Toronto, ON — June 23, 2026 — In a significant step toward expanding equitable access to HIV care in Canada, REACH Nexus at St. Michael’s Hospital MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions has launched I’m Ready2.0, a redesigned national program bringing free HIV self-testing and care connections directly to people wherever they are.
Available through a newly updated mobile app and website, I’m Ready 2.0 provides a simple, confidential, and user-friendly way for people to take control of their sexual health — no matter where they live. The platform is designed to reduce barriers to HIV testing by combining convenience, privacy, and direct access to trusted health resources.
The upgraded platform features a refreshed interface with improved navigation, making it easier for users to learn about HIV, order self-test kits, and connect with support services.
“Early diagnosis is essential to improving health outcomes and reducing HIV transmission, but too many people in Canada still face barriers to testing,” said Dr. Sean B. Rourke, Director of REACH Nexus at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital. “I’m Ready2.0 centres people in care by making HIV self-testing and sexual health services more accessible, convenient, and empowering—ensuring access to the right tools and support, wherever and whenever they’re needed.”
Canadians can now access two testing options directly through the platform: the OraQuick™ HIV Self-Test, Canada’s first oral swab HIVself-test, and the INSTI® HIV Self-Test.
The addition of multiple testing options is intended to better reflect diverse user preferences and needs, and to further democratize self-testing in Canada.
“I’m Ready 2.0 reflects the strength of Ancestral Science by bringing HIV testing, prevention, and care closer to the people. When services are culturally safe and community-led, Indigenous Peoples can access care with dignity, trust, and connection to the knowledge that has sustained our Nations for generations,” said Okimâw Margaret Kîsikâw Piyêsîs, CEO, CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks.
“The launch of I’m Ready 2.0 is about more than expanding access to HIV self-testing—it is about bringing dignity, choice, and care directly to the people who have too often been left behind,” said Nonty Nkala, a research and outreach co-ordinator at Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre. “We know that HIV does not exist in isolation; it is shaped by systemic inequities and the social determinants of health that continue to disproportionately impact our communities.
"By meeting people where they are with free HIV self-testing kits and seamless connections to care, we are removing barriers, building trust, and empowering individuals to take control of their health on their own terms. This is what health equity in action looks like—community-led, person-centered, and committed to ensuring that everyone can know their status and access the care they deserve.”
Beyond testing, I’m Ready strengthens pathways to care by connecting users to reliable, evidence-based information on HIV prevention and treatment. The platform also connects users directly to licensed clinicians through Freddie and Felix, making it easier to access confidential, evidence-based care for HIV prevention and ongoing sexual health support.
“PrEP is one of the most effective ways to prevent HIV, yet far too many Canadians still struggle to access it,” said Dr. Caley Shukalek, Freddie's Chief Medical Officer.
“We’re excited to be part of I’m Ready which is helping to reimagine how people connect to HIV testing and now HIV prevention—making access faster, simpler, and more equitable so more people can get the care they need without unnecessary delays.”
Through Freddie and Felix, users can get real-time guidance on starting and staying on PrEP, understanding HIV treatment options, and accessing ongoing sexual health care—helping bridge the gap between self-testing and timely clinical support.
"Knowing your HIV status is one of the most important first steps someone can take for their health," said Dr. Kelly Anderson, Chief Medical Officer at Felix. "What comes next matters just as much. For years, Felix has helped Canadians access licensed clinicians for PrEP and ongoing sexual health care. I'm Ready 2.0 helps connect people from testing to timely clinical care, making it easier to get the support that's right for them."
Since its initial launch in 2021, the I’m Ready program has reached more than 17,000 people across Canada. Between June 2021 and June2026, thousands of users have engaged with the service, including individuals testing for the first time, people living in rural and remote regions, and those who have historically faced barriers or felt disconnected from traditional healthcare systems.
Reaching people living with undiagnosed HIV has been a cornerstone of the program. Through expanded access to testing, hundreds of people have learned their HIV status and been connected to care and support. Early diagnosis opens the door to life-saving treatment, empowering people to live long, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
I’m Ready gratefully acknowledges the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada for funding this program. We also thank the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research for its generous support and continued partnership in expanding access to HIV self-testing, helping more people learn their status, and connecting those living with HIV to care and treatment.
To learn more, go to https://www.readytoknow.ca/ or download the I’m Ready, Test app. in the Apple or Google Play stores.
About REACH Nexus at MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions
REACH Nexus is a national research group focused on addressing HIV, Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) in Canada. Based at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, REACH works to reach the undiagnosed, expand testing options, connect people to care, improve access to prevention (PrEP and PEP),and reduce stigma. Learn more at www.reachnexus.ca
Media contact
Andrew Russell
Senior Communications Specialist
REACH Nexus - MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions
📧 andrew.russell@unityhealth.to
📞 416-268-7642
