Media inquiries: contact Lisa McDonald, communications officer at 416-962-4040 ext. 4006

Media policy

Our communications officer will arrange all interviews and photography/filming of Casey House staff, clients and families. Members of the media may not enter the facility and/or client care areas unless authorized and accompanied by the communications officer or another designated Casey House staff member. Media will be asked to leave the premises if unauthorized or unaccompanied.

Recent media releases and coverage for Casey House

• • • April 2021: The Positive Effect
      How a hospital smashes HIV stigma
    • September 2020: Toronto Sun
      Proulx: A pandemic nothing new for Toronto’s gay community
    • August 2020: Rush is a band
      Alex Lifeson receives 2020 Casey Award for his philanthropy to LGBTQ initiatives
    • February 2020: Global News Toronto
      Restaurant pop-up provides support to cooks living with HIV
    • February 2020: eTalk
      Toronto’s Casey House is using ‘The Office’ to fight the stigma around HIV/AIDS
    • February 2020: Ethical Marketing News
      Casey House rewrites the stories of beloved TV characters to smash stigma around HIV/AIDS
    • February 2020: Toronto Guardian
      Charitable Choices: Smash stigma with Casey House
    • February 2020: CityNews
      HIV-themed ‘Friends’ edit pulled after copyright claim from Warner Bros.
    • February 2020: CTV News
      HIV-themed ‘Friends’ edit pulled after copyright claim from Warner Bros.
    • February 2020: Toronto Star
      Toronto HIV hospital pulls ‘Friends’ edit after copyright claim from Warner Bros.
    • February 2020: +Life media
      Special event: #smashstigma
    • February 2020: Little Black Book
      The one where a specialist hospital portrayed famous sitcom characters with HIV
    • February 2020: Muse by Clio
      Characters from Friends and The Office contract HIV in PSAs addressing stigma
    • February 2020: Yahoo! Finance
      Casey House rewrites the stories of beloved TV characters to smash stigma around HIV/AIDS
    • February 2020: Strategy
      Why Casey House created new episodes of Friends and The Office
    • February 2020: CBC Radio 1- Here and Now
      Casey House rewrites stories of beloved TV characters in an effort to break HIV stigma
    • February 2020: Toronto CityNews
      Casey House edits ‘Friends’ to show characters confronting HIV stigma
    • February 2020: Casey House rewrites the stories of beloved TV characters to smash stigma around HIV/AIDS
    • February 2020: Design Quarterly
      2020 National Urban Design winners selected
    • February 2020: Ezvid Wiki
      5 organizations removing stigma and sparking public discourse
    • February 2020: Gay Guide Network
      GGN PODCAST: #Smashstigma with Casey House
    • December 2019: Azure magazine
      The 10 Projects that Defined a Decade of Canadian Architecture
    • December 2019: Toronto Sun
      Proulx: HIV treatment has improved greatly, but stigma remains
    • October 2019: Maclean’s
      Canada’s best charities 2020: Best by category
    • October 2019: Canadian HR Reporter
      CEOs learn about next generation with mentorship program
    • October 2019: Globe and Mail
      Party of the week: Toronto’s art themed fundraiser for Casey House raises funds for HIV/AIDS programs
    • September 2019: Popdust.com
      How Jonathan Van Ness Can Save Us All: The history of HIV representation in media
    • September 2019: Winners of 2019 Toronto Urban Design Awards announced tonight
    • August 2019: Toronto’s Casey House Launches Innovative Peer Support Program for People Living with HIV/AIDS
    • August 2019: CTV News
      HIV kit testing research (33:26 mark)
    • July 2019: Architectmagazine.com
      AIA and AAH Announce Healthcare Design Award Winners
    • June 2019: IN magazine
      The faces of HIV advocacy
    • June 2019: CityTVNews
      Crowds gather as massive Pride parade takes over downtown Toronto
    • June 2019: Hamilton Spectator
      ‘Doesn’t it make you proud of this city’: Toronto’s Parade a crowded but joyful affair
    • March 2019: Healthscape.ca
      Healing House HIV+ Spa: Smashing stigma with a personal touch
    • January 2019: Architect magazine
      Project gallery- announcing American Institute of Architects honor award winners
    • December 2018: Toronto Sun
      Prevailing stigma ‘worse than HIV infection’:Casey House CEO
    • December 2018: Toronto Star
      Mark Bonham calls himself a financial ‘punk’. Here’s why he’s now raising money for LGBTQ causes
    • December 2018: VICE Canada
      Inside the world’s first HIV positive spa
    • November 2018: Ethical Marketing News
      Casey House launches Healing House, the world’s first HIV+ spa in Toronto
    • November 2018: Canadian Press
      Casey House pop-up spa aims to smash stigma
    • November 2018: Toronto Star
      A Casey House pop-up spa with HIV+ therapists confronts stigma
    • November 2018: CBC Toronto
      Smashing the stigma: Casey House opens HIV-positive spa in Toronto
    • November 2018: CBC Metro Morning
      HIV+ people are giving spa treatments to break down the stigma around HIV and touch
    • November 2018: She Does The City
      #Smashstigma: Inside Toronto’s HIV+ spa
    • November 2018: CBC Radio Canada (FR)
      Le massage, remède aux préjugés sur he VIH/sida
    • November 2018: AdWeek
      To confront stigmas, this pop-up massage spa is staffed only by HIV+ therapists 
    • November 2018: Global News
      World’s first HIV+ Spa in Toronto aims to smash stigma
    • November 2018: CP24
      Healing House segment with Keshia Chanté
    • November 2018: City News
      Healing House HIV+ Spa segment
    • November 2018: NOW Toronto
      Casey House opens world’s first HIV+ spa in Toronto
    • November 2018: Do The Daniel
      It’s time to smash stigma
    • November 2018: Refinery 21
      This pop-up Toronto spa is staffed entirely by HIV-positive healers
    • November 2018: Massage Therapy Canada
      Casey House spa aims to smash stigma that leaves people with HIV feeling untouchable with massage
    • November 2018: Strategy online
      Casey House launches spa to relax (unwarranted) fear of HIV
    • November 2018: Markets
      Keshia Chanté helps Casey House open the doors to Healing House, the world’s first HIV+ spa
    • November 2018: Fashion
      Introducing Healing House, the world’s first pop-up HIV+ spa
    • November 2018: Huffington Post
      Casey House spa targets decades old stigma with HIV healers
    • November 2018: Almost half of people in North America say they would not be comfortable sharing skin-to-skin touch with someone who is HIV+
    • November 2018: Samaritan magazine
      Nine remarkable individuals and businesses honoured annual philanthropy awards luncheon
    • November 2018: Toronto Star
      Beyond the grey: could Toronto be more colourful?
    • October 2018: IN magazine
      The 25th annual ‘Art With Heart’ auction takes place October 16 
    • October 2018: AGO Art Matters blog
      Art With Heart
    • October 2018: DNEVIK.HR (Croatian TV)
      Unatoc potvrdi da nema opasnosti: Roditelji ne pustaju djecu u skolsku kantinu jer je kuhar zarazen HIV-om
    • September 2018: The Georgia Straight
      Scott Elliott: The Dr. Peter Centre puts stigma on the table for conversation
    • August 2018: New Tactics in Human Rights
      Using a Restaurant to Smash HIV Stigmas
    • July 2018: Kitchen Confession (podcast)
      Casey House Pop Up June’s HIV+ Eatery with Kenneth Poon
    • July 2018: Positive Spin (podcast)
      Will be Positive for Cupcakes, July 25
    • July 2018: Canadian Architect, pgs 14-19
      Coming Home: The transformation of Casey House, a groundbreaking hospital for people living with HIV/AIDS, brings dignity and intimacy
    • July 2018: Architectural Record
      Health by the Hearth
    • June 2018: CTV News at 6
      Pride parade footage
    • June 2018: Newstalk1010 radio
      Joanne Simons, Casey House CEO interviewed by Dave Trafford
    • June 2018: Breakfast Television
      Casey House is the Honoured Group for Pride 2018
    • May 2018: Fugues magazine
      Casey House de Toronto: Trente ans au service des personnes vivant avec le VIH-SIDA
    • May 2018: Healthscape
      Introducing and evaluating a harm reduction approach in HIV health care delivery
    • May 2018: Canadian Architect
      Feature: Casey House
    • May 2018: Ethicalmarketingnews.com
      Casey House premieres June’s: A documentary featuring 14 HIV+ chefs and their journey to #smashstigma
    • May 2018: Toronto Storeys
      Two Toronto buildings just won Governor-General’s Medals in Architecture
    • May 2018: Canadian Architect
      Winners announced for 2018 Governor-General’s Medals in Architecture
    • May 2018: Archinect
      12 Canadian projects awarded the 2018 Governor General’s Medals in Architecture
    • May 2018: Globe and Mail
      Governor-General’s Medals award the best new buildings in the country
    • May 2018: Hospital News
      Meet Nursing Hero Contest winner Dan Chisholm from Casey House
    • April 2018: Revista FLY
      June’s an HIV+ Eatery (in Portuguese) 
    • March 2018: regentparkfocus
      Catch da Flava radio interview with Casey House CEO Joanne Simons
    • March 2018: Menumag.ca
      Make your kitchen more positive: Chefs shine a light on the stigma around HIV/AIDS 
    • March 2018: Casey House celebrates 30th anniversary  
    • February 2018: ERA’s blog
      Casey House is awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation
    • January 2018: Positive.news
      The restaurant kitchen where all the staff have HIV 
    • December 2017: Azuremagazine.com
      Casey House’s striking new home gives patients a metaphorical hug 
    • December 2017: NewNowNext.com
      What it was like at the restaurant where all the chefs have HIV 
    • December 2017: HuffingtonPost.ca
      June’s Eatery, Canada’s 1st HIV-positive restaurant, aims to smash stigma
    • November 2017: NPR.org
      How one pop-up restaurant is fighting stigma against HIV/AIDS 
    • November 2017: Munchies.vice.com
      HIV-positive chefs team up to end stigma
    • November 2017: Poz.com
      14 chefs at this restaurant have HIV
    • November 2017: Xtra Magazine
      This Canadian pop-up restaurant is smashing stigma with food cooked by HIV-positive chefs
    • November 2017: NowToronto.com
      Inside Toronto’s HIV-positive pop-up restaurant June’s Eatery
    • November 2017: People.com
      This pop-up restaurant is staffed only HIV-positive chefs to ‘dispel the myths’
    • November 2017: The Guardian
      The restaurant kitchen where everyone has HIV: ‘We want to challenge stigma’
    • November 2017: Flare magazine
      This 24-year-old is fighting HIV stigma, one meal at a time
    • November 2017: Global News
      Pop-up restaurant in Toronto looks to smash stigma about HIV
    • November 2017: IN magazine
      How Casey House is making a difference to HIV positive Torontonians, above and beyond basic health care
    • November 2017: June’s Canada’s First HIV+ Eatery Opens Doors Today in Toronto: New campaign by Casey House to shine a light on stigma around HIV/AIDS
    • October 2017: Breakfast Television
      Breaking HIV stigma in the kitchen
    • October 2017: Globe and Mail
      A hospital shows the medicinal power of light, beauty and dignity
    • October 2017: Canadian Healthcare Technology, November/December 2017
      Casey House goes from paper-based care to paperless EHR in 18 months
    • October 2017: INmagazine.ca
      Toronto’s Casey House combats stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS with pop-up restaurant
    • October 2017: InsideToronto.com
      Toronto’s Casey House celebrates $38 million redevelopment
    • October 2017: CTV News
      Casey House helps fight HIV-AIDS stigma
    • October 2017: 70% of Canadians Would Be Ashamed to Share Health News Openly If HIV+ Casey House Launches First-Ever HIV+ Eatery in Toronto to Bring Awareness of Stigma
    • August 2017: Award Magazine Casey House
    • June 2017: Pinkplaymags Summerplay! Facing the early AIDS epidemic with heart
    • June 2017: UrbanToronto.ca  A glimpse inside the new- and historic- home for Casey House
    • April 2017: Globe and Mail
      A big red home to match Casey House’s big red heart
      Decay forced staff to retreat from the 1875 Italianate building but they are finally set to move back into their new, permanent home
    • February 2017: Casey House reaches $10 million campaign goal to build compassion a new home
    • December 2016: Voices of Hope for World AIDS Day December 1
    • May 2016: Daily Xtra
      Toronto HIV/AIDS Hospital just shy of $10 million goal: New Jarvis St. facility to provide holistic care
      A pillar of Toronto’s HIV support community is looking for the public to chip in to help it get past the finish line for funding its new facility. Casey House, Canada’s first stand-alone HIV/AIDS healthcare facility, is $500,000 shy of its $10 million capital campaign, which was launched in 2010.
