The bonspiel with a lot of heart keeps on showing it. On Saturday, February 8, the annual University of Ottawa Heart Institute Bonspiel took place at the Vankleek Hill Curling Club. This year’s full-curling tournament raised $15,348 for the institute, which serves heart patients from all over Eastern Ontario and Western Québec.
The winning team was led by Skip Larry Brack, and included Third/Vice Bridget Macdonald, Second Diane Mooney, and Lead Dorothy McRae-Golden.
The bonspiel is always held during February, which is Heart Month. Heart Institute Foundation President Liane Laing said the Vankleek Hill event is one of the biggest fundraising highlights.
“This bonspiel is at the top of our list,” she remarked.
Laing said a $2 million donation to the institute has made it possible to expand the mobile clinic the facility offers. It travels to communities around Eastern Ontario and allows patients to receive examinations related to heart conditions closer to their homes. At the institute in Ottawa, services to assist patients who experience so-called STEMI heart attacks. STEMI means Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, which is a type of heart attack which occurs when a coronary artery is completely blocked.
For 10 years, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Bonspiel has been organized by Vankleek Hill Curling Club members Bruce MacNaughton and Pitt Paquette.
“They have worked hard to bring the event to life,” said club President Alain Parisien.
Many club members and other community members also volunteer at the bonspiel.
“It’s because of you this bonspiel continues to grow and thrive,” Parisien said to the audience on Saturday.
Paquette and MacNaughton plan to organize the next heart institute bonspiel in 2026.
Photos: James Morgan
