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Canadian AIDS Society Leadership Awards

Honouring Individuals and Companies in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

Each year since 1997, the Canadian AIDS Society has celebrated the national contribution made by one outstanding individual and company in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Call for Nominations: CAS 2012 Leadership Award (Individual Category)

Left to right: CAS Board Chair, Al McNutt and CAS ED, Monique Doolittle-Romas present David Hoe with the 2011 CAS Individual Leadership Award

2011 Individual Award Recipient - David Hoe

At the local level, David was the first executive director of the AIDS Committee of Ottawa in 1985. He is currently a sitting community member on the Gay Men’s Positive Prevention (under Ontario Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS) working group.

Regionally, David had made a significant contribution to the evolution of the Ontario AIDS Network. He chaired the OAN Trillium Committee that administered the first large funding grant that allowed the OAN to hire its first staff member. He is currently an advisor ot the Ontario Organizational Development Program whose purpose is to strengthen the capacity of HIV/AIDS organizations and programs and promote ongoing development and stability of the community-based response to HIV/AIDS in Ontario. Until 2008, he also chaired the development of Ontario’s Strategy for HIV/AIDS.

Nationally, for a number of years, David served as a Federal Senior Policy Advisor on HIV/AIDS and helped to design the new Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS (until 2006). He literally wrote the book on Positive Prevention for the Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE).

David is a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for his work in HIV. In 2005, he received the Red Ribbon Award from the Canadian Association of HIV Research. He was one of the first Ontario AIDS Network Honour Roll Inductees.

If you were to visit the Canadian AIDS Society’s website and look under the section heading Core Beliefs and Values, it could well serve as a template for David Hoe’s resume. Not only are his actions aligned with these guiding principles, through his work with Government and AIDS service organizations, he has informed these very principles and goals through his work. David Hoe is the embodiment of the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS.

Currently working as a personal certified life coach, one might say that, after a lifetime of influence on a macro level, he has directed his considerable talents to affect change on a micro level. He is also a passionate, eloquent and inspirational speaker.

2011 Corporate Award Recipient - john st.

In 2010, CAS began working closely with the award-winning advertising firm john st. on messaging and branding for the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life. They were the creative force behind its innovative and iconic logo, the punchy tagline “Don’t just stand there” and the memorable theme “When you have AIDS, life gets a lot harder.” They also helped the Walk garner national exposure through their powerful public service announcements, images and messages that have been viewed or heard countless times in print, electronic media, cinema pre-shows and posters, on television, radio, jumbotrons and billboards.

Their generous initial in-kind contribution is estimated to have been in excess of $300,000, yet, they’ve rejected all offers of national recognition as a campaign sponsor, responding, “When we offer services to causes we feel passionately about we don’t tout the John St. brand on public materials. At the end of the day, the acknowledgement that matters to us is that of your organization so we certainly appreciate the kind offer but respectfully decline.”

john st. has provided the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life with a solid foundation on which to market its national fund and awareness raising campaign for the foreseeable future and has helped the Walk establish its brand and raise the standard for visual presentation. This, along with john st.’s unwavering dedication, passion and hard work, has created a positive and lasting impact on the HIV/AIDS community in Canada.

Past Recipients: Individual Category

2010 - Enrico Mandarino
2009 - Al McNutt

2008 - Michael Phair	2002 - Michael Linhart
2007 - Ron Rosenes	2001 - Janet Connors
2006 - Devan Nambiar	2000 - Wilson Hodder
2005 - Louise Binder & Bob Mills	1999 - Brian Farlinger
2004 - Ralf Jürgens	1998 - Douglas Elliott
2003 - Glen Hillson

Past Canadian AIDS Society Leadership Award Recipients

2010 Individual Category: Enrico Mandarino

With over 20 years of dedicated service in the field of HIV/AIDS, Enrico Mandarino is a strong advocate, at the community, provincial and national levels, of HIV/AIDS research and access to treatment, as well a champion of strengthening representation of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV/AIDS) in positions of leadership. He is also a role model and mentor for many members of the HIV/AIDS movement.

At Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Enrico researched several methods for viral load testing in Ontario, which then became standard of care in HIV. He has also played a significant role in establishing access/equity and non-discrimination polices at the AIDS Committee of Toronto, where he volunteered and later worked as Vice Chair. Enrico served on the Canadian Treatment Action Council’s Board of Directors and as an Ontario representative. He has also served on the Canadian AIDS Society’s Board as an Ontario Director in the role of Secretary and as an apprentice on the Community Advisory Committee of the Canadian HIV Trials Network.

In addition, Enrico’s leadership in the movement has seen him appointed to the Ministerial Advisory Council on the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada. Most recently, Enrico continued his community HIV work with AIDS service organizations within the pharmaceutical industry.