      “We are extremely pleased to be so close to achieving our goal, but Casey House clients deserve more,” writes Jaime Watt, chair of the capital campaign, in a release. “That’s why it is important for us to realize our dream of giving compassion a new home.”
    • April 2016 Expanding the heart of HIV AIDS care
    • March 2015: Groundbreaking For New Casey House HIV/AIDS Care Centre
    • March 2015: Construction Begins on New Home for Casey House!
    • March 2015 Toronto Star
      Casey House expansion a boon to people living with HIV/AIDS
      Todd Kaighin is all smiles — laughs, really — when discussing his 23-year-old HIV diagnosis. “For a guy who was supposed to be dead 18 years ago, I think I’m doing pretty good,” the 53-year-old tells the Star with a deep chuckle, from inside Casey House, a Toronto hospital for people with advanced HIV/AIDS. “I win big on that draw.”
      Casey House, which opened its doors in 1988, is currently undergoing a massive expansion that will see it better equipped to treat patients like Kaighin — people who have beat the odds due to advancements in anti-retroviral therapy.
    • December 2014: Casey House’s New Home About to Be a Reality!
    • November 2014: Voices of Hope for World AIDS Day December 1
    • April 2014: Rick Mercer Receives Casey Award at Red Rose Ball
    • February 2014: Companies Invited to Bid on Casey House Redevelopment
    • March 2013: The Casey Awards To Honour Canadian Leadership and Activism in HIV/AIDS and Social Justice 
    • March 2013 The Grid.TO
      5 Things We Learned About Casey House
      Last Friday marked 25 years since Canada’s first freestanding HIV/AIDS hospice, Casey House, opened its doors near Jarvis and Wellesley. An ad-hoc group including activists June Callwood and Margaret McBurney led to its creation in 1988, back when there was essentially no treatment. Improved medication and shifting demographics have changed its focus from primarily palliative to community outreach and what they call “sub-acute care.” Here are a few things we found out at last week’s commemorative luncheon.
    • February 2013: Casey House Turns 25: Landmark Anniversary for Pioneer in AIDS and Palliative Care
    • November 2012: Voices of Hope Concert for World AIDS Day December 1, 2012
    • October 2012: Now Magazine
      Class Action: My Job: Registered Nurse, Casey House – Katherine Burress – October 2012
      “We provide specialized care to people living with HIV in a community setting. I went to McMaster University and I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and health sciences. I also have a minor in anthropology. I’ve had an interest in HIV for many, many years. I’ve also been to Kenya to do work there. It combines my desire to work with marginalized populations and my awareness that HIV is really the most complex virus on earth. It’s a very challenging medical field. We don’t have a cure yet, so there’s a lot to learn.”
    • October 2012: TD Presents Art with Heart for Casey House
    • October 2012: CBC Radio One
      Metro Morning – October 5, 2012
      Casey House Redevelopment News
    • February 2012: The Toronto Star
      SnowBall 2012 Upped its Design Game for a Good Cause – Derick Chetty, Feb 2012
      The gala on Saturday night took place at the swanky furniture showroom Avenue Road and it raised more than $340,000 for Casey House.
    • Feb 2012: The Casey Awards to Recognize Canadian Leadership & Activism in HIV/AIDS & Social Justice
    • Feb 2012: Design Celebs Tommy Smythe, Suzanne Dimma & Mark Challen to Host Casey House Gala
    • December 2011: World AIDS Day – Casey House releases report on growing need for HIV/AIDS care in Toronto
    • December 2011: CBC Television News
      1 in 120 Torontonians HIV-Positive
      Toronto has more HIV and AIDS cases than ever before, with an estimated one in 120 adults in the city now HIV-positive, a new report suggested Monday. In all of Ontario, the number of people living with HIV-AIDS grew by 31 per cent between 2003 and 2008 and that number continues to expand, said the report released by Casey House to mark World AIDS Week.
