York University alumni, donors and friends have played through all manner of torrential downpours and heavy winds in past years to make the Kenaidan-York University Chair’s Cup Golf Tournament one of the most successful fundraising events at the University.
Their dedication was rewarded at this year’s tournament with a day of uninterrupted sunshine. Held at Kleinberg’s Copper Creek Golf Club in June, the event raised more than $436,000 after government matching – a sum that will fund full 
scholarships for 29 graduate students.
From left, Gian Fortuna, senior vice-president, preconstruction, Kenaidan Contracting Ltd.; Allan Hutchinson, dean & AVP graduate studies; Jeff O'Hagan, vice-president advancement; Patrick Monahan, vice-president academic & provost; Paul Cantor, chair of the Board of Governors; Guy Burry, event co-chair; Greg Stack, event co-chair; Chip Rowan, PhD candidate and scholarship recipient; Brian Jorge, project director, Kenaidan Contracting Ltd.
“Events like Chair’s Cup are important because they don’t just support graduate students, they support the whole University enterprise,” said Faculty of Graduate Studies Dean Allan Hutchinson.
“Our graduate students are more than students, they’re also part of the research initiative of the 
University. If York aspires to be a research-intensive University, then graduate students are an integral part of that endeavour.”
Second row, left to right: Paul Cantor, chair of the Board of Governors; Jeff O'Hagan, vice-president advancement; Vibert Vieira, vice-president, Tempo Framing Systems; and Gary Gilbert, president, Gilbert Steel Ltd.
Now in its12th year, the annual tournament has become an important source of funding for graduate students, raising more than $5 million, which will support over 300 students. These scholarships make a tremendous difference for students like Chip Rowan, a PhD candidate the Faculty of Health’s School of Kinesiology, who spoke during the evening portion of the event.
“Without a doubt, the scholarships that I have received – both an entrance scholarship from York 
and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship from the government – have granted me the ultimate gift of time,” said Rowan.
The foursome from Q9 Networks took home the first place prize for the third time in four years
“The flexibility to focus solely on my graduate work, whether it is participation in class, teaching or involvement with my research endeavours, can be attributed to this financial assistance. It’s this precious time that has allowed me to take the necessary steps from being a student who merely gets by to a student who is excelling in their program.”
Rowan is currently investigating how physical activity can be used as an effective tool for prevention of pre-diabetes.
Closest to the Pin contest winner Tammy Mcveigh and Allen Hutchinson, dean & AVP graduate studies
The continued success of the tournament is due, in large part, to the behind-the-scenes efforts of a dedicated group of alumni andvolunteers, including co-chairs Guy Burry (BA ’82) and Greg Stack (BA Spec. Hons. ’81).
Burry, who also serves as Board chair of the York University Alumni Association, has been involved with the tournament since day one.
“The fact that we can provide 29 outstanding graduate students with full scholarships means most of them will not have to do work outside their intended field of study,” he said. That’s huge for students – to know that they won’t have to graduate in debt or at least have a fighting chance of not graduating in debt.”
York University Vice-President Advancement Jeff O’Hagan thanked Burry and his fellow volunteers for their commitment, along with the generous sponsors who made the event possible. Longtime sponsor Kenaidan Contracting Ltd. received special thanks for returning as title sponsor for a fifth consecutive year. Special recognition was also given to TD Insurance Meloche Monnex and Bird Construction, the premiere and partner sponsors, respectively, for their steadfast support.
Each of the 21 holes was also sponsored
The team is already in planning stages for the 2013 Chair’s Cup. For more information, visit York’s Division of Advancement.
Sponsors of the 2012 Kenaidan-York University Chair’s Cup Golf Tournament included:
Title Sponsor
Kenaidan Contracting Ltd.
Premiere Sponsor
TD Insurance Meloche Monnex
Partner Sponsor
BIRD Construction
Golf Ball Sponsor
Kenaidan Contracting Ltd.
Golf Cart Sponsor
MFS McLean Budden
GPS Sponsor
Soberman LLP
Beat the Pro Sponsor
Tenth Power
Hole Sponsors
407 ETR
- A-tec Signs
- Aviva Canada Inc. / Marsh Canada Ltd.
- CIBC
- CIBC Mellon Trust Company
- Deloitte
- Gryphon International Investment Corporation
- Harris Rebar A Division of Harris Steel ULC
- Lexsan Electrical Inc.
- Manulife Financial
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP
- Morguard Investments Ltd.
- Ontario Redimix Ltd., A Division of HolcimCanada
- Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd.
- Q9 Networks
- Sanofi Pasteur Limited
- Scotia Private Client Group
- Shawneeki Golf Club
- TD Asset Management Inc.
- Towers Watson
- Wedge Capital Management LLP
Pin Sponsors / Supporters
- Aberdeen Asset Management Inc.
- Anita McBride
- Hicks Morley
- IBI Group
- KCI (Ketchum Canada Inc.)
- Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
- Westwood Management Corp.