The annual Robert Chartrand Memorial Tournament went ahead over the weekend in Chapeau, raising money for the third consecutive year for local sports in honour of a Chapeau man who tragically passed away in a snowmobile accident.
The two-day hockey and baseball event is put on by a committee, including family and friends of Robert Chartrand, a 30-year-old Chapeau resident who passed away in 2021 after his snowmobile went through the ice on the Ottawa River.
Originally, the idea was to open a memorial fund in his honour to support local sports, until three years ago it morphed into the idea of hosting a multi-sport tournament.
“We thought that first year, let’s give to something that Robert would have been passionate about, and that was sports. We gave to the arena, we sponsored hockey,” said sister Hélène Chartrand.
“After that happened, we got together with family and his closest friends, and they had the idea of hosting this dual-sport tournament.”
She said the tournament’s first two years have raised a little over $80,000, which they have given to sports on Allumette Island as well as other locations across the Ottawa Valley since many island residents participate in sports in other parts of the Pontiac and in Ontario.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of support from the first year, and we’re still overwhelmed,” said Hélène. “It seems like every year, more people just want to give money, and we’re really dedicated to give it back to the community.”
This year’s tournament featured more teams than previous years, as well as an expanded musical performance on Friday night. Food was provided by the Chapeau Lions as well as Café Downtown’s food truck.
As has been tradition, tournament organizers drew three names to participate in a shootout from centre ice, where they had to sink the puck into one of three holes to win one of two $1,000 cash prizes or the grand prize of $5,000. Hélène said the atmosphere in the arena was raucous as the crowd cheered on the winners of the three cash prizes.
She said the tournament received more sponsors this year as well, posting the banners for all to see both in the arena and by the ball diamond.
“Just looking at the banners, it’s incredible, and it’s very emotional for us too every time someone donates and just says something like, “I’d love to give to such a great cause,” she said.
Hélène said the recipients of donated money and the amounts the tournament will donate will be determined at the next board meeting of the foundation.
