Friends, family and leaders in mental health and addiction recovery came together Thursday at Social Restaurant + Lounge — the very place where Canadian-born, Ottawa-raised actor Matthew Perry spent time with loved ones during what would be his final Christmas.

“It’s kind of giving me goosebumps and making me emotional,” said childhood friend Brian Murray, vice president of leasing and business development at Waterford Property Group, speaking from the packed restaurant, located in the ByWard Market. “It’s so poignant that we’re here tonight.”

The evening benefit, Soirée chez Matthew Perry, was held in support of a future treatment facility to be built in Ottawa in Perry’s memory. The inaugural event raised in the neighbourhood of $90,000.

Present were the actor’s mother, Suzanne Morrison, his stepfather, retired broadcast journalist Keith Morrison, and his half-sister Caitlin Morrison, who’s the executive director of the new Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada.

Keith Morrison, Caitlin Morrison and Suzanne Morrison at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Special guests included former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, who has been raising awareness and encouraging open conversations about mental health for years.

The Matthew Perry House, to be constructed on the grounds of The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, will provide long-term recovery support for individuals with substance use disorders. The new facility, which is to include roughly 160 units, is a collaboration between The Matthew Perry Foundation and a number of local organizations, including The Royal, Ottawa Salus, Ottawa Community Housing, Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, Ottawa Black Mental Health Coalition and Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition.

Perry grew up in Ottawa before achieving international fame on Friends, a long-running television sitcom. In 2023, he passed away unexpectedly at his home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles after struggling for years with drug and alcohol addiction. An autopsy report confirmed that he died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine.

Earlier on Thursday, a ceremonial groundbreaking and symbolic tree planting was held at the site of a future treatment centre. The fact that it will be located on Byng Drive — named after a World War I war hero, not Perry’s TV character, Chandler Bing — is purely an uncanny coincidence.

Caitlin told attendees at Social how “humbled” she was by everyone’s presence while her father shared how the people of Ottawa have restored his faith in humanity in a world clouded by cynicism.

“Then there’s Ottawa – man, oh man,” he began, smiling. “It has been absolutely extraordinary, beyond belief. This city, and this wonderful, wonderful country, has stepped up in such a way to do something valuable that desperately needs to be done.

“There are so many families like ours, who have gone through the same thing, who have heard the same story, who have suffered the same way, have had the same fears. This is something for them. You’re making it happen, and we are eternally, eternally grateful.”

Retired broadcast journalist Keith Morrison, stepfather of the late Matthew Perry, at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The soirée featured a live auction led by Ottawa broadcaster Sam Laprade, who made volunteering at her third charity event in 24 hours look easy.

A floral-themed painting by Ottawa artist Nicole Allen sold for $2,800 to Murray’s wife, Kristen Smith, while Alfredsson’s wife, Bibbi Alfredsson bought a one-year membership at the Rockcliffe Tennis Club for $1,700. A seven-night stay in downtown London, England, along with two primo tickets to any Arsenal F.C. home match, sold to Kathie Swim for $6,500.

There were also tickets sold to home games to watch the Ottawa Senators, donated by the Senators Community Foundation by Waterford Property Group.

The evening was capped off by a performance from Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson from the Canadian band Skydiggers, which is just what Matthew would have wanted, said Caitlin Morrison.

Andy Maize, left, and Josh Finlayson from the Skydiggers performed at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Morrison set the stage for the performance by sharing a memory of her brother. She spoke candidly and off the cuff, making her a refreshingly good storyteller. Her story dated back 20 years, when she lived for a time with Perry in his luxury home in Beverly Hills.

“It was the nicest house I’ve ever lived in, the nicest house I’ll ever live in,” said Morrison while recognizing her brother faced his ups and downs. She could tell he was struggling by one of two ways. The first was waking up to find a trail of strawberry-flavored powdered drink mix strewn from the kitchen, through the living room and into the bedroom. It was her brother’s way of self-soothing, she explained.

“The other way, the more annoying way, is that he would listen to the same song over and over and over again on a loop, on all the speakers in the house. I’m not talking, like, once in a while but 24 hours a day — the same sad, weepy song — played over the entire house until I begged him to stop.

“The reason for that is that music was an intrinsic part of his soul. It filled him with joy.

“He had the musical taste of a 14-year-old-girl, but I loved it.”

Morrison took it in stride that some people in the back of the room continued their conversations while she was speaking. “I love that there are so many people here today … I love everybody that made a point to be here,” she continued. “And I love that you’re having so much fun and talking that you can barely hear the music. I love it.”

While the musicians played, Morrison swayed to the music, joined by Murray and others.

Caitlin Morrison, executive director of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Chris Ide, president and CEO of The Royal Ottawa Foundation, Dr. Jennifer Phillips, (interim) scientific director and scientist at the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR) at The Royal, and mental health advocate Lee Rose, community engagement manager at TD, at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Henrietta Southam, an interior designer and stylist, and her partner, Peter Boole, co-owner of Social Restaurant + Lounge, standing near a Nicole Allen floral painting that was auctioned off in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa broadcaster Sam Laprade served as live auctioneer at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ottawa Community Housing  CEO Stéphane Giguère, Youth Services Foundation board chair Rebecca Murray and Mark Taylor, vice president of resource development at United Way East Ontario, at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Kayla Folo, marketing and communications manager at The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada, and the organization’s Caitlin Morrison at Social Restaurant + Lounge for a benefit in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Catherine McLaughlin, events and activations manager at the Fairmont Château Laurier, and her husband, Terry McLaughlin, president at Terlin Construction, at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Kathie Swim ended up being highest bidder on a stay in London, England at a fundraiser for The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, The Ottawa Hospital’s Dr. Phil Wells, Ottawa businessman Sean Murray and Montfort Hospital’s Dr. Ian Rhodes at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

It was a full house at a fundraiser held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Caitlin Morrison, executive director of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada, with Matthew Perry’s childhood friend, Brian Murray, and Ottawa broadcaster Sam Laprade at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, transformational coach Alexandra Howard and Stephanie Young, director of development at Ashbury College, at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Brian Murray with Sam Laprade as she auctioned off a week stay at an apartment in downtown London, England with tickets to a football match, during a fundraiser for The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Keith Morrison watches as Caitlin Morrison and Suzanne Morrison share a mother-daughter moment together at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ottawa Salus board member Fiona Murray Cook, Daniel Alfredsson, Terri Hoddinott and Shirley Westeinde were out supporting a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Pam Murray and Bibbi Alfredsson were out supporting a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Mark Taylor, vice president of resource development at United Way East Ontario, board member Erin Benjamin, and Jessey Bird, vice president of marketing and communications at United Way East Ontario, were out supporting a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa artist Nicole Allen speaks with Sam Laprade about the painting she donated to the live auction in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Susan Ingram, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa, and Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation CEO David Gourlay at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ottawa city councillors Mary Carr and Catherine Kitts, Ottawa Community Housing CEO Stéphane Giguère and Ottawa city councillor Theresa Kavanagh, also board chair of OCH, at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Nuel Andre, director of business development at Govan Brown & Associates, and Paul Cook, partner at Lennard Commercial Realty, at a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Elizabeth Gray-Smith, lead strategist at Gray Smith Communications, and public relations and communications professional Julie Findlay were out supporting a benefit event held at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Erin Benjamin, president of the Canadian Live Music Association, caught up with musicians Andy Maize, left, and Josh Finlayson from the Skydiggers following their performance at Social Restaurant + Lounge in support of The Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel and RBC.

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