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CANFAR’s annual fundraising gala, Bloor Street Entertains (BSE), returned in spectacular form on Friday night. The signature event, now in its 29th edition, raised over $1.47 million to support CANFAR’s mission to end the HIV epidemic in Canada.
Over 1,000 guests enjoyed a bespoke fine-dining experience prepared by the city’s leading chefs across luxury boutiques, fashion houses, galleries, and hotels in Toronto’s coveted Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood—before coming together at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto for the official After Party, hosted by global trans icon Gigi Gorgeous.
Gala Co-Chairs Melissa Campisi, David Simmonds, and Dr. Trevor Born, joined by Honourary Chairs Sylvia Mantella, Candice Sinclair, Janice Fricker, and Michael Liebrock, led an inspiring evening that celebrated progress and reaffirmed purpose as the fight to end HIV in Canada continues. With new infections at their highest in more than a decade—and stigma and inequitable access to care still major barriers—CANFAR’s mission remains as vital as ever.
Even though this year’s Bloor Street Entertains has come to a close, the need for funding and advocacy continues year-round. As the world recognizes World AIDS Day on December 1, the message behind the gala feels especially urgent.
At a time when the international response to HIV/AIDS is waning, CANFAR is actively investing in community-based HIV testing solutions—including the GeneXpert rapid-testing instrument and HIV self-test kits—to help close gaps in health inequities in Canada and bring us closer to ending the HIV epidemic within this generation.
Please visit the Bloor Street Entertains campaign page or CANFAR.com to make a donation, learn more about how your contribution drives impact, and stay tuned for details on BSE30, marking the milestone 30th edition of this iconic gala in 2026.
FASHION sat down with Gigi Gorgeous ahead of the event. Here’s what she had to say about CANFAR, her personal activism journey and more.
You’ve actively been involved with CANFAR—from Pride week events to this gala—for some time. What inspired the collaboration? “I’ve been out, and loud and proud, about my journey as a trans woman for years, and with that comes education. I think just being myself can help educate people—and CANFAR takes that to a whole new level, which is why I really align with them.” What about this specific night with Bloor Street Entertains drew you to the event? “Well, it’ll be my first one, which I’m very excited about. It’s going to be all about fun, fashion, food and joy, but there’s also so much purpose behind the night. As someone who’s been supported and uplifted by the community for so long, it means everything to give that energy back to them.” HIV stigma continues to be a major barrier to prevention and treatment. How do you use your platform to help shift these public perceptions? “Being open, honest and willing to ask questions is so important. I truly believe that no question is a stupid question. I’m still learning too, but sharing everything I can about what exactly HIV is and how it affects people is something I always strive to do, because as simple as the stat or fact may be, you never know who it will resonate with.” As someone who reaches a primarily young, digital audience, what role do you think influencers and creators can play in accelerating progress toward ending the HIV epidemic in Canada “Sharing that you’re getting tested and promoting the importance of getting tested is essential. I think young people stand behind education now more than ever, so, as cliché as it may sound, encouraging them to break the stigma in any way they’re comfortable with makes a big difference.” As told to Stephanie Davoli Continue Reading
