Laughter is the Best Medicine

“Laughter is the best medicine” is a key phrase in our Improv for Parkinson’s program. In fact, it used to be the title of our Level 1 course! I am someone who believes that medicine should be accessible to everyone, and ever since becoming involved in organizing the Improv for Wellness programs, my primary goal has been to remove the cost barrier. If laughter is medicine, everyone should be able to get a dose!

Two summers ago, Improv for Work and Wellness President, Dan Dumsha and I went to the World Parkinson Congress in Barcelona, along with 6 members of our PD Performance Troupe. The Congress marked the start of a long-lasting partnership and friendship with Parkinson Canada. Now, two years later, we are almost at the end of a full year of programs funded by Parkinson Canada’s Care Fund, through which all of our courses and workshops were offered at no cost to participants! This important partnership helped me realize my goal: removing the cost barrier to make the program more accessible to all!

If you want to see just how much laughter we share with our friends at Parkinson Canada, check out this episode of Doing Life Today with Bryce Perry:  Improv Therapy for Parkinson's: The Unexpected Treatment That Actually Works  where Dan and I, along with Morgan Buchal and Carmen, talk all about the benefits of Improv for Parkinson’s.

This blog post however, is to celebrate just how impactful the last year with the Care Fund was. From September 2025 to now, we offered 10 full-length Improv for Parkinson’s courses including: 

• 5 Improv for Parkinson’s Level 1 courses

• 3 Improv for Parkinson’s Level 2 courses

• 2 seasons of the PD Performance Troupe + 4 public showcases

We also offered a number of Improv for Parkinson’s taster workshops to PD support groups!

We had participants join from all across Canada and beyond including: 

• British Columbia

• Manitoba

• Ontario

• Quebec

• Nova Scotia

• New Brunswick

• Prince Edward Island

This year, the Care Fund allowed us to greatly expand our reach. With more PwP and Care Partners taking part in our programs than ever before, Parkinson Canada helped us offer doses of laughter to all new cohorts. 

So, is laughter really the best medicine? Well, we’re not saying you should skip out on your dose of levadopa, but here’s what some of our participants had to say about Improv for Parkinson’s:

“Classes were a weekly reminder to say, "yes, &" to whatever life sends my way. The fun & comradery were a welcome bonus. I'm so glad I decided to step WAY outside my comfort level into this new-to-me world.” - Alma Beck

“Opportunities to speak in a sustained way in a supportive, safe environment: to challenge oneself to think creatively and in a collaborative fashion are the essential benefits for my voice and Parkinson’s compromised cognition.” - Improv for Parkinson’s Participant”

“I would highly recommend Improv for Parkinson's to develop communication skills, incorporate humour into one's life and to improve skin complexion.” - Nikos Theodosakis

As we reflect on this incredible year, we are filled with gratitude—for Parkinson Canada’s belief in this work, for every participant who said “yes, and” to trying something new, and for the growing community that shows us time and again the healing power of connection and play. The Care Fund made it possible for laughter to echo across provinces, across Zoom screens, and across hearts. We can’t wait to see what comes next, and we remain committed to making sure that laughter—as medicine—is never out of reach.

Written by Rosemary Morrison, Improv for Wellness Manager & Improv for Parkinson’s Facilitator