On Jan. 1 the Robert Chartrand Memorial tournament announced a donation of over $55,000 to sports organizations on both sides of the Ottawa River, money raised at the third annual community softball and hockey tournament hosted in October.
The event was first organized in memory of a L’Isle-aux-Allumettes man who tragically lost his life in a snowmobiling accident in 2021. Robert Chartrand was a big supporter of youth sports, and so the committee has donated money raised through the tournaments to support this cause.
The tournament’s first two years raised $80,000, which the committee donated to local sports organizations in the Pontiac and Renfrew County. This year’s tournament featured an expanded roster of teams in both softball and hockey, as well as an expanded live music offering.
Hélène Chartrand, Robert’s sister and a tournament organizer, said the third annual tournament continued the success of the first two years, raising $55,000 for local sports organizations.
“The third annual tournament was a wonderful success. The community came together to honour Robert, and we continue to be amazed by the support,” she said.
Pontiac recipients of donations include the Chapeau RA ($10,000), the Waltham RA ($5,000), the Upper Pontiac Sports Complex ($5,000), Maisons des Jeunes ($5,000), Chapeau Minor Hockey ($2,500), Fort-Coulonge Comets Hockey ($5,000), Coyote Basketball ($1,000), Outdoor Education Notre Dame ($2,500), Outdoor Education DWKS ($2,500), and the Apple Juice Hockey League ($1,500).
Chapeau RA president Christie Dennie said the $10,000 her organization received will be used to update the ball field. She said major updates needed include new posts, a new backstop, and a reseeding of the outfield.
“The money from the Robert Chartrand tournament is really going to come in handy. We have a lot of expenses and every bit counts,” she said, adding that the previous year’s donation from the tournament allowed the RA to purchase sporting equipment.
Hélène said the foundation wanted to support a variety of programs being offered to Allumette Island kids on both sides of the river, including new programs in Chapeau for basketball, high-performance skating, and teen hockey.
“We find that the community is offering really neat programs for youth, and we really wanted to continue to support them. It helps ease the financial burden on kids and families,” she said.
