Golfers all smiles at memorial tournament
Friday, August 24 marked the 20th anniversary of the death of four Concordia faculty members — Matthew McCartney Douglass, Michael Gorden Hogben, Aaron Jaan Saber, and Phoivos Ziogas — who died as a result of shootings by another faculty member. The Concordia annual Memorial Golf Tournament was started 19 years ago as a way to commemorate the memory of these four individuals.
Golfer Mario Ste-Marie never misses Concordia’s annual Memorial Golf Tournament. As soon as his friend, retired Concordia employee Alphonse Roaldi, informs him of the date, he marks it on his calendar. “It’s very rare that I can get a day off, and this one is always a pleasure,” he said after tapping in his last putt at the tournament’s 19th edition.
The fundraising tournament is held every August at the Hemmingford Golf Club. This year was particularly poignant.
“Today’s outing has extra special meaning,” said Concordia’s new president and vice-chancellor, Alan Shepard, who was on hand to greet the golfers in the clubhouse. “We’re here to raise funds for bursaries to benefit Concordia’s great students, and remember four professors who tragically lost their lives two decades ago this week.”
Shepard, a first-generation college student from a family with modest means, says he understands the pressures, financial and otherwise, that university students must manage on their way to graduation. “For the recipients of these bursaries, they’re not a windfall, they’re a lifeline,” he said, adding that the generous gifts are a fitting memorial to the four victims.
The tournament provides for five bursaries of $1,000 — the Concordia Memorial Golf Tournament Endowed Bursaries — awarded to one student from each the university’s four faculties and one graduate student. Organizing committee member Perry Calce, coordinator of Academic Programs and Curriculum Development at the School of Community and Public Affairs, says this year’s edition raised more than $7,000 for the fund. Since the first year it was held, the tournament has raised over $120,000.
Friend of Concordia Ross Thornicroft is a strong supporter of the tournament. This year, he brought out seven foursomes from his extensive group of golfing friends.
“If you’re going to have fun raising money, then student funding is something I believe in,” he said. “It’s a great day out, it’s a lot of fun, and everybody that’s come out has enjoyed it, and for that reason alone I’m very, very happy.”
After enjoying refreshments in the clubhouse, the more than 250 staff and faculty members, alumni, and friends of Concordia adjourned to the large dining room for a buffet dinner. The president addressed the boisterous crowd and thanked them for their support, and Patrick Devey, chief learning officer with eConcordia and the event’s emcee, announced the winners of the raffle prizes.
The raft of great prizes generously donated by the event’s sponsors included a Canon camera, an iPad, and a 59-inch plasma TV. Prizes were also awarded to the top foursomes in the Vegas-rules tournament, in which the best ball is played on each shot by the team.