The Vankleek Hill Curling Club raised more than $15,000 for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute during its 11th annual bonspiel fundraiser on Saturday, February 7. Participants were informed by Heart Institute Special Events and Donor Engagement Officer Madison Tackaberry that their donations would be matched dollar for dollar by Heart Month sponsors in February, bringing the total raised to more than $30,000.

Funds will be used as part of the Heart Institute’s One Million Canadian Hearts initiative, which, under the institute’s strategic plan, focuses on preventing cardiovascular disease through early screening, identifying risk factors among individuals, and intervening quickly when issues are found.

The bonspiel in action. Photo: Philip Oddi.
The Vankleek Hill Curling Club was packed with bonspiel participants. Photo: Philip Oddi.

Last year, Heart Month fundraising efforts raised a total of $1.4 million, breaking previous records.

During the 2026 bonspiel, members of the Vankleek Hill Curling Club raised $15,435. Bruce MacNaughton and Pitt Paquette presented the cheque to University of Ottawa Heart Institute representatives.

Vankleek Hill Curling Club President Julia Fortin said, “To date, the curling club and its matching partners have raised more than $190,000 over the past ten years through our fundraising efforts.”