This past Tuesday, Casey House in Toronto recognized Shirley Young with a posthumous award. 

“Shirley Young is being recognized with a Casey Award posthumously for exceptional volunteer service to the HIV/AIDS community," read the Casey Awards write-up. "Shirley was a renowned volunteer at the Dr. Peter Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, who passed away in August, 2024 after over three decades of service for people living with HIV.

"When the Dr. Peter Centre first opened its doors in 1997, Shirley volunteered in a variety of roles and served as the head matriarch of the organization—with many clients simply calling her “mom”. Her warm presence was felt by all those who entered the space. She deeply understood the myriad and complex challenges that impacted the community: mental health struggles, addiction, homelessness, and poverty, in addition to HIV. No matter their circumstances, Shirley treated every person who entered Dr. Peter Centre with love and care. Her signature greeting says it all, ‘Are you a hugger? Well, never mind, I am.’

Over the course of the next 27 years at the Dr. Peter Centre, Shirley served meals to clients alongside other volunteers. Her high-touch and compassionate attitude was a guiding star for the Dr. Peter Centre staff to follow. She was celebrated by the Indigenous community through the creation of a totem pole erected in the Dr. Peter Centre lobby, where she is commemorated as the “Mother Bear”. And at her celebration of life, she was honoured in a blanketing ceremony by Indigenous Elders."

Receiving the honour on her behalf were her granddaughter Rebecca, and Dr. Peter's life partner, Andy, whom Shirley affectionately referred to as “son-in-law”.