TMU alumna Caitlin Morrison, sister of Matthew Perry, leads foundation in his memory

To the world, Matthew Perry was an acclaimed actor, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends. But to his younger sister, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) alumna Caitlin Morrison, Politics and Governance ’10, Perry was simply her larger-than-life older brother.

“One thing that I remember from my very young childhood was that he was almost a mythical creature,” she said. “Everything was just so cool about him.”

Morrison fondly recalls when Perry was a struggling actor, she would eagerly share his latest television pilot with friends, even playing a VHS cassette of the Friends pilot for her entire class. But it wasn’t until one pivotal moment, after he came home to visit his family in Toronto, that she realized the extent of her brother’s fame.

“He came to pick me up from school, and somebody pointed over to where we were standing and said, ‘Oh my God, it’s Chandler,’” she recalled. “And there was a literal swarm of seventh- and eighth-graders.”

With the success of Friends, Perry’s career took off. But throughout his life and career, he faced significant struggles with addiction — something he spoke openly about in later years, including in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. Morrison says her brother’s challenges sparked his desire to help others facing similar battles. Tragically, Perry passed away in October 2023.

“When Matthew died, I thought, ‘I really want to do something,’” Morrison said. “I had spoken with him in the past about putting something formal together that would help people, so it seemed like a natural thing to do.”

A year after Perry’s death, Morrison, together with Perry’s family and friends, launched the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada (external link, opens in new window)  (MPF Canada) to continue his mission of supporting individuals living with substance use disorders. The Canadian foundation honours Perry’s legacy through initiatives tailored to meet the specific needs of communities across Canada — not to be confused with the Matthew Perry Foundation, an American non-profit launched by Perry’s U.S.-based team.

As executive director, Morrison works with the board and partners to help people in their first year of recovery. She recalls conversations she would have with her brother about how challenging the first year could be.

“He would say, ‘It’s just that first year … if I could just make it through that first year, I would have it,’” she said. “Talking to experts and remembering the frustrations he had during his early recovery, it made perfect sense to make the central program of the organization about providing a continuum of care, so people in early recovery don’t have to worry.”

MPF Canada works alongside community organizations to address key barriers such as housing insecurity and job loss, and offers support like housing assistance, mental health services, peer support and career training. The foundation will also advance education by supporting research into substance use disorders, and sharing valuable information on prevention and treatment through seminars, workshops and online platforms.

In her role at MPF Canada, Morrison will call on her more than a decade of experience working in the non-profit sector in Canada and the United States. Reflecting on her time as a student at TMU, Morrison says the university fostered the curiosity and dedication that became the foundation of her career. 

“If there is anything that has most informed the successful parts of my career, I think it’s the fact that TMU was a place where a lot of interest, passion and knowledge was stirred up in me,” she said.

As Morrison continues her work with MPF Canada, her goal is simple: to honour her brother’s legacy with the love and dedication he inspired. 

“I hope Matthew would like that I was doing it,” she said of launching the foundation. “But more than that, I hope that he would see the love behind it — it all really is a statement of love.”