Beautiful P4P2021 bouquets by Quince Flowers

Our Events

Serving Brunch in TO since 2009

The first Porridge for Parkinson’s breakfast in Toronto was held in 2009, and together, we have raised over $1 million in net proceeds, thanks to hundreds of sponsors, donors, guests, volunteers, and of course, our chefs!

2022

A new twist on Porridge for Parkinson’s, the brunch pantry package, was a hot item! Committee members personally delivered over 100 packages across the GTA on Sunday, November 6, 2022.

We remain committed to raising funds for Parkinson’s research and hope to hold an in-person brunch event in 2023.

Support for our “Fund a Fellow” program has been very encouraging – since 2019, we have raised $465,391.93. As Dr. Lang says, “[fellows are] the future of our field, they’re the future of the care we provide, and they’re the future of the research.” Thank you to everyone who contributed to this goal.

Many thanks to our sponsors, donors, brunch purchasers, brunch partners and the supportive team at the UHN Foundation.

Missed this year’s fundraiser? Support Parkinson’s research at UHN at any time via the donate button at the top of the page.

Dollars Raised

2021

Porridge for Parkinson’s 2021 was a delicious success! Four different menus, delivered directly to over 200 homes every Sunday in November. We had many happy moments and encouraging notes and photographs. We’ve shared a lot of these on the @porridgeforparkinsons Instagram account.

We raised over $133,460.14 for Parkinson’s research and enough to fund one Fellow at Edmond J. Safra Program in PD at the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN, led by Dr. Anthony Lang. We are grateful to our sponsors, donors, brunch purchasers, and brunch partners who participated this year.

Dollars Raised

2019

The Porridge for Parkinson’s 2019 brunch was held on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in the fabulous new Locomotive Hall at the Roundhouse. The event featured celebrity chefs and special guests from media and medicine.

The proceeds supported the Parkinson’s Research Excellence Fund at the Edmond J Safra Program, at Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN run by Dr. Anthony Lang, a rock star in PD Research.

Dollars Raised

2019 Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

The Cerny Family, in Honour of Isabel M. Cerny

Fellowship Sponsors

Anonymous

Marsha and Aubrey Baillie

Fran and David Brown

Monica and Bradley Martin

Dr Anthony Lang Research Fund Sponsor

The Hopscotch Foundation, in Honour of Isabel M. Cerny

Venue Sponsor

BMO Financial Group

Chef Sponsor

The Purpleville Foundation

Setting the Table Sponsor

Jenny Ginder and John Todd

Feature Family Sponsor

The Glazer Family

Guest Speaker Sponsor

Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc

Bistro Sponsor

Robert and Fay Kruzel

Brunch Sponsors

Arkin Furrow Estate Law LLP; Esther and Jonathan Dostrovsky

Genova Private Management, Inc.

Bill and Catherine Graham

Deb Voorheis

Porridge Sponsor

Apple and Chris Jackson

Morning Glory Sponsor

Jeanne Armstrong

Wendy and Stephen Cole

Geoff Cornish

Jean Hackett

Donald K. Johnson

LiUNA Local 183

Harry McMurtry

Print Sponsor

The Printing House Limited

2017

Our 10th Anniversary Porridge for Parkinson’s brunch was a huge success! On Sunday, November 12 2017 guests enjoyed a delicious brunch prepared by our wonderful chefs: Jamie Kennedy, Joanne Yolles, Donna Dooher, Joshna Maharaj, Jen Cerny, Noni Castonguay and Sandra Katsiou.

Supporter Robert Fisher emceed the event and Evan Siddall was our inspiring special guest speaker.

Chef Joshna Maharaj

2015

Porridge for Parkinson’s 2015 was held at the Vaughan Estate. The event was sold out and 300 guests enjoyed fabulous breakfast cuisine prepared by our wonderful chefs.

Longtime Porridge for Parkinson’s friend Jeanne Beker was again our emcee and our special guest Harry McMurtry delivered an inspiring speech titled “Things Can be Better”.

Thanks to our generous donors and supporters our net proceeds far exceeded our target of $200,000.

2013

The 4th Biennial Porridge for Parkinson’s Toronto was held on Sunday, November 3, 2013, at the elegant Vaughan Estate in Toronto. The fabulous food included delicious wild blueberry pancakes from Donna Dooher, Jamie Kennedy’s famous porridge, Joanne Yolles’s delectable fruit parfaits, Derek Bendig’s yummy cheese omelettes, and tasty treats from StirCrazy catering. Our online sale, silent auction, and the live auction were sold out. Thanks to all the chefs, Emcee Jeanne Beker, our many patrons and donors and everyone who attended.

We would like to also thank our guest speaker Dr. Edward Fon, Associate Professor Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Director of the McGill Parkinson Program at McGill University. Dr. Fon was our guest speaker and spoke about his impressive work. His work in identifying a particular type of enzyme which affects Parkinson Disease inspired all those in attendance. Dr. Fon was the recipient of the 2012 Porridge for Parkinson’s (Toronto) Pilot Project Grant. 

The 2015 event raised over $150,000 to support research programs at Parkinson Canada.

2011

The 3rd Biennial Porridge for Parkinson’s Toronto in November 2011 was a huge success raising over $92,000. Our 300 guests feasted on delicious breakfast delicacies including Jamie Kennedy’s porridge, Joanne Yolles’s breakfast parfaits, Martin Kouprie and Derek Bendig’s cheese omelettes and Mildred Pierce Group’s pancakes with blueberry sauce.

Emcee Robert Fisher of CBC Radio One, 99.1 introduced guest speaker Dr Michael Schlossmacher, recipient of the first Porridge for Parkinson’s (Toronto) Pilot Project Grant (2009), through Parkinson Society Central and Northern Ontario. Martha Johnson of “Martha and the Muffins” sang “Echo Beach,” and “Moon River” and some more contemporary hits including “Life’s too Short to Long for Something Else.”

The committee’s goal was to double our 2009 earnings of $45,000. This goal was handily achieved with over $92,000 to support research programs at Parkinson Canada.

Chef Jamie Kennedy

2009

The first Toronto Porridge for Parkinson’s event was held in 2009 and has been held biennially since. Featuring local celebrity chefs and special guests from media and medicine, Porridge for Parkinson’s Toronto has raised over $1-million for Parkinson’s research.

Joanne Yolles and Jamie Kennedy, 2009

Chefs Joanne Yolles and Jamie Kennedy

Speakers & Chefs

Brunch is Back

Brunch is Back

Porridge for Parkinson’s is thrilled to announce that our fundraising brunch is back—and it’s shaping up to be the biggest yet!

read more
Chef Spotlight: Chef John Horne

Chef Spotlight: Chef John Horne

Chef John Horne, District Executive Chef, at Oliver & Bonacini. In his role at O&B, John oversees the culinary direction of the company’s portfolio, including Canoe, Biff’s Bistro, and Auberge du Pommier.

read more
Restaurant Profile: Parallel Bros

Restaurant Profile: Parallel Bros

This month marks the fourth anniversary of Parallel, a popular middle-eastern restaurant in the Junction neighbourhood that showcases sesame butter or tahini in its many delicious forms.

read more
Chef Spotlight: Donna Dooher

Chef Spotlight: Donna Dooher

Donna Dooher has been a prominent part of Toronto’s restaurant scene since she opened the Mildred Pierce Restaurant in 1989. Today, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, is a showcase for her passion for locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

read more
Chef Spotlight: Joanne Yolles

Chef Spotlight: Joanne Yolles

Joanne Yolles has been an active member of Porridge for Parkinson’s since 2007. She was well known for her amazing desserts at Scaramouche and Pangaea before becoming an instructor at George Brown Chef School.

read more