Parkinson's South Georgian Bay

08/17/2026

Hello Everyone,

🏌️‍♀️ Tee Up . Make a Difference. Change Lives. 💙

Get ready for a day of great golf, incredible people, and an even greater cause!

On Friday, September 18th, Parkinson’s South Georgian Bay invites you to join us at the beautiful Batteaux Creek Golf Club for our upcoming Charity Golf Tournament — and we want YOU on the course!

This isn’t just another round of golf. It’s an opportunity to raise funds, raise awareness, and raise hope for people living with Parkinson’s and the families who support them.

Parkinson’s disease is the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the world. Sadly, Canada is the world-wide leader per capita!

Together, we can help make sure no one faces this journey alone.

⛳ Why Play?
Because every swing can make a difference.

Your participation helps support Parkinson’s South Georgian Bay and the vital programs, resources, education, connection, and community support we provide to people living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones.

And, of course, there’s plenty of FUN along the way!

🌿 Beautiful Batteaux Creek Golf Club
🏌️ A fantastic day on the course
🤝 Great company and community spirit
🎉 Fun, prizes, and surprises
💙 A chance to support an important cause

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer, a weekend warrior, or simply looking for a fun way to give back, grab your friends, family, colleagues, or foursome and join us!

If you are unavailable to attend that day, we will miss you and would appreciate a donation in support of our programming. To donate, please click here - https://psgb.ca/donate/

Register your team. Bring your friends. Make every shot count.
Together, we build Community through Exercise. Education. Empowerment.

Friday, September 18th | Batteaux Creek Golf Club

👉 Register today and be part of something bigger than golf - https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/parkinsons-south-georgian-bay-charity-golf-tournament

Let’s hit the fairway for Parkinson’s! 💙⛳

Already have a golf ticket? Purchase the $50 Golf Passport - https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/dollar50-golf-card

Golfing for a future without Parkinson’s

With gratitude,

Sarah & Tracey

Together, we are B.E.T.T.E.R - Build knowledge. Enable access. Take part. Team up. Empower health. Research for tomorrow.

07/23/2026

Did You Know Blog Post #3:

Diet and Parkinson’s Disease: Finding the “right” diet for Parkinson’s is not always straightforward.

Our bodies respond differently to foods, and what works well for one person may not work for another.

For example, some people struggle to digest fats, making a keto-style diet difficult, while others may not tolerate brassicas or legumes. Often, it takes time — and support from qualified professionals — to discover what nourishes your body best.

All dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians; dietitians are licensed healthcare professionals, while nutritionists may or may not have formal credentials.

There truly is no one-size-fits-all approach.

That said, several core principles are widely helpful and supported by nutrition research:

Foundational Principles for a Supportive Diet:

Limit ultra-processed foods. These products contain little or no whole food and are engineered to be hyper-palatable.

A simple rule of thumb: if there are more than five ingredients, or ingredients you wouldn’t cook with at home, it’s likely ultra-processed. Nutritional value is usually low.

Be mindful of sugar and total carbohydrates. Nutrition labels list sugar in grams — and 4 grams = 1 teaspoon. A can of soda with 30g of sugar contains 7.5 teaspoons. Visualizing it this way can be eye-opening.

Choose real, whole foods. Prioritize seasonal fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and quality protein sources such as fish and lean meats.

Wash produce thoroughly. Pesticide residues are present on many fruits and vegetables, including organic ones. Soaking produce in water with a bit of baking soda or vinegar, or using a vegetable wash, can help remove residues. (See guide below)

Helpful Resources: Environmental Working Group (EWG):
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) https://www.ewg.org/?utm_source=copilot.com is a nonprofit organization focused on protecting human health. Their research covers food, water, and household products.

Useful guides include:
* Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Chemicals - https://www.ewg.org/consumer-guides/ewgs-dirty-dozen-guide-food-chemicals-top-12-avoid

* Guide to Washing Produce - https://www.ewg.org/consumer-guides/ewgs-guide-washing-produce

* EWG Shopper’s Guide to Fruits and Vegetables - https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/full-list.php , which lists:
* Clean 15 (lowest pesticide levels)
* Middle of the List
* Dirty Dozen (highest pesticide levels)

Items on the Dirty Dozen - https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php list are the ones you may prefer to buy organic whenever possible — though, unfortunately, they often include some of our favourite fruits and vegetables.

Nutrients That Support Brain Health:

* Although the brain is small, it uses 20–30% of the body’s energy.
* Ensuring adequate vitamins and minerals is essential.

Nutrients commonly discussed in brain health research include:

* Vitamins B, C, D, E
* Zinc
* Magnesium (magnesium threonate crosses the blood–brain barrier)
* Omega-3 fatty acids
* Iron

A healthcare provider can check these levels through routine bloodwork and help determine whether supplementation is appropriate.

Being a strong advocate for your health and the health of your loved one is so important - taking someone with you ensures that YOUR voice will be heard.

You're not alone, stay informed and visit us at www.psgb.ca for more information and ongoing updates.

The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping you live your healthiest life.

07/23/2026

Did You Know Blog Post #2:

Carl Beech: A Journey Through the Darkness of Parkinson’s Toward Purpose!

Before Parkinson’s, Carl Beech spent his life fighting for others — working as a human rights poverty relief advocate, including in war zones and illegal mining regions of the DRC.

He was strong, active, and resilient.

About 15 years ago, small signs began to appear. People asked if he had injured his leg. His speech would fade by the end of the day, losing tone and clarity. Years later, small tremors began in his fingers.

Doctors dismissed him. Stress, they said.

