In 1985, Bradford McIntyre was diagnosed with HIV and told he had just 6 months to live. He sold everything, left his family, and moved away to die alone with dignity. Nine years later, Brad is not only alive but thriving without medication. This powerful World AIDS Day interview from the Dini Petty Show captures Brad's incredible journey from preparing to die to celebrating life.
In this rare 1994 interview, Brad discusses his initial diagnosis, the mental shift from "waiting to die" to choosing to live, and why he started his annual "Celebration of Life" party every November 28th. He shares honest reflections on isolation, community, and survival during the height of the AIDS crisis. Filmed on World AIDS Day 1994, this conversation offers an intimate look at one man's resilience and the power of human connection during one of the darkest periods in modern health history.
TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Introduction: Bradford McIntyre's Story Begins 0:48 - The 1985 Diagnosis: Told He Had 6 Months to Live 1:20 - Why Brad Left His Family and Sold Everything 2:07 - Seven Months Later: Still Alive and Waiting 2:52 - The Mental Shift: Choosing to Live After 4 Years of Fear 3:28 - Finding Community in Ottawa 3:50 - Brad's Annual Celebration of Life Party
5:00 - Living Without HIV Medication for 3.5 Years 5:24 - Brad's World AIDS Day Message About Connection 6:05 - Dini's Tribute to Friends Lost to AIDS
ABOUT THE DINI PETTY SHOW: The Dini Petty Show was a groundbreaking Canadian talk show that aired throughout the 1990s, featuring intimate conversations with celebrities, newsmakers, and everyday people with extraordinary stories. This channel preserves over 400 rare interviews from the show's archive, with new uploads every week.
CONTEXT: This interview was conducted on World AIDS Day 1994, nine years after Bradford McIntyre's HIV diagnosis. At this time, effective antiretroviral treatments were still several years away, and an HIV diagnosis was largely considered a death sentence. Brad's survival and decision to live openly represented hope during a devastating epidemic.
