The Growling Beaver Brevet is an annual fundraiser for Parkinson Canada, an important and ever-expanding resource for Canadians living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners.
Founded by cyclists for cyclists, The Growling Beaver Brevet invites participants to ride for wellness while fueling research and raising awareness for Parkinson Canada.
The Growling Beaver Brevet was founded in 2015 by Dede Barry, Michael Barry, Garnet Pratt, Evan Siddall, Jody Wilson, and Laura Wilson, cyclists and members of the Parkinson Canada family from Collingwood, Ontario.
Inspired by Davis and Connie Carpenter Phinney’s “Live Well Today” philosophy, the Growling Beaver Brevet is a social (non-race) ride to celebrate cycling with 250 cyclists riding 40, 60, 100 or 200 km routes through the scenic Beaver Valley at what should be the height of the fall colours. The day features the Beaver Valley and Georgian Bay communities and merchants that have supported cyclists through the summer season.
The routes have been conceived with a mix of tarmac and scenic country gravel roads. In the European "brevet" tradition, every rider will carry a “passport” that is authenticated at checkpoints.
In 2021, the ride raised $405,948 for Parkinson Canada.
The Growling Beaver Brevet is a different type of cycling event: It’s as social as it is athletic. It was designed for cyclists by cyclists to be accessible to everyone, so there are four different route options. Cyclists choose between 40, 60, 100 or 200 km routes through the scenic Beaver Valley at the height of the fall colours. The routes have been conceived with a mix of tarmac and scenic country gravel roads. In the European "brevet" tradition, every rider carries a “passport” that is authenticated at checkpoints.
More than 100,000 Canadians live with Parkinson's, a number expected to increase substantially in the coming years, with 30 Canadians diagnosed each day. At Parkinson Canada, people with Parkinson's are at the centre of everything we do. Parkinson Canada funds critical research, provides information and support, increases awareness and advocates for improved healthcare outcomes for people with Parkinson's across Canada. With the support of our sponsors, partners and the Parkinson's community, we continue to invest in research dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for all people affected by Parkinson's.
Parkinson Canada supports Canadians throughout all stages of their Parkinson journey. Every year, Parkinson Canada's programs and services reach nearly 10,000 Canadians living with Parkinson's and their care partners. They connect with our team for information and referral services where they receive free and confidential non-medical support. We also offer more than 120 support groups led by volunteer facilitators in communities across the country.
At Parkinson Canada, we bring together researchers to cultivate and support the most leading-edge science. Canada is home to some of the world's leading Parkinson's researchers.
Since 1981, we have funded innovative research including discovery-stage science, fellowships for Movement Disorder Specialists, and training the next generation of Parkinson's research leaders. We are proud to have invested in the next generation of researchers and clinicians, many who have continued in the field determined to further our understanding of the disease as well as the care management of people living with Parkinson's.
In 2019, Parkinson Canada co-founded the Canadian Open Parkinson Network (C-OPN) with Brain Canada. This network aims to accelerate Parkinson's research breakthroughs. We have clinical sites across the country, and we will continue expanding to reach additional communities and researchers across Canada. We currently have sites in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Quebec City. In 2022 we will open our 9th site, le Centre de Recherche Saint Louis Neuro Lévis, in Levi, Quebec.
Parkinson Canada is committed to raising the voice of people affected by Parkinson's to advance solutions toward improved care and quality of life. Our community initiatives raise awareness for much needed programs and services for the Parkinson community.