Enrico is also the researcher and co-author of numerous clinical and public policy abstracts, several of which he also presented at the 14th and 15th International AIDS Conferences

2010 Corporate Category: Santa Margherita

Santa Margherita has been a strong supporter of the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for life for the past few years. They have supported us through a promotional campaign that sees $0.50 of sales from each bottle of Pinot Grigio go directly to funding for the Walk. This campaign is also supplemented with a national advertising campaign, called Walk us Through This, which increases awareness of the Walk at both the national and regional levels through major publications, including: Chatelaine, Toronto Life, Canadian House and Home, Food and Drink and Xtra.

They have shown tremendous engagement in the Canadian HIV movement, even mobilizing company teams to participate in the Walk. In fac,t this year, in Toronto, their team was the third most successful fundraising team.

Most importantly, Santa Margherita is continuing to develop their commitment by adding new product lines in support of the Walk. They have also ensured their Platinum Level sponsorship for the foreseeable future.

2009 Individual Category: Albert McNutt

Albert is a long-time survivor diagnosed with HIV in 1987. Active in his community of Truro, Nova Scotia, he is founder of Northern AIDS Connection Society and a leading advocate of people living with and at risk of HIV, having served on its Board executive for several years and presented between 200-250 presentations on sexual health and sexuality and HIV/AIDS in schools, colleges and churches.

Al has also served actively on the Boards of two national AIDS organizations, the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development and the Canadian AIDS Society, where he currently Chairs the Fund Development Committee.

Among Al's most impressive accomplishments was the key role he played as a representative plaintiff in the Class Action Law Suit against the Federal Government of Canada for Canada Pension Plan Survivor Benefits, which has secured pension benefits for same sex couples.

Al has also received many other awards of recognition and distinction, including the title of Maritimer of the Week, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network/New York Human Rights Watch Award, an honorary diploma from the Board of Governors of the Nova Scotia Community Colleges and recognition from the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for this work relating to human rights.

2009 Corporate Category: Roy Elliott O'Connor LLP (REO Law)

Roy Elliott O'Connor LLP (REO Law) has played an integral role in Canada’s justice system, with a strong track record in Charter issues in Canada. They are a formidable and dedicated defender of human rights and have been a valuable ally for the Canadian AIDS Society and for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. REO Law has been recognized by their peers in both Canada and the United states for its valuable contributions to the legal profession.

REO Law has had a long-standing and supportive relationship with the Canadian AIDS Society, providing valued legal counsel and advice since 1993. At that time, the firm served CAS as senior counsel, a role which it held for four years. It then successfully represented CAS during the Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada (Krever Inquiry) and also supported CAS in Vriend v. Alberta.

Overall, REO Law has been instrumental in upholding and expanding human rights throughout Canada. The firm has taken on cases covering issues ranging from euthanasia to censorship. In its defense of human rights, REO Law is best known for having sought to secure benefits for spouses of same sex marriages, which it accomplished in the landmark case Hislop v. Canada. This was the first class action trial to be upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada, which also resulted in the largest class action trial judgment, in excess of $50 milllion.

The litigation history of REO Law has literally shaped the legal landscape of Canada. REO Law lawyers have participated in precedent setting cases and achieved national and international recognition. The elite, passionate REO Law team is committed to their work and ultimately to the values they champion and protect for all Canadians.

2008 Individual Category: Michael Phair

This year, CAS selected Michael Phair as its 2008 Leadership Award recipient in the Individual Category for his pioneering spirit and ongoing dedication to the HIV/AIDS movement in Canada. Michael Phair was the first Chair of the Canadian AIDS Society, running CAS out of the AIDS Network of Edmonton's office, back in 1986. With the assistance of volunteers and Health Canada, he helped draft the first constitution of the Canadian AIDS Society. Before his activism reaching the national level, however, Michael had been instrumental in the community-based AIDS movement in Edmonton and Alberta. When Edmonton's first case of AIDS was reported it was to him that the media first turned, given his high profile work in the GLBTT community. Later he helped establish the AIDS Network of Edmonton (now HIV Edmonton) and throughout his career, he supported, and still supports, many other HIV organizations in the city of Edmonton.

2008 Corporate Category: Pfizer Canada Inc.

The 2008 award recipient in the Corporate Category is Pfizer Canada Inc. Pfizer was presented the award for its outstanding leadership in HIV/AIDS at the community, national and international levels. At the national and community level, Pfizer Canada has supported many organizations, including CAS and its membership, including about 16 community-based AIDS service organizations. It has been a key sponsor of events, such as the AGMs of many national AIDS organizations and the AIDS Walk for Life, for a number of years.

As a global leader, Pfizer has provided significant funding to many initiatives, including prevention and treatment programs within the world's regions hardest hit by HIV/AIDS.