Then came the family trip to Disney World — a vacation they had saved for over many years. Carl stepped off the plane and felt… nothing.

No excitement. No joy. He had to pretend to be happy for his family.

Three more doctors dismissed him before a fourth finally gave him the diagnosis he already suspected: Parkinson’s disease.

The relief of knowing was quickly replaced by the weight of what came next. Apathy. Fatigue. Rigidity. Vocal freezing. Medication struggles.
His handwriting deteriorated. His world shrank.

Two years after diagnosis, Carl felt he had lost everything. And then something shifted. He told himself, “Don’t let it define you.”

He began noticing small things to be grateful for. He realized that a hug or gentle tapping calmed his nervous system. Friends reminded him they were with him.

Slowly, he rose.

Carl asked an engineering friend to help him build a device that could provide rhythmic tapping. They 3-D printed a prototype — the first version of what is now the BeechBand https://www.beechband.com/

By using the BeechBand, Carl’s speech returned. His walking and gait improved. His sense of purpose came back.

Today, Carl is helping thousands of others reclaim pieces of their lives.
Carl shared his story as a panelist at the recent Parkinson’s South Georgian Bay June Festival in Collingwood, Ontario.

It was a reminder that while Parkinson’s can be extremely dark and isolating, the story doesn’t have to end there.

During the event, seven of our local Parkinson’s clients spoke about their own journeys. The word that came up again and again — the reason they keep coming to spinning, yoga, and exercise classes — was community.

Even on the days they don’t feel like exercising, they show up for the friendships, the support, and the understanding they find in one another.
Parkinson’s isolation is real. But it doesn’t have to define you.

Help is close by — and so are new friends.

You're not alone, stay informed and visit us at www.psgb.ca for more information and ongoing updates.

Discover the wristband that’s helping calm people and change lives. BeechBand is a wellness device not a medical device. We create physical solutions that will help people live their best possible life.

07/23/2026

Did You Know Blog Post #1:

Parkinson’s Is Not a Natural Part of Aging
So Why Aren’t We Fighting to Prevent It?

On Sunday June 7, 2026 Dr. Ray Dorsey https://www.atria.org/doctors/dr-ray-dorsey/ , from New York City, United States spoke at the Parkinson’s South Georgian Bay Festival in Collingwood, Ontario Canada.

Ray is the co-author of the New York Times Bestseller – The Parkinson’s Plan – A New Path to Prevention and Treatment https://pdplan.org/dr-ray-dorsey/

He argues that Parkinson’s is a man-made disease based on environmental toxins and we should be acting now to save our children and grandchildren. Below is a summary of some of the items he discussed live and/or in his book.

Pesticides:

Paraquat — a w**d killer banned in over 50 countries — increases Parkinson’s risk by 150% among exposed farmers.

Despite its dangers and while banned in over 50 countries including China, the U.S. continues to use it, and usage is rising. The manufacturer’s own 1960s research showed that high doses produced Parkinson-like symptoms, yet the product remains on the market.

Studies continue to confirm the danger of pesticides:
French vineyard workers exposed to pesticides had double the risk of Parkinson’s.

Living within 500 m of paraquat application significantly increases risk.
Vermont was the first state to ban paraquat in 2026; 12 more states are considering bans.

Chlorpyrifos, another widely used pesticide, also produces Parkinson’s-like pathology.

We are what we eat and unfortunately much of our produce comes from the United States and Mexico.

Pesticides fed to cows and pigs can become more concentrated in the meat and especially the fat.

Water Contamination: trichloroethylene (TCE) & tetrachloroethylene (PCE) - ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry :

TCE and PCE — industrial solvents used in degreasing and dry cleaning — contaminate groundwater worldwide. At Camp Lejeune, Marines and their families drank TCE-polluted water for decades, resulting in a six-fold increase in Parkinson’s. Symptoms often appear 10–40 years after exposure.

Private wells are especially vulnerable yet rarely tested for industrial chemicals or pesticides. Assuming our water is safe is no longer reasonable.

Air Pollution:

TCE and PCE don’t just contaminate water — they evaporate from soil and migrate into homes, schools, and workplaces. This “vapor intrusion” can travel more than a mile from the original source and increases Parkinson’s risk by 70%.

Broader air pollution from vehicles, power plants, agriculture, and industry is also linked to rising Parkinson’s rates, especially in rapidly industrializing regions.

Golf Courses:

People living within one mile of a golf course have a 126% increased risk of Parkinson’s. Golf courses use five times more pesticides than farms. The price of a perfect lawn should not be a neurological disease.

The Bigger Picture:

We no longer drive 1960s cars or watch 1960s televisions — yet we still use 1960s chemicals known to damage the brain. Companies continue selling them because they remain profitable.

Change will only come when public demand forces it. At the 2026 Parkinson’s South Georgian Bay June Festival in Collingwood, Ontario, Dr. Ray Dorsey captured the moment:

“There’s an awakening that indiscriminate use of nerve toxins may be why neurological disorders are now the leading source of disability — something never seen in 300,000 years of human history.

It is not normal that Parkinson’s affects young people, that autism rates are soaring, or that Alzheimer’s affects one in three older adults. This is unnatural.”

What Needs to Happen:

* Test our water — municipal and well.
* Protect children in schools and on playing fields.
* Demand safer farming and chemical practices.
* Raise our voices — because change has always started with the people most affected.

You're not alone, stay informed and visit us at www.psgb.ca for more information and ongoing updates.

Dr. Ray Dorsey is the author of The Parkinson's Plan and one of the world’s most widely read, cited, and followed neurologists.

07/23/2026