SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Casey House

Honourable senators, Pride Month is a time to celebrate the strength, diversity and contributions of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. It is also a time to recognize the organizations that have stood alongside that community through both its greatest challenges and greatest achievements. In Toronto, Casey House is one of those organizations.

Founded in 1988 during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, Casey House was Canada’s first stand-alone hospice for people living with HIV and AIDS. At a time when fear, stigma and discrimination often left people without adequate care or support, Casey House provided something profoundly important: compassion, dignity and a sense of belonging. For many, particularly members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, who were disproportionately affected by this epidemic, Casey House became a lifeline.

Over the years, the organization has evolved alongside advances in HIV treatment and care. Today, Casey House provides a wide range of services, including hospital care, outpatient programs, mental health supports and community outreach. Through it all, its mission has remained the same: improving the lives of people living with, and at risk of, HIV while challenging stigma and advancing health equity.

Casey House regularly has over 1,500 client visits a year, and after their $36-million redevelopment of an 1875 Victorian heritage mansion with a 58,000-square-foot contemporary health care facility, they’re growing to support over 2,000 clients a year.

This past weekend, my friend Mark Tewksbury and I were the honorary co-chairs of the Set, Smash, Rally volleyball event hosted by Casey House. It was a powerful example of what Pride can look like in action. With eight other volunteer Olympians as captains of court volleyball teams, the event brought together friends, allies, athletes and community members, united by a shared spirit of fun and support. The energy was infectious, with laughter, friendly competition and a strong sense of purpose infused into every match.

What made the event particularly special was how it blended celebration with impact. While players battled it out on the courts, the event also raised awareness and support for Casey House’s programs, raising over $75,000. It served as yet another reminder of the impact of sports and activities on our Canadian experience, that community building can happen anywhere, including on a volleyball court, and that joy and advocacy can go hand in hand.

As we celebrate Pride Month, Casey House’s story reminds us how far we have come and why the work must continue. Its legacy of care, courage and compassion reflects the very real values at the heart of Pride and helps build a more inclusive future for everyone.

Happy Pride, my friends.