Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North (Habitat VIN) and Habitat for Humanity Mid Vancouver Island partnered up to host the Second Annual Charity Golf Tournament on September 26th at the beautiful Cottonwood Golf Course in Nanaimo. The event brought in an incredible $22,000 towards affordable homeownership in the community, through the support of sponsors, an array of incredible silent auction prizes, 50/50 ticket sales, generous donations, sold out foursomes and more!

With the golf season winding down and clouds looming, the day could’ve gone either way, but instead, it turned into a celebration of hope and community. From the moment the first players arrived, there was a real buzz of anticipation. After check-in and welcome gift bags, players loosened up with a putting competition before the shotgun start.

Out on the course, golfers engaged with fun sponsored hole activations, friendly competitions like longest drive and closest to the pin, a hole-in-one challenge (where you could win a car thanks to Nissan of Nanaimo), and a BBQ hole sponsored by Old Farm Market, which provided fresh-baked buns and wieners.

As the final putts dropped, everyone headed into the clubhouse for speeches, dinner, drinks, and a silent auction. Donated auction prizes included a WestJet Gift of Flight for Two, combined with a Travel Accessories Kit donated by Shoppers Drug Mart in Campbell River, a 1-Night Stay at Tigh-Na-Mara, gift baskets, a number of construction site essentials from RONA, and even a Couples Estate Planning Package donated by Campbell River Lawyers. There was something for everyone thanks to the generosity of many participating businesses, and the winners all seemed thrilled as they collected their prizes.

Jeff West, Executive Director for HabitatVIN, took to the mic to share some highlights from our affordable homeownership program, including metrics from a recent national study that found improved physical health, mental health, and employment income as a result of Habitat’s program. This in turn prompted an inspirational call to action from the event’s Presenting Sponsor, RAS Framing and Formwork. Jack Downing, CEO, called upon his peers in the construction industry to step up to the challenge and do their part in helping Habitat achieve its mission of building safe, affordable homes for every family on the Island. It was a community call-to-action that came from the heart, and we’re grateful for this kind of industry support. In fact, it was immediately matched by the evening’s 50/50 winner, who enthusiastically donated his earnings back to Habitat, even rounding up for good measure. A genuine moment of generosity that spoke volumes about the heart of this community and sector.

This event could not have been possible without the numerous community volunteers and Habitat staff, with some making the long 1.5-hour drive from the North Island specifically for the event. And a special thanks to Jessica Kologie and Kirsten Rudyk from the Young Builders Network, who volunteered their time and expertise for the second year in a row, guiding the organizing committee towards a successful and fun event.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Central to the day’s success was the generous support from our industry friends:

• Presenting Sponsor RAS Framing & Formwork (Ron Anderson & Sons Ltd.)

• Silver Sponsors Norms Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, and Island View Railing Systems Ltd.

• Bronze Sponsors PATH Developments, M.R. Crane Services Ltd, Centra Windows & Install Pros, RONA, and 102.3 The Wave

• Cart Sponsor WestUrban Developments Ltd.

• Hole-in-One Sponsor Nissan of Nanaimo

• Putting Competition Sponsor A. MacKenzie Roofing

• BBQ Hole Sponsor The Old Farm Market

And last but not least, thank you to all the community donors who contributed to the silent auction, the golfers who joined us, KP Photography, who snapped great moments to remember, and the team from Cottonwood Golf Course who graciously helped us throughout the day and prepared a delicious dinner to close things off.

We’re already looking ahead to next year, excited to grow this tournament and bring more community members together in support of affordable housing. In the meantime, your support doesn’t have to wait. You can continue to make an impact today by donating to Habitat - together we build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter.