It was a bittersweet moment for those gathered at Church Street’s Barn and Stables club to bid farewell to Jim Billing, long-time volunteer coordinator for the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT).

Over 100 friends and colleagues packed the club on a damp, cool autumn night. There were heartfelt speeches and a thanks-for-the-memories photo montage.

To more than 3,500 volunteers, Billing was the face of charity responsible for events such as Toronto’s annual AIDS Walk and Fashion Cares. Around 1,500 education, outreach and fundraising tasks for the organization are are done by volunteers.

ACT director of development Meredith Marr spoke fondly of the two years she worked with Billing during the decade he spent with the organization.

“He has a warm, friendly manner that makes people want to get involved,” she said. “He was a great presence who will be missed. We hope we can come close to finding someone as great as Jim in our next volunteer coordinator.”

ACT’s HIV health promotion coordinator Robin Rhodes, who worked with Billings for his full 10 years, said many will personally feel his abscence.

“ACT is one big family,” he said. “We all help and support each other and have such strong friendships.”