Jason Blaine returns to Pembroke for 11th annual charity golf tournament

Jason Blaine is in Pembroke, Ont. for his fundraising golf tournament to support local organizations. CTV’s Dylan Dyson reports.

Pembroke’s favourite country music star returned to the Ottawa Valley this week to host his 11th annual Jason Blaine Charity Golf Classic.

The annual golf day invites notable Canadian country music artists and friends of Blaine to perform for donors and raise money for organizations in the Pembroke community.

“It makes my heart happy just for everybody that continues to come back, the love and support for this event, everybody rallies around the music and that’s what it’s all about,” Blaine said Wednesday at the Pembroke Golf Club, where the event is hosted each year.

“Just pouring back into the hometown that has been cheering me on my whole career.”

In 2024, at the 10th edition of the golf classic, the event crossed the $1 million mark, supporting more than 60 charities along the way, according to Blaine.

Now living in Nashville, Blaine says coming back to the Ottawa Valley for the fundraiser is a highlight and a kickoff to his summer.

“It’s honestly really humbling. We’ve got a waiting list of people to put teams in on this event since year one. And most of our sponsors, I’d say 90 per cent of our sponsors, have been with us since day one,” Blaine said.

“Jason’s a buddy. And just seeing that his heart is still in the community, seeing that he wants to give back, is great,” said Sudbury native and country artist Andrew Hyatt, who attended this year’s event.

“Just seeing the community come together is great. This is my third year that I’ve been here, and every year, just great people. They come and they support. It’s a good thing.”

Charity Golf Classic committee member Rhodina Gardner says each year, organizers watch as the event grows and were hoping to top $140,000 raised on Wednesday.

“We see the need growing even more,” she told CTV News.

“So many various groups are doing amazing projects and we’re really trying to support as many as we can.”

One of those groups that has benefitted from the early days of the Charity Golf Classic is the Pembroke Regional Hospital Foundation.

“It’s a very big day. We’re super happy to be involved with it,” said Roger Martin, the hospital foundation’s executive director.

“[It’s] a big deal for us on the front lines and helping our frontline workers have the best possible equipment. So, we couldn’t really do things without events like the Jason Blaine golf tournament.”

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