    • November 2011: TVO’s The Agenda
      No Need to Look Beyond On World AIDS Day –
      On a day meant to bring international awareness of HIV/AIDS, Torontonians learn we need not look any further than our own city. A new report says 1 in 120 adults in Toronto are HIV-positive. “Facing the Future: An Innovative Response to the Urgent HIV/ADIS Crisis in Toronto” was authored by Dr. Kevin Gough, Director of Infectious Diseases at St. Michael’s Hospital and Stephanie Karapita, CEO of Casey House, a specialty hospital for people with HIV/AIDS. I spoke with Karapita yesterday on this new report, what it means for Torontonians and our local capacity to serve people with HIV/AIDS.
    • November 2011: Global Television News
      2 Torontonians Newly Infected with HIV Every Day – November 2011
      A new report on HIV/AIDS in Ontario is bringing to light some troubling statistics for Torontonians. Two Torontonians are newly infected with HIV/AIDS everyday and 1 in 120 adult Torontonians are living with the disease. Casey House, a hospital specializing in HIV/AIDS, released the report to coincide with the beginning of World AIDS Week and to outline new and significant challenges for Ontario’s Health Care system in dealing with HIV/AIDS.
    • October 2011: Toronto Life Magazine
      High Art
      Nine Good Reasons to Attend Art with Heart 2011 – One being the chance to own a Mapplethorpe.
    • September 2011: TD Presents Art with Heart for Casey House October 18
    • September 2011: Casey House rebuilding to meet needs of people living with HIV/AIDS
    • September 2011: Hospital News
      Feature Story
      30 Years of HIV/AIDS: Casey House to revolutionize care in response to evolving epidemic
    • June 2011: Announcing a new home for Casey House – it’s time to dream BIG again! 
      CP24 Coverage of Casey House Announcement at Pride 2011
    • June 2011: CTV National News
      Aging & HIV
      30 years after first AIDS diagnosis, Casey House is working to support long-term survival. Treatment has come far, but we have far to go.
    • March 2011: Global Toronto News
      Elizabeth Taylor’s Toronto – by Lama Nicolas
      Celebrating Dame Elizabeth Taylor’s life, with details about her HIV advocacy and her support of Casey House.
    • March 2011: Toronto Star
      Frockwatch: A Foot Fetishist’s Delight – by Derick Chetty
      Hotel guests at the Four Seasons last Saturday night probably thought there was a chic cobbler convention in town. Groups of people could be seen traipsing through the lobby of the Yorkville hotel on their way to the Regency ballroom on the second floor, decked out in formal evening attire — and sporting shocking-red footwear.
    • February 2011: The Toronto Star
      When HIV Moves into Nursing Homes – by Susan Pigg
      Winner, National Newspaper Award
      It was as he writhed in pain on the bathroom floor, his anxious dog curled up in a ball against his back, that the grim reality of growing old with HIV hit Jim Ayerst. “I’ve never been suicidal, but that’s the first time I thought, it’s not worth it. I just want this over. “I considered jumping off my balcony — but I only live on the second floor.” A wry smile creeps across Ayerst’s weary face. He’s just 64 but feels 80.
    • January 2011: Live! From Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, It’s SnowBall 2011: There’s SNOW Place Like Home!
    • Dec 2010: World AIDS Day Dec 1: National concerts in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver
    • September 2010: TD Waterhouse presents Art with Heart for Casey House October 19: Widest Canadian representation to date with powerful environmental themes emerging
    • March 2010: National Post
      Some like it haute – by Amoryn Engel
      It was raining men (and gorgeous ones at that) at the recent Some Like It Haute benefit for Casey House (a.k.a. the SnowBall). The Four Seasons Hotel ballroom never looked so good!
    • March 2010: Hospital News
      Easing pain and suffering at Casey House
      As Canada’s first freestanding HIV/AIDS hospice, now a specialty hospital, Casey House continually refines new approaches to relieving suffering and pain
    • November 2009: Metro Newspaper  The trouble with plan B: HIV/AIDS drugs aren’t the safety net young people think they are – by Celia Milne Message to young, sexually-active people: Don’t get lax about HIV/AIDS. Although it doesn’t kill as quickly as it used to, it’ll hasten illness and aging.