Canada’s oldest HIV service organization, the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), has announced it will close its doors by March 31, 2026, marking the end of an era in HIV advocacy and support. The decision comes as medical breakthroughs have transformed HIV from a fatal disease to a manageable condition, dramatically reducing demand for ACT’s services — even as new diagnoses continue to climb nationwide.
Founded in 1983 at the height of the AIDS crisis, ACT became a lifeline for people living with HIV, fighting stigma and providing critical care and education. Executive Director Ryan Lisk said the organization’s decision was shaped by “a combination of government funding challenges and steadily declining philanthropic support, especially since COVID,” alongside a 50 per cent drop in service users compared to pre-pandemic levels. Nearly one-third of ACT’s current clients are over 55, underscoring the shift in demographics and needs.
Lisk emphasized that it is time to pass the torch to other organizations better equipped to support today’s HIV community, focusing on chronic disease management, mental health, and access to affordable medication.
Public Health Agency of Canada data shows HIV diagnoses have been steadily rising since 2021, peaking in 2023 with 2,434 new cases — a 35 per cent increase over 2022. Experts say the surge is tied to social factors such as housing insecurity, poverty, and substance use, and warn that prevention campaigns have historically failed to reach Black and Indigenous populations.
Dr. Sean Rourke, a leading HIV researcher, said many early HIV service agencies have struggled to integrate into the wider health-care system, leaving some vulnerable populations without adequate support. His work now focuses on connecting undiagnosed and untreated individuals — particularly in Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where infection rates are more than three times the national average — with care and treatment.
Before closing, ACT has pledged to transition its remaining clients to other organizations to ensure continuity of care. Dr. Kevin Woodward of HQ Toronto, a partner clinic, stressed that barriers to care still exist and that efforts must continue to ensure newcomers, aging patients, and marginalized populations receive the medical and mental health support they need.