2007 Individual Category: Mr. Ron Rosenes

Ron has been an active member of the HIV/AIDS community in Toronto since 1991. A person living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV/AIDS) since the early days of the epidemic, Ron developed his advocacy skills with the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), first as Chair of AIDSWalk, then as Board Chair from 1995 to 1998. In September of 1999, he was appointed ACT’s first Honourary Director. Ron is a founding member of the Sherbourne Health Centre and a member of AIDS Action Now! He was also a member of the Steering Committee of the Canada AIDS Russia Project. Currently, Ron chairs the Priority Initiatives Program at the OHTN and is the vice-chair of the Canadian Treatment Action Council. Ron was also a founding Board Member of AIDS2006 Toronto Local Host, which helped to organize the XVI International AIDS Conference.

2007 Corporate Category: Delta Hotels

Delta Hotels has been a valuable partner of CAS for the last several years. It has provided ongoing service through hosting CAS’ national conferences, proving itself to be a positive force in supporting and building the capacity of CAS’ member organizations and PLWHIV/AIDS in Canada.

The Delta Hotel and Suites Ottawa has hosted the annual PLWHIV/AIDS Forum and the CAS Annual General meeting year after year, with overwhelmingly positive assessment from delegates. They also hosted the 2006 World AIDS Day Breakfast. The Delta Centre-ville in Montreal hosted the 3rd and 5th Canadian HIV/AIDS Skills Building Symposium, offering very competitive pricing and additional discounts. Regardless of the event, staff has been courteous and helpful, ensuring guests are comfortable and at ease.

Not only has Delta Hotels provided support for CAS meetings and workshops across Canada, but through its participation in community initiatives, it has been more directly involved in supporting PLWHIV/AIDS and the HIV/AIDS movement. Moncton’s Delta Beauséjour has a seven-year tradition of organizing a team to take part in the annual AIDS Walk for Life, while Delta Sydney and Charlottetown’s Delta Prince Edward make annual cash donations to local AIDS organization. Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa and Delta Montreal, for their part, participate in community events that donate revenues to local AIDS service groups.

2006 Individual Category: Mr. Devan Nambiar

Devan has been living with HIV for over 18 years. Throughout this time, he has been tirelessly involved in the HIV community locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Currently, Devan is employed at CATIE as a full-time Treatment Consultant. In this position, he responds to treatment information inquiries from people living with HIV/AIDS, their supporters and health care providers from across Canada. He also provides workshops nationally on a wide range of treatment-related topics. He is extremely knowledgeable about HIV medications, as well as complementary approaches to HIV and generously supports new staff and volunteers at CATIE as they work to acquire this knowledge. In short, Devan is a significant national HIV treatment resource.

Outside of his full-time work at CATIE, Devan has served on the Board of GNP+NA; is currently on International Scholarship Working Group and the International Conference Abstract Review, AIDS 2006; a member of the Community Advisory Committee of the Canadian HIV Clinical Trials Network; a member of the Health Care Provider Network Advisory Committee of Ontario HIV Treatment Network; and serves on the Communication Committee of Voices of Positive Women. Recently, he served on the scholarship committee of North American Treatment Action Forum (NATAF).

He is a knowledgeable, dedicated and thoughtful individual. For many years, he has been closely involved in the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention, a local community-based AIDS service organization. He also maintains an AIDS-related website and is completing his autobiography which reflects on his life as a South Asian gay man living with HIV.

In addition to his national profile, Devan has also worked on international drug access issues. In 1998, while on a sabbatical from work, he established an on-going drug recycling program for marginalized HIV/AIDS patients at Tambaram Hospital in Chennai, India and assisted in negotiations for free generic antiretrovials for patients at this hospital. He also created a rehabilitation program for AIDS patients and undertook the hiring of a dietician/nutritionist there.

2006 Corporate Category: Canpar

Since 1997, Canpar has been a national corporate AIDS Walk for Life sponsor. As a sponsor, it ships thousands of posters, pledge forms and brochures for the Walk across the country to all participating sites free of charge, ensuring that the sites receive their print materials on time for the Walk in their community.

Canpar has also supported the shipping needs of CAS events, including the Skills Building Symposia, the People Living with HIV/AIDS Forum and the Canadian AIDS Society Annual General Meeting and the “In Her Mother’s Shoes/Microbicides” exhibit, being shipped across Canada.

2005 Individual Category: Awarded jointly to: Louise Binder & Bob Mills (latter awarded posthumously)

Since 1994 Louise has been involved, as a volunteer, in a number of organizations, including Co-Chair of the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Research Initiative of Toronto, HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic and HIV/AIDS Legal Network. Some of her current positions include: Chair, Canadian Treatment Action Council; Co-Chair, Federal Ministerial Council on HIV/AIDS; Vice-Chair, Voices of Positive Women; Member, Local Host Advisory Committee AIDS2006 Toronto; Board Member, Wellesley Central Health Corporation; Operations Committee member of the Best Medicines Coalition and Member of the Advisory Committee on Management for the Health Products and Food Branch of Health Canada.

Bob was elected to represent Alberta on the Canadian Treatment Action Council (CTAC) at a Positive Networks Symposium in 1999 and sat as Board Secretary and Vice Chair on the CTAC Executive. Bob also sat on the Board of Directors with HIV Edmonton and the Living Positive Society and was the Prairie Regional Director for the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+). In 2001, Bob was nominated by the Canadian AIDS Society and chosen by Minister Alan Rock as one of two Canadian Civil Society Representatives assigned to the Canadian Delegation of the United Nations General Assembly of Special Sessions, HIV/AIDS (UNGASS). The UNGASS mandate was to establish a global Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. August of 2003, Bob was appointed to the Ministerial Council on HIV/AIDS for a period of one year. Awards include the Volunteer Medal of Merit Award for his Volunteer efforts in the field of HIV/AIDS, and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.

2005 Corporate Category: GlaxoSmithKline in partnership with Shire BioChem

A founding corporate supporter of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Skills Building Symposium, GlaxoSmithKline in partnership with Shire BioChem has supported every Symposium since 1998 and has also proudly supported the Walk for Life campaign. GlaxoSmithKline in partnership with Shire BioChem has assisted local AIDS organizations across Canada through its HIV/AIDS Community Innovation Program by promoting innovative projects that address barriers to treatment, thereby improving access to HIV care and antiretroviral drug treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS in Canada.

2004 Individual Category: Mr. Ralf Jürgens

For his outstanding work on HIV/AIDS legal issues and his tireless efforts to promote human rights for all people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Ralf Jürgens, a co-founder of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, was its Executive Director from 1998 to 2004. Since 2002, he has been a member of the Board of CACTUS-Montréal (a needle-exchange program in downtown Montréal). In 2001, he was a member of Canada's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly on HIV/AIDS. Other past activities include: President of the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD) (1995-2000); member of the Ministerial Council on HIV/AIDS (1998-2001); and Project Coordinator of the Expert Committee on AIDS and Prisons (1992-1994). He taught the first course on AIDS and the Law ever to be offered at a Canadian university (McGill, Faculty of Law).

2004 Corporate Category: Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) Canada

For outstanding commitment to supporting the AIDS movement across Canada. Bristol-Myers Squibb was awarded the Corporate Leadership Award for their ongoing support of not only CAS but many community-based AIDS programs across Canada.

2003 Individual Category: Mr Glen Hillson (awarded posthumously)

Glen Hillson was one of the leading advocates in Canada for the rights and needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. He served in various volunteer capacities, both as Chair of the B.C. Persons With AIDS Society and nationally as Vice Chair of the Canadian Treatment Action Council. He was also active on a number of key BC government advisory committees on HIV/AIDS.

2003 Corporate Category: The ALDO Group

ALDO has been committed in the fight against HIV/AIDS since 1992 when the company adopted the slogan "ALDO for life". ALDO promotes HIV awareness in its stores by providing information and encouraging its clients to be active in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In addition, ALDO has been a generous sponsor of AIDS Walks across Canada for the past eight years and has encouraged its staff to form teams and raise funds for local Walks.

2002 Individual Category: Mr. Michael Linhart

For outstanding work on the issue of HIV/AIDS in prisons. Mr Linhart is on the Board of Directors of the HIV Legal Network, he has worked as the Prison Outreach Program Coordinator for the BC persons with AIDS Society and played a role in many BC HIV/AIDS Conferences. Additionally, he has worked with the federal prison system and has attended many of its national meetings.

2002 Corporate Category: MAC AIDS Fund

For outstanding commitment to supporting the AIDS movement across Canada. The MAC AIDS Fund's dedication in supporting the work of HIV/AIDS, both nationally and internationally, is unparalleled. The Fund has been a proud supporter of CAS for over a decade.

2001 Ms. Janet Conners

For a lifetime leadership and commitment to the AIDS Movement. Ms Conners has been involved with organizations such as the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia and was a founding member of the Canadian Treatment Advocates Council.

2000 Mr. Wilson Hodder

For long-standing volunteer work in the field of HIV/AIDS. Mr Hodder was a committed AIDS activist and advocate as well as the former Chair of the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia.

1999 Mr. Brian Farlinger (awarded posthumously)

For long-standing volunteer work in the field of HIV/AIDS. Mr Farlinger was a lawyer with the Canadian Bankers Association and a committed AIDS activist.

1998 Mr. Douglas Elliott

For outstanding legal and human rights work in the field of HIV/AIDS. From 1993 to 1997 Mr Elliott represented CAS before the Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada (the Krever Inquiry) and appeared for CAS in the Supreme Court's Review of the Krever Inquiry. He has also appeared for CAS in many of its human rights interventions in the Supreme Court of Canada.