Month: August 2025

On October 23, 2025, some of Canada’s top business leaders are trading boardrooms for bright lights—all to help accelerate breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.   

At Humour Me, they will step out of their comfort zones and take the stage with original stand-up comedy routines vying for the title of “Funniest Amateur”, while raising critical funds to support  Breakthrough T1D’s $100M Campaign to Accelerate.  

Organized by the David Goodman Youth Community Trust and, in 2025, presented by Brookfield, Humour Me applies a twist to the typical stand-up routine by bringing together professional comedians and influential, high-profile amateurs to perform together.  

This year’s headliner is none other than Jeremy Hotz. One of the most unique stand-up comics working today, Canadian-born Jeremy Hotz is a proven international success. With sold-out Canadian tours, as well as performances all over the U.S., Europe and Australia, Jeremy continues to grab audiences with his completely original and confused, yet very astute, observational comedy. He also boasts numerous awards for his comedy, writing, and performances on TV shows like The Newsroom.  

An event with a legacy of giving back, now directed to T1D research 

Humour Me is an iconic comedy fundraiser that has generated over $25 million for worthy causes over the past 15 years, and we’re thrilled to turn the spotlight on T1D research this year on October 23 at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto.   

Lori Pearson, Vice-Chair of presenting sponsor Brookfield and one of the brave amateur comedians, shares her family’s story and why the proceeds from this event are important to them: 

 

“When our daughter Ginny was 7, her life changed forever, as did our family’s. Ginnie was extremely sick, so we took her to SickKids Hospital, where she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. About a week later, when we had returned from the hospital, I was sitting with Ginny when she asked, ‘So, when do the needles stop?’ It broke our hearts. Fast-forward over 20 years to today, and Ginny still battles with the daily highs and lows of T1D. Thanks to donor-funded research, she now wears an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor, so there are fewer needles and pokes. However, the constant fear of complications, carb-counting, and the mental health impacts of the disease will always live with her until we have a cure. That’s why giving to T1D research is important to us, whether it leads to a cure in the long-term, more short-term ways of improving disease management, or preventing it for those who have not been diagnosed yet.” 

Lori is terrified by the thought of delivering a stand-up routine in front of hundreds, but says she is willing to step WAY out of her comfort zone for the cause – a sentiment shared by most who brave the legendary Elgin stage at Humour Me. Other comedians include Andrew Oliver, whose sister Vanessa and late father Peter famously left their own comfort zones at ground level when they courageously camped atop flagpoles for T1D research.   

The 2025 Humour Me comedians are: 

To see these brave souls rack up the laughs—and dollars—for T1D research, consider sponsoring the event, taking place Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Learn more at https://humourme.ca/sponsorships/  

Learn where to find resources and information to help support your child with T1D thrive in their new school year.

Receiving a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) for your child can be an overwhelming time for parents. Learning to manage the disease and adjusting to the new normal can bring significant stress to a family. And even when a family has adapted to life with T1D, new stages in school can bring with them additional stressors.

T1D is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body attacks the cells in the pancreas that are responsible for insulin. There are approximately 300,000 Canadians living with T1D in Canada. Canada has one of the fastest growing rates of diagnosis in the world, and it’s not known why, and the highest diagnosis demographic are youth aged approximately 11-14 years old, although it can be diagnosed as young as infancy and into adulthood. There is currently no way to prevent the onset of T1D, and there are no cures.

People living with T1D must constantly measure blood glucose levels and administer insulin externally, either via multiple daily injections, smart pens or insulin pumps every single day in order to stay alive. It’s a steep learning curve, and one that can change day-to-day – which can cause additional anxiety when it’s time for a child with T1D to start a new school year.

And even with these tools, the risks of hyper or hypoglycemic episodes (blood glucose going too low or high) are always present. This requires carrying fast-acting sources of sugar everywhere you go and ensuring there are always snacks available. This could mean your child has to eat at times when their fellow students don’t. This feeling of being ‘different’ can make school a scary place for a child with T1D. Talking to their teachers ahead of time and having a few trusted friends in their class can help.

School transitions also come with new challenges. Moving from elementary to middle or high school can mean your child might want to exert more independence over their T1D management, with less parental oversight and involvement. And while this is an important step in any child’s path to autonomy and young adulthood, it doesn’t make the transition any easier for the parents or the worry they feel any easier.

Both Breakthrough T1D Canada, and in particular Diabetes at School are great places to start. On their websites, parents can find a wide range of checklists, training materials to offer educators, and resources to help students feel more prepared and empowered to manage their T1D while at school.

Resources include materials to help parents:

• Prepare for back-to-school when your child has type 1 diabetes 
• Ensure your child’s school is prepared, and where to find resources 
• Educate teachers and administrators about the rights of students with type 1 diabetes at school 
• Advocate for your child or youth with type 1 diabetes 

Breakthrough T1D Canada is the largest non-profit in Canada driving towards cures for T1D while making everyday life better for people affected by T1D. Its advocacy program Access For All connects with all levels of government to ensure that diabetes technologies like advanced glucose monitors and insulin pumps are universally accessible and affordable for all Canadians with T1D. These are life-saving devices that improve disease management and outcomes and can make the transition back to school a little less fraught.

Breakthrough T1D Canada also offers a number of support services to help families through a new type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis, provides resources to better navigate T1D and make personal connections with those who share similar experiences to earn from those who have been there already. Breakthrough T1D Canada wants to make sure that at whatever stage of the T1D journey a family may be on, they never feel alone.

Starting a new school year brings with it a unique set of challenges for any student, and this is only heightened when you add type 1 diabetes. But with the right tools, resources and support, you can send your child off to school with confidence.

To learn more, visit www.breakthroughT1D.ca or www.diabetesatschool.ca.