Scene stealer

CANFAR committee member and society swell Jay McCauley tells Shinan Govani what it’s like to be a young man about town

“For me, less is more,” says Jay McCauley, “and I love a classic look.” It’s one he rocked just so at the annual Bloor Street Entertains gala, held last week, in support of CANFAR (the AIDS organization), filling out the role he’s fallen into in recent years: one of those well-suited suspects without whom the society rigmarole, in any metropolis, crumbles. Having observed this scene for years and knowing that its veins depend on the regular injection of shiny, non-jaded subjects — new blood — I’ve had my eye on the young man for a while. A spiffy presence in party photos, pre- and post-lockdown.

This year he even served on the Bloor Street Entertains committee. “The HIV/AIDS cause has great significance to me and my family, as my Uncle John battled the illness for 30 years until his tragic and early death in 2017,” the 22-year-old says. “CANFAR has been committed to ending this epidemic for 25 years now. I am ardently focused on ensuring that, in addition to fellow LGBTQ youth and allies, Canadians more broadly are committed to recognizing the stigma that still exists when it comes to HIV/AIDS.”

My parents have always embraced my desire to be independent, and they have thoroughly instilled the importance of giving back to the community in which I live, work and serve.

JAY MCCAULEY

A tale of two towns

Born in Toronto, but raised in Vancouver, McCauley grew up with all the trappings of the noblesse oblige: his dad, Gordon, is the CEO of a Canadian biotech company; his mom, Catherine, a philanthropy consultant who works with corporate leaders and professional athletes. At the all-boys St. George’s School, he was actively involved in campus life, playing a variety of sports and serving in student government. Politics grabbed him early: during the 2015 federal election, when he was all of 15, he worked on the Liberal Party’s leader’s campaign tour. “My parents have always embraced my desire to be independent,” McCauley says, “and they have thoroughly instilled the importance of giving back to the community in which I live, work and serve.”

Moving back to Toronto on his own at 16 for an internship, he met Esther Garnick of EGPR, a publicrelations pro, whom he still counts as one of his biggest mentors and pals. Garnick put him to work during the Toronto International Film Festival that year. That stint led to many more relationships and deepened his affection for Toronto.

Asked what differences he gleams between the west coast and here, he responds, “I always say that Toronto is more my speed. I feel like Torontonians are real go-getters. Not to say that Vancouverites are not. There is just something in the air in Toronto.” He does, however, bounce back and forth often.

In terms of society goings-on, McCauley, who works on the brand marketing and corporate citizenship team at Telus, offers this analysis: “Toronto has a much more established, vibrant society circuit. Vancouver has some key social players, but there is not the same type of infrastructure. There has been such historic and generous philanthropic support by multigenerational families here, and I think that is starting to take flight in Vancouver, but it hasn’t quite reached that same level. However, nothing can beat the après ski scene in Whistler, which is where you can find me this winter.”

Out and about

When our exchange turns to the spots he’s been hanging out at lately, McCauley says, “I love Minami and Miku, which are sister restaurants that originated in Vancouver, and I have been loving the vibe at Clio (the new private club on King). I also basically used Soho House as my library during the last two years of my university degree. I love a good night out at Soho, especially on Mondays. And you can likely find me on the patio of One Restaurant at the Hazelton on the weekends, enjoying brunch.

“My favourite place to work out is Barry’s — I’m approaching 300 classes completed,” he adds. “The community there is so uplifting and positive, which might be surprising to some considering the intense and intimidating exterior.”

As for a side hustle he’s got going — one that’s keeping him uplifted in other ways — he recently hatched The Canadian Speech and Debate Academy. It’s a passion project with one of his best friends, actress Natalie Ganzhorn, whom he met at a public speaking tournament in 2013. “We’ve been inseparable since then,” he says. “In high school, we travelled the world together, competing in competitions, and deeply recognize the benefits that come from being a strong public speaker. We teach a variety of private and group classes to students between grades 7 and 12 and are open to taking on more.”

No debate, here, though. McCauley remains one to watch.