Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) Foundation held its first annual Swing for Healthcare Charity Classic Tournament at the exclusive Brantford Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
Over 100 golfers showed up bright and early, ready to play the 18-hole, scramble style golf tournament to help raise $150,000 for urgently needed diagnostic imaging equipment at both the Brantford General Hospital and the Willett Urgent Care Centre in Paris. Such equipment includes a mammography suite, gamma camera, MRI, and ultrasound machines, all of which are lifesaving tools not covered by the Ministry of Health.
“The future of healthcare in Brant is incredibly bright, but it requires a strong commitment to innovation, collaboration, and a shared responsibility to ensure that our health system evolves to meet the growing needs of our community, and today, we’re doing just that,” said Kari Wilson, Executive Director of the BCHS Foundation. “As we look ahead, we recognize that healthcare is no longer about treating illness, it’s about prevention, accessibility and compassionate care. We are working towards creating a healthcare environment that not only supports the immediate needs of patients, but also sets the foundation for long term sustainable health for future generations.”
Wilson later emphasized that brick-and-mortar redevelopment and the purchasing of patient equipment would not be possible without the help of the local community.
“I think one of the number one misunderstandings that we come across in the province is that our tax dollars or the Ministry of Health funds everything, but that’s just not the case,” she said. “Hospitals have to do the fundraising that they do because the Ministry doesn’t fund things like the purchasing of patient equipment.
“When I myself have to go to the hospital for care, I have the benefit of knowing that the stretcher I’m sitting on in the emergency department is there thanks to donor dollars,” continued Wilson. “Equipment like ultrasounds and CT scanners are 100 per cent funded by donor dollars. Even major projects like capital redevelopments or growing the hospital, all require community fundraising. Brick-and-mortar redevelopment just doesn’t take place without a ten per cent local share.”
Not only did participating in the tournament support the cause, but golfers also had additional opportunities to contribute via the silent auction, the 50/50 draw, and entering into a raffle for a Sonance outdoor patio sound system.
Throughout the day, golfers made their way through the course laughing, joking, competing amongst each other and testing their skills with on-course challenges.
One element that caught the eye of many players was the on-site food and drink pairings from local businesses including Devlin’s Country Bistro, Vodka Friday, Paris Beer Co., Howell Road Cider Co., and more.
After a day of playing in the summer heat, the golfers headed inside the clubhouse to mingle, grab refreshments, relax and receive several prizes during dinner.
Overall, Wilson said that after going several years without the golf tournament, it was nice to be back.
“I’m just so happy to be here. We haven’t had a golf tournament for a number of years, so we’re really excited to be able to bring this event back. It’s a really important time for us in our healthcare system, so we’ve been trying to grow our outreach to the community by hosting a variety of different types of events and activities for people to engage in and learn more about what the future holds for our growth, and our foundation and the BCHS because there’s a lot to come,” said Wilson.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
