Jason Blaine Celebrity Charity Golf Classic returns to Pembroke
Over the last year and a half, Canadian country music star Jason Blaine has played more golf than music.
The Pembroke native hasn't returned home in more than two years due to the pandemic, but returned to the valley Wednesday to bring back his annual Jason Blaine Celebrity Charity Golf Classic.
"It was heartbreaking having to cancel our event last year," Blaine tells CTV News Ottawa. "I can't tell you how excited I am."
Being held at the Pembroke Golf Club, this year is the seventh instalment of the fundraiser, which normally takes place over a two-day span. Blaine altered his usual plans in order to make sure his event didn't get called off for a second year.
"This is a one-day event this year, golf and music all in one shot," said Blaine. "We got one day to get it right, and thank God the weather is beautiful, and everybody came out and stuck with us. So I'm just so thankful."
This year's event featured a golf tournament in the afternoon followed by an evening concert by Blaine himself, who also brought along Canadian country artists Aaron Pritchett, River Town Saints, Kelly Prescott, Elyse Saunders, and Brian John Harwood.
"I think it's great for the community to have that sort of moral booster, and especially given what's happened over the last year and a half plus," said Pritchett, who was auctioned off to join a golf team along with Blaine to raise money. "I'm just happy to be a part of it all."
"We've been very fortunate to do just over $500,000 over six years of having this event," said Blaine. "I don't know what my expectations are tonight. I just really want to have a great event, and hopefully we raise a decent amount of money for the charities we support here in town."
One of those organizations who has benefitted from the golf classic over a number of years is BGC Pembroke.
"What a gift Jason is to the community. Not only to Pembroke and area but throughout the valley, he's a very generous and giving person," says Rhodina Turner, the executive director at BGC Pembroke. Turner adds that the event returning this year provides a huge boost to their programming, which relies heavily on donations.
"We have a music program, the Jason Blaine music program," says Turner. "We have guitar lessons, piano lessons. The last four years he has donated $25,000 to BGC Pembroke and like I said, we've been very fortunate to be one of the benefactors."
Despite being auctioned off for four figures each, the artists know where they shine most is on the stage rather than the course.
"Well, I say my handicap is actually my swing," laughed Pritchett. "I think it's more about the hang, I just love hanging out and having fun with people."
"I've actually had nothing but time to golf in the past year and a half," added Blaine. "And I have been trying to improve my game, so I'll be embarrassed if it's not a little bit better than it was two years ago."
UPDATE: The 2021 Jason Blaine Celebrity Charity Golf Classic raised over $87,000 for local charitable initiatives.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.