magnitude, Asitha Tennekoon and Voices Rock Medicine, a choir of female physicians.
 
Thank you to show sponsors Scotiabank, The Slaight Family Foundation, Gilead Sciences Canada Inc., Well + Good Pharmacy, The New Classical 96.3FM and Blue Aardvark. We're grateful for your support.

World AIDS Day service of remembrance

Casey House is holding a virtual service of remembrance to honour clients who have passed away this year. If you are interested in joining on December 1, please contact heart@caseyhouse.ca for the time and the zoom link.

World AIDS Day events

Many other AIDS service organizations and groups are also celebrating World AIDS Day, find out what else is happening December 1st at catie.ca

Welcome new board chair

Due to COVID-19 Casey House''s AGM was restricted to outgoing and incoming board members and we weren't able to host our annual meeting. So, we didn't get to announce that the new chair of the board of directors for Casey House and Casey House Foundation is Jennifer Dewling. Congratulations Jennifer. Click here for a full list of board members.

All blood is equal

Casey House is proud to support All Blood is Equal, an advocacy campaign calling for an end to Canada's discriminatory blood donation ban, which is based on HIV stigma. Help lift the blood donation restrictions for MSM (men who have sex with men) by adding your voice here.

City Council LGBTQ2S+ advisory body seeking members

The City of Toronto is looking for 13 community and policy leaders with lived experience and/or expertise in LGBTQ2S+ issues who reflect the diversity of the community for its new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) Council Advisory Body. 
 
The LGBTQ2S+ Council Advisory Body provides advice to city staff and city council on identified priority issues to support the elimination of barriers and inequities experienced by LGBTQ2S+ communities accessing city programs and services. It will bring government, policy and community leaders to the table to focus on service level barriers as well as structural and systemic challenges faced by LGBTQ2S+ communities. Learn more and apply by August 7 on the City of Toronto's website.

Virtual Voices for World AIDS Day

Voices for World AIDS Day is online this year. Watch our virtual variety show hosted by Layne the Auctionista from the comfort of home Tuesday December 1st at 7 p.m. and support judgement-free HIV care.
 
Get your $20 tickets here or indulge in the VIP package for two featuring wine and snacks delivered to your door for only $100.

Client compliments

Casey House inpatient nurse Alexis Mavrogiannis was recently recognized by multiple clients in a hand-written letter as, "the best nurse anyone could ask for". One client said when she "finds out Alexis is the nurse for that day she all of a sudden feels very happy."
 
Our hospital is grateful to have team members like Alexis who provide care with compassion and thoughtful clients who take the time to formally recognize a nurse by writing a letter.

First HIV self-test approved

Finally, there is a safe, simple and effective HIV testing option for Canadians now that Health Canada has approved an HIV self-test.
 
The test produces results in one minute, making it a convenient, confidential option that and can be done at home.
 
Improved access to testing is important when an estimated 14% of Canadians living with HIV do not know their status and therefore cannot be on treatment to keep themselves healthy and protect others from contracting the virus.

Building the Art With Heart collection

Despite the pandemic, the 13 dedicated members of the Art With Heart curatorial committee continue to review artist and gallery submissions to build the 2020 collection. While the selection process is equally rigorous, meeting over Zoom has required it become a little more high tech.

Who deserves a Casey Award?

Celebrate the spirit of innovative leadership by nominating an individual or organization for The Casey Awards; someone who demonstrates leadership in social justice & commitment to HIV/AIDS. The nomination deadline has been extended until Friday. Who deserves to be recognized this year? Learn how here.

COVID-19 expansion

Casey House has responded to a need for additional hospital capacity by admitting patients in need of sub-acute and palliative care from other hospitals and temporarily expanding. Read more on our website.

The Casey Awards

Take a moment to recognize someone who has made a difference in HIV/AIDS, nominations for The Casey Awards are due Friday. Nomination details found here.

Congratulations Casey Award recipients

The 2020 Casey Awards committee is pleased to announce the selection of three recipients for their leadership in HIV/AIDS and social justice:
Alex Lifeson 
M?A?C AIDS Fund 
Haran Vijayanathan. 
Read about the winners here.

Due to pandemic restrictions, the awards will be presented at a later date when we can properly celebrate the recipients.

Re-opening our doors

With permission from Ontario Health, Casey House has re-opened the day health program for scheduled individual appointments. While some sessions are being conducted virtually, in-person group activities, including lunch, continue to be on hold. Food and harm reduction supply delivery to clients' homes continues.  Read more about the day health program here.

CBC''s Proud to Shine

Casey House is proud to have peer Michael Chu among the finalists for CBC's Proud to Shine feature, posted on their website here.
 
Casey House is lucky to have Michael as an active member of our community; he is quick to notice when someone needs help and steps in without fanfare. His thoughtfulness and bright smile make him shine.
                                                                                               Randy Davis & Michael at June''s HIV+ Eatery

Holiday giving

Happy holidays from our house to yours and all the best for the new year. Make a donation in support of judgement-free health care before midnight on the 31st to be eligible for a 2020 tax receipt.
 
Due to the pandemic, Casey House Foundation staff are working remotely and not in the office to answer the phone. If you would like to donate over the telephone, email heart@caseyhouse.ca to arrange for someone to call you.

Did you catch all twelve?

Every year we create a Twelve days of Casey House Christmas and post one each day on Twitter and Facebook over the holidays. It's a great way to remember what's happened at Casey House over the year. Read about all 12 days of Casey House Christmas here.

What to watch

Had your fill of holiday movies? Our virtual variety show, Voices for World AIDS Day is available for viewing, watch now.

Our choices matter

The only way to stop the spread of COVID-19 is to change how we interact with each other. It's been a long road and we're all tired, but let's not lose hope. Instead, let's do our best to #StopTheSpread and ensure a better 2021 for everyone. Stopping the spread of COVID-19 won't be easy, but it is possible. Read more about the pledge to #StopTheSpread here.