Our Events

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.