A Moncton family is receiving a national award for its HIV/AIDS activism.
The Wartman family will be presented with the award by Casey House in Toronto on Feb. 25.
Michael Wartman died from AIDS in 2000.
But his family has continued his activism by participating in walks, raising funds and offering compassion to other people dealing with the disease.
"Mom and dad received the call at home from the board at the Casey House in Toronto advising them that we had been selected unanimously,” said Michael’s sister, Patti Wartman.
“It was just [a] tremendous honor, tremendous honor for us,” she said. “My brother will be…[he] must be dancing in the stars up there watching us."
Casey House, a Toronto-based specialty hospital with community programming, provides treatment, support and palliative care for people affected by HIV/AIDS.
Founded in 1988, it was the first free-standing HIV/AIDS facility in Canada.
The annual Casey Awards, in memory of June Callwood, one of the home’s founders, recognize individuals or organizations who have demonstrated Callwood’s values of pioneering leadership and compassionate commitment on behalf of others.
In the 1990s, when Michael Wartman decided to publicly declare his HIV status in order to lessen stigma and discrimination in his home community, his family rallied in support of his efforts.
"Michael…talked to me about getting in touch with the media ‘cause he wanted to go public, he wanted Moncton to know, he wanted Moncton to see a face to AIDS,” his sister recalled.
Today, the Wartman family continues their activism in his memory.
“This award recognizes the Wartman family’s pioneering leadership in proudly advocating for the rights and dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS; and their ongoing compassionate service in supporting the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, and their loved ones,” the Casey House website states.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate some of Canada’s unsung heroes who quietly strive to improve the health, human rights and dignity of some of society’s most marginalized people,” said Jim Belshaw, chair of the awards. “We think that June would have been very pleased to share this award with such fine recipients.”
Debby Warren, the executive director of AIDS Moncton, who is living with AIDS, said few families are as dedicated as the Wartmans.
"We would have understood if they'd moved on in their lives, but they stayed and over the years they've continued to contribute,” she said.
The family will receive one of three national awards.
The other recipients are Dr. Mark Halman, the founding director of the HIV psychiatry program at St. Michael’s Hospital, and the Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment for its work with newcomers.
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