September 23
2025
A second edition that confirms the strength of a community united for mental health.
On September 16, the Douglas Foundation hosted the Douglas BBQ, presented by Manulife—a festive, moving and unifying evening in support of mental health.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we are proud to announce that $415,000 was raised to support vital mental health initiatives.
From the gourmet dinner and inspiring conversations to the moving testimonials of our guest speakers, Vanessa Mulroney and Matthew Turner, the evening was filled with powerful moments that highlighted the importance of collective action in mental health.
Supporting Concrete Change
This year, a portion of the funds will go toward the renovation of the second floor of the REED Pavilion, a key area for emergency care and community mental health services. These improvements will directly enhance care environments for individuals in crisis.
Thank You to Our Partners
An event of this scale would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of committed partners who, like us, believe in building a future where mental health is a priority:
Official presenter: Manulife
Gold Sponsor: RBC Capital Markets
Silver Sponsors: Axium Infrastructure, Stikeman Elliott
Bronze Sponsors: Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation, Pembroke, Agropur, ServiceLab, PlusGrade+, Mark and Vanessa Mulroney, Stingray
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the organizing committee, whose dedication and efforts played a key role in bringing this event to life.
Discover the Highlights
Want to experience the evening’s atmosphere or see how the community came together in support of mental health?
Every contribution makes a difference. Together, we are making meaningful progress—building hope, one event at a time.
Thank you for being part of this movement.
See you next year!
— The Douglas Foundation Team
The Ouverts d’esprit evening broke a new record last Thursday, February 26, at the Théâtre Paradoxe — marking the second consecutive year of record-breaking impact!
A major water leak in January 2026 caused significant losses at the Douglas Research Centre, directly impacting research teams. An emergency campaign is underway to support the resumption of essential mental health research.
Laughter, generosity and solidarity were at the heart of the Douglas Show, a memorable evening that made a meaningful contribution to mental health research.