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
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
ArriveCan contractor to be admonished by MPs in extraordinarily rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.