MINTO – Four local groups designated as recipients of the proceeds from the 2023 Minto Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament were introduced at the May 9 town council meeting.
The Grey Wellington Theatre Guild, Harriston Skating Club, Teviotdale Historical Society and Palmerston Homecoming committee will split funds from the 13th annual tournament, set for Aug. 10 at Pike Lake Golf Centre Limited.
Grey Wellington Theatre Guild president Peggy Raftis told council the guild is a local theatre organization that stages shows two or three times a year.
“Like most small organizations, we’ve been hit hard by the pandemic and we’ve had fewer shows with less revenue, or no revenue, during that time … and with expenses going on,” she explained.
Raftis said the guild will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024 and is planning to stage a major musical production in the fall of 2024 as part of the celebration.
“Most people don’t realize it, but the expense of putting on a musical production is huge,” she pointed out.
Raftis said fees for rights and music, combined will costs for sets, costumes, musicians, advertising and other expenses typically add up to around $15,000 “before we even open the doors.”
“Our goal is to use the money that we would get from the golf tournament as seed money to start making further plans for the celebrations,” she explained.
Deanna Glazema of the Harriston Skating Club said the group is a non-profit organization that aims to provide “an affordable and fun youth sport option” for families in Minto, “giving as many children as possible the opportunity to learn how to skate at our local rinks.”
Glazema said the club plans to use funds from the tournament to purchase additional equipment for Canskate and learn-to-skate programs, a new tablet for playing music, off-ice training equipment for the Starskate program, storage containers for costumes and supplies and updating the costume inventory for the group’s annual carnival.
The funds we receive will also allow us to keep the registration fees affordable and the sport accessible for families in our community for years to come,” she stated.
Wayne Martin of the Teviotdale Historical Society said the group is planning to create displays about the history of the hamlet at both indoor and outdoor locations.
The group has collected considerable historical material to displayed on panels.
“So now it’s a case of raising the money to put the structure and the panels up,” said Martin, who estimated the total cost of the project at around $5,000.
The Palmerston Homecoming Committee is planning a celebration in 2025 in recognition of the town’s 150th anniversary.
Committee member Chris Harrow told council there hasn’t been an official homecoming event in the town since 1975.
“It’s been a long time,” he noted.
Harrow said the golf tournament funds will be used as seed money for booking bands, tents and other materials “that we might need to be able to put the homecoming on.”
Mayor Dave Turton thanked group representatives for their presentations.
“There’s volunteer written all over your foreheads,” he said, noting the groups “have been all over this town volunteering and doing the things that need to be done for the kids and for the community.
“So we look forward to working with you and it’s going to be a pleasure to do that,” he added.
Turton also thanked tournament organizing committee members for their efforts.
“I know that it’s called the mayor’s tournament … but you guys do the work. So thank you for that,” Turton stated.
Over the past 12 years the tournament has raised over $130,000 and assisted 42 local community groups with financial expenses or events.
Last year four organizations benefited from equal shares of $14,000 in proceeds from the tournament.
