Thursday September 16, 2021 | LANGFORD, BC [Updated September 17, 21 and 30, 2021]
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
UPDATE: September 21 & 30: More than $145,000 was raised in support of 31 Langford charities, says City of Langford. Scroll down to see full list of sponsors and charities.
With some organizational adjustments to accommodate COVID-19 physical distancing requirements, the 25th Annual Langford Mayor’s Annual Golf Tournament carried on this year, held yesterday at the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa.
Golf as a sport and for recreation has fared well across BC and Canada during the pandemic, given the outdoor spaciousness it offers to participants.
There were two rounds of golf (9 holes in the morning followed by lunch, and 18 holes starting at 11:45 am for golfers who wanted the longer afternoon play) and of course the fundraising auction action that Mayor Stew Young carries off with auctioneer aplomb.
Supporting charities:
It’s all for a good cause. Each golfer at the September 15 event contributed $1,500 to get into the golf carts and out to the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa Jack and Steve Nicklaus designed mountain and valley golf course. The auction afterward draws out more.
“It’s because of you guys that we’re able to do that. This is a record year, netting over $130,000 the mayor said before the golfing began. Final numbers to come, including the auction tally.
Last year (during the first year of the pandemic) the fundraising tally was about $75,000, Mayor Young told Island Social Trends.
Over 25 years:
“Thank you all for your continued support,” he told the small crowd gathered under bright morning sunshine. “I know a lot of you have been here since day one.
Twenty-five years ago we had this tournament and it’s been extremely successful. We’ve raised over a million dollars for charities here in Langford,” Stew Young said to the crowd with microphone in hand, at a distance due to COVID.
A bit tongue in cheek, he thanked the who’s who of Langford for ‘stopping their work’ to come out and enjoy some golf on a beautiful day in sunny Langford.
Seriously, Mayor Young appreciates that developers come and build in Langford, and at events like the golf tournament they ‘give back’.
COVID pushed this year’s tournament to September:
Due to COVID-related health restrictions, this year’s Langford Mayor’s Golf Tournament (planned earlier in the year in the hopes the pandemic might have eased) was held in September instead of in the summer as it has been most other years.
Sport Assist & Jordie Lunn Bike Park:
Quick remarks were also made by Gerry St Cyr who fundraises for Sport Assist which helps fund access to sports for kids with financial need. Sport Assist started up 13 years ago.
“A big part of that was because of Stew — he helped us get going with a couple of thousand dollars,” said St Cyr to the crowd. He started up his own golf tournament (the most recent one a few weeks ago raises about $70,000), with proceeds going to help kids each year in Langford.
Quick remarks were also made by Patrick Nolan who, as the mayor said, “works for all the youth in Langford”, noting the Jordie Lunn Bike Park. “He’s a great asset to have in our community, especially when we’re trying to get more kids into sports at the bike park.”
Nolan said he’s looking forward to the world-class bike park attracting mountain biking enthusiasts to Langford.
New facilities, new events:
“Because of charitable funds we’ve been able to build new facilities,” the mayor told the crowd. He wants to see youth being encouraged to come out and try various sports that Langford has to offer.
A pitch was made for Pacific FC having recently beaten the Vancouver Whitecaps in a marquee game on August 26 at Starlight Stadium. “These are the type of events we want to see in Langford.”
Sponsors:
Sponsors for the high-power day included Seacliff Properties, GFL Environmental, Westhills, JagPal Development Ltd, WA Architects, OnPoint Project Engineers, Verity Developments, Victoria Contracting, Maxam Insurance, AllTerra Construction, Plexxis Software, GNG Construction, Southpoint, Langford Heights, RTM, Keycorp, SignPad, and of course the City of Langford.
New sponsors this year were Nolan Riding, the YMCA swimming program, the Jordie Lunn Borrow-a-Bike program, PACE Musical Theatre Academy, Re-Buy-Cycle Shop Bike Exchange Program and the Westshore Child & Youth Advocacy.
- Title Sponsor: Seacliff Properties
- Platinum Sponsors: GFL Environmental, Allterra Construction, Victoria Contracting, WA Architects LTD, Plexxis, Bastion Development, Hall Constructors, Westhills Land Corp, Jagpal Development Ltd, Gordon ‘n’ Gordon, Southpoint, Maxxam Insurance.
- Gold Sponsors: Keycorp Consulting, Rob Tournour Masonry, On Point Project Engineers Ltd, Accent Refrigeration, Verity Construction, Custom Pro Exteriors, Melhanney
- In-Kind Sponsors: Goldstream Gazette, Browns the Florist, The Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa, Sign Pad, House of Boateng, Nolan Riding, Hobbyist Woodworkers, Gord Gustafson, PM Bike, BoulderHouse, Malahat Skywalk.
Charities Supported by the Tournament:
• Jordie Lunn Borrow-a-Bike Program
• Nolan Riding
• SportAssist
• The YMCA Swimming Program
• Re-Buy-Cycle Shop Bike Exchange Program
• Goldstream Foodbank
• PACE Musical Theatre Academy
• Rebels Football
• Rugby Canada
• Westshore Basketball
• Juan de Fuca Soccer
• Sarah Beckett Memorial Run
• School District 62 Sports Programs (Specifically Belmont Bulldogs)
• Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey
• Westshore Junior Rugby Program
• Goddess Run
• Langford Volunteer Fire
• Grizzlies Hockey
• Another Brick in Nepal
• Langford Minor Fastball
• Westshore Child & Youth Advocacy
• RCMP Auxiliary
• JDF Lacrosse
• Langford Fire Rescue Women’s Auxiliary
• Malahat Nation
• Royal Canadian Legion 91
• Saunders Family Foundation
• Westshore Basketball
• Wounded Warriors of Canada
• 911 Care society
• Boxing BC
• Community Living Victoria
===== RELATED:
Plexxis tech company headquarters relocates to Langford (September 14, 2021)
Roaring full-house expected for PFC-Whitecaps marquee game (August 26, 2021)
Langford: Station Ave vendor applications now open (August 17, 2021)
COVID got you climbing the walls? Do it in Langford! (June 16, 2021)
Over $100,000 raised for charities at 2019 Langford Mayor’s Golf Tournament (July 26, 2019)
Stew Young’s 2018 Mayor’s Golf Tournament raises $40,000 for charity (August 31, 2018)
===== ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
Island Social Trends is a professional online news publication (formerly West Shore Voice News) covering the socioeconomic trends of the South Vancouver Island region.
