Why We Exist
In His final prayer before the crucifixion, our Lord passionately prayed for the unity of His followers.
After His resurrection, Jesus made breakfast for the disciples.
Ever since, breaking bread together in fellowship has been a staple of Christian faith.
In October 1994, The “Scarborough Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast” began, with Joyce Trimmer, then Mayor of the City of Scarborough, hosting the event. The late Frank Faubert, who succeeded Mayor Trimmer, continued to host the breakfast until Scarborough became part of the City of Toronto in 1998. That year the name was changed to “Scarborough Community Prayer Breakfast”, representing an area with a population of some 650,000. In January 2000 the decision was made to expand the horizon of the breakfast to serve the eastern GTA, encompass the area east of Yonge Street as far as Oshawa, and from the lake front north to Steeles Avenue. The event became known as The Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast. In 2016, the Steering Committee decided to change the event’s name to the Toronto Prayer Breakfast, to reflect the mission of serving the entire City of Toronto.
The mission of The Toronto Prayer Breakfast is to bring Christians together to pray for our leaders and our community, as a public expression of our Christian love and faith.
Steering Committee 2023-2024
Fazal Karim Jr., Chair • Mike Noble, Vice-Chair • Ruthlyn Thompson-Weir, Treasurer • Veleyne Amsterdam, Secretary
Members-At-Large: Jean Henry • Justin Kelsey • Grace Mullings • Harry Paul • Donnie Persaud • Malcolm Seath • Desiree Sills • Dan Snooks • Bosco Tung
The Toronto Prayer Breakfast Steering Committee is an all-volunteer team of local Christians that meets at least once a month to plan and produce the annual Breakfast. Many of the volunteers are involved with pastoral or prayer team activities at their local congregations. If you are interested in joining the Committee, please contact us, including your area(s) of interest and expertise. Also include the name of your home congregation and details of your participation.
The History of the breakfest
For more than 20 years, Christians in Toronto have gathered for the Toronto Prayer Breakfast on the first Tuesday in March.
(From 1994-2000, the Breakfast was held on the Tuesday after Thankskgiving.)
Past Breakfast Programming
Year | Speaker | Musical Guest | Committee Chair(s) | Event Name | Date | Venue |
2023 | Rev. Andrew Stirling | Brooke Nicholls | Fazal Karim Jr. | Toronto Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 7, 2023 | The Brighton Convention & Event Centre |
2022 | Brian Stiller | Brooke Nicholls | Fazal Karim Jr. | Toronto Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 1, 2022 | Virtual |
2021 | Rev. Charles Price | Natalie Stewart | Fazal Karim Jr. | Toronto Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 2, 2021 | Virtual |
2020 | Danielle Strickland | Marsha Wagner | Fazal Karim Jr. | Toronto Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 3, 2020 | The Brighton Convention & Event Centre |
2019 | Ken Shigematsu | Marsha Wagner | Fazal Karim Jr. | Toronto Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 5, 2019 | The Brighton Convention & Event Centre |
2018 | John Mark Comer | Jonelle Sills | Mike Noble | Toronto Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 6, 2018 | The Brighton Convention & Event Centre |
2017 | Gary Thomas | Jonelle Sills | Mike Noble | Toronto Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 7, 2017 | The Brighton Convention & Event Centre |
2016 | Johnnie Moore Jr. | Hiram Joseph | Mike Noble | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 1, 2016 | The Brighton Convention & Event Centre |
2015 | Pete Scazzero | Ruth Ann Onley | Mike Noble | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 3, 2015 | The Brighton Convention & Event Centre |
2014 | Sheila Walsh | Dr. Gary Beesley | Mike Noble | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 4, 2014 | The Brighton Convention & Event Centre |
2013 | Johnnie Moore Jr. | Dr. Gary Beesley | Mike Noble | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 5, 2013 | Grand Bacchus Banquet & Conference Centre |
2012 | Gary Thomas | Dr. Gary Beesley | Becky Willoughby | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Fri, Apr 6, 2012 | Grand Bacchus Banquet & Conference Centre |
2011 | Mark Buchanan | Hiram Joseph | Becky Willoughby | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Mon, Jan 3, 2011 | Grand Bacchus Banquet & Conference Centre |
2010 | Anne Graham-Lotz | Melanie Ratnam | Jerome Sylvan & Becky Willoughby | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 2, 2010 | Grand Bacchus Banquet & Conference Centre |
2009 | Jim Cymbala | Jim Bamford & Jerome Sylvan | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 3, 2009 | Grand Bacchus Banquet & Conference Centre | |
2008 | Dennis Ignatius | Jim Bamford & Jerome Sylvan | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 4, 2008 | Grand Bacchus Banquet & Conference Centre | |
2008 | Philip Yancey | Jerome Sylvan | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Wed, Jul 9, 2008 | Agincourt Pentecostal Church | |
2007 | Mel Finlay | Saj McKenley | Jim Bamford & Diana Loach | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 6, 2007 | Grand Bacchus Banquet & Conference Centre |
2006 | Don Cousens | The Youngnak Korean Church Choir | Jim Bamford | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 7, 2006 | Grand Bacchus Banquet & Conference Centre |
2005 | Benjamin Osei | Ruth Ann Onley | Jack Charleson | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 1, 2005 | Grand Bacchus Banquet & Conference Centre |
2004 | Gary Ellis | Jim Sneep | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 2, 2004 | Inn on the Park | |
2003 | Lorna Dueck | Colin Ainsworth & Rachel Cleland | Ed Johnston | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 4, 2003 | Inn on the Park |
2002 | Dave Toycen | Edward Klassen | Rita Monsma | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Mar 5, 2002 | Inn on the Park |
2001 | Tue, Mar 6, 2001 | |||||
2000 | Tom Caldwell | Rita Monsma | Greater Toronto East Prayer Breakfast | Tuesday after Thanksgiving | Scarborough City Hall | |
1999 | Alan F. Speed | Ruth Ann Onley | Scarborough Community Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Oct 19, 1999 | Scarborough City Hall | |
1998 | Scarborough Community Prayer Breakfast | Tuesday after Thanksgiving | Scarborough City Hall | |||
1997 | Scarborough Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast | Tuesday after Thanksgiving | Scarborough City Hall | |||
1996 | David Onley | Ruth Ann Onley | Douglas A. Gibson | Scarborough Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast | Tuesday after Thanksgiving | Scarborough City Hall |
1995 | Alexander Christ | Rosemary Schmidt | Marylois Bernard | Scarborough Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Oct 17, 1995 | Scarborough City Hall |
1994 | Paul Henderson | Marilyn Walling | Robbie Rhodes | Scarborough Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast | Tue, Oct 11, 1994 | Scarborough City Hall |