History

Golf Tournament History

It was 30 years ago, before fund raising golf tournaments were even popular when Mississauga planner John Rogers and the late Rick Mortensen decided to hold an annual golf tournament in Mayor Hazel McCallion's name.

Mayor Hazel agreed on one condition, that is, all proceeds go to local charities. Since then, more than $2 million have been distributed to more than 300 charities.

The tournament, traditionally the second Thursday of September, was originally held at Derrydale Golf Club, with all green fees waived by owner Jim Holmes. Jim hosted the tournament for 20 years until it was moved to City-owned BraeBen Golf Course when Derrydale downsized to an executive nine-hole course.

Actually, on two occasions the tournament was held elsewhere to accommodate a larger registration. In 1993, Credit Valley Golf Club hosted a special tournament and with reduced fees the tournament netted $300,000 for the then, new University of Toronto Mississauga campus.

The 25th anniversary milestone tournament was held at Kaneff-owned Lionhead Golf Club to allow for 288 golfers and a banquet for 350 guests – double the size of the usual tournament. That year, more than $120,000 was raised for Mississauga charities.

The tournament has its own logo, a cartoon of Hazel golfing conceived and produced by well known Canadian cartoonist Steve Nease. A life size wooden cutout of the logo was made which allowed all golfers to have their photo taken with a golfing "Hazel".

A majority of the money raised over the years has been donated by generous sponsors. Laurie Williamson of Laurie Williamson Motors has been a sponsor from the beginning by providing a "hole-in-one car" which was finally won by a lucky golfer in 2006.

The tournament is the prime fundraiser for The Hazel McCallion Charitable Fund, a federally registered charity that disperses the proceeds of the golf tournament through a volunteer board of directors. The fund also accepts and has received outside donations.

Over the years, the Charitable Fund has taken great care to help as many worthwhile causes as possible with special attention to organizations that provide support, encouragement and opportunities to children and youth in Mississauga.

John Rogers is the president of the Fund; Gerry Townsend serves as Treasurer and Ron Lenyk is Vice President.

The Fund accepts requests from all area charities. Volunteer board members meet four times a year to decide where funds should be allocated. The Fund is also audited by an outside accounting firm.

The tournament's extraordinary gift for giving to those in need was particularly acknowledged by the Governor General in 2005 when Hazel was bestowed with The Order of Canada.

For the past eight years, Ron Lenyk has chaired the tournament although John Rogers has remained with the committee throughout making his tenure 30 years – 22 as Chair. Currently in addition to John and Ron, Shalini Alleluia, Gerry Townsend, Ron Starr, Doug Fowles, Jim Murray, Michael Parsons and Peter McCallion make up the volunteer golf committee.

The same standards implemented from the beginning and upheld by Mayor Hazel apply to each tournament: namely, that support is gathered through leadership and integrity, volunteers are encouraged and welcomed, and most of all, fiscal restraint and accountability are never negotiable.

The Mayor, because the tournament is in her name, has always insisted the administration of the tournament be taken very seriously without spending any taxpayer money but when it comes to the tournament day she has one strict rule – everyone must have fun while helping out the community.

So, the two objectives have been met annually for the past 30 years – people have fun golfing and much needed money is raised for community charities without using a penny of taxpayers' money.

Photos Through the Years

Click below to see some of the pictures from our past years:

• 1986
• 1988
• 1989
• 1993
• 1994
• 1995
• 1997
• 1998
• 2000
• 2001
• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2006
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010

Programs (from 2004-Present)

Want to know more about what happens at the Tournament? Our past programs are available for viewing below:

• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010