Ottawa's construction and trades community teed off for a good cause last week as the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) Ottawa hosted its 25th annual Charitable Golf Tournament, marking a quarter-century of local industry giving back to the city's kids.
A Quarter-Century of Giving
For 25 years running, MCA Ottawa — the local association representing mechanical contractors, including plumbing, HVAC, and piping trades — has used its annual golf tournament as a way to bring together industry professionals while raising money for causes that matter to the Ottawa community. Reaching a 25th anniversary is no small feat for a charity event, and it speaks to how embedded this tournament has become in the local business calendar. Contractors, suppliers, and tradespeople from across the region typically show up for a day on the course that doubles as both networking and philanthropy.
Supporting CHEO's Kids These Days Campaign
This year's tournament marked its second year backing the Kids These Days campaign, which supports CHEO — the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. CHEO is one of Ottawa's most beloved institutions, providing pediatric care to families not just in the city but across the wider Eastern Ontario region and beyond. The Kids These Days campaign specifically focuses on raising awareness and funds for youth mental health services, an area that's seen surging demand at CHEO in recent years.
By directing golf tournament proceeds toward this campaign, MCA Ottawa is putting its industry's resources behind a cause with a direct, tangible impact on local families. For a lot of Ottawa residents, CHEO isn't an abstract charity — it's the hospital where their own kids have been treated, making community fundraising efforts like this one resonate on a personal level across the city.
Why This Matters for Ottawa
MCA Ottawa's tournament is a good reminder of how much of the city's charitable infrastructure runs through its business and trades community. Mechanical contractors aren't an industry that typically grabs headlines, but events like this show how deeply local trade associations are woven into Ottawa's civic life — showing up year after year for hospitals, food banks, and other community pillars.
With 25 years behind it, the tournament has likely raised significant cumulative totals for local causes over its history, even if this year's specific dollar figure wasn't disclosed. It's the kind of steady, low-profile community support that keeps organizations like CHEO able to expand programs like youth mental health care.
For Ottawa's trades and construction sector, the tournament also serves as an annual touchpoint — a chance for competitors and collaborators alike to connect off the job site while supporting a shared cause. As CHEO's Kids These Days campaign continues, expect MCA Ottawa to keep teeing up for the kids in years to come.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal
