Golf tournament for Valour Place tees off in September

Image credit: Valour Place’s Facebook.

Cold Lake residents are raising money for a critical service outside of the Lakeland.

The brand new Cold Lake Valour Place committee is hosting a fundraising golf tournament on Sept. 8 at the Cold Lake Golf and Winter Club.

Valour Place in Edmonton is an important resource for many Lakeland area residents because it allows military members, first responders, RCMP and veterans a free stay while their family deals with medical issues.

While some only need to stay a night, others need the maximum of six months.

This tournament is meant to help offset these housing costs, as Valour Place runs only through donations.

“We are hoping through doing a golf tournament that we can kind of raise its profile in our community,” said Rae Assailly, chair of 4 Wing MFRC and Valour Place committee member.

“It’s very important to our community. It serves us in times of crisis.”

WO Andre Marchand was thinking of the best way to raise money when a committee member mentioned running a golf tournament.

“We said, why not? It’s something that seems like a good way to raise money. We have different ways that we’re trying to raise money, we have a 50-50 going. We have the barbeque,” said Marchand.

Nearly 75 per cent of Valour Place’s clients are from the Lakeland, and last year over 2000 nights were spent at Valour Place from local residents, Assailly said.

“I can speak for myself, we live up here, but we have no family support. And I haven’t lived here very long. So for us, having someplace to stay in the city for medical stuff is so important.”

A fundraising barbeque in June at Sobey’s received a ton of community support and the committee hopes this golf tournament can continue that positive work.

“The big piece of the puzzle is to hold a successful event, give people a positive experience and spread some awareness about our place. So I think if we can meet those, and the money, that would be awesome. But the first thing is to run a successful event, people have a good time, and learn a bit about Valour Place,” said Assailly.

Other community groups and initiatives have raised money for Valour Place over the years.

Cold Lake city council handed the committee $3000 in sponsorship.

“We came in with a grant, then they get to decide how to use that money for their tournament. But it’s a really good cause,” said Mayor Craig Copeland.

“So many people with the armed forces and the police use the Valour House when they go to Edmonton for health services, so it’s a great cause. I’d encourage everybody to go out and support the golf tournament, it’s their first time. Kudos to the volunteers.”

After hearing the committee’s presentation, Cold Lake resident Murray Gauthier is helping the small group get their tournament off the ground.