When Ottawa tax lawyer Dean Blachford began organizing his annual softball game years ago, it was simply about bringing chartered professional accountants together for a fun and social afternoon of friendly competition.

He saw softball as a welcome break from the usual golf tournaments— a chance to get CPAs out of the office and away from their meetings for a few hours.

That all remains true, but Blachford has also become more invested in the charities that benefit from the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game, which returned Wednesday to the RA Centre.

“While this event started out being about softball, because I love the game and meeting new people … it really has evolved,” Blachford told the crowd prior to the first pitch.

Through sponsorship and donations, the winning White Team— captained by chartered professional accountant Larry Hasson of McIntyre & Associates — was able to donate $6,000 to the Multifaith Housing Initiative. The runner-up Green Team — captained by business partners and CPAs Sarwar Qureshi and Corey Roberts of Paterson & Company — was still able to give $5,000 to PLEO — Parents’ Lifeline.

As for the actual game, the White Team maintained a commanding lead throughout the seven innings, bringing the final score to 28-12.

Blachford usually handles team selection himself, relying on players’ self-rated skill levels. This year, he turned to AI to help balance the rosters, though the lopsided outcome might not have been the best endorsement. Still, Blachford believes other factors played a role, including last-minute roster changes.

Softball players, sponsors, volunteers and charity representatives were at the RA Centre on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, for the 2025 Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Blachford said he was happy to see several rookies playing this year. In the case of staff accountant Talia Morin from McCay Duff LLP, it was her first time ever swinging a bat. But, Morin didn’t let her lack of softball experience hold her back. “I love meeting new people and doing things for a good cause,” she told CiTC.

The charity softball game was sponsored by Exponent Investment Management (represented by Benoit Poliquin), Audit Shield (represented by Alfred Yung and Jason Koenig) and 360° Health Benefits (represented by Ian Keith).

Gilles Roy from BDO was the unofficial MVP after getting two home runs. His first homer, looking to be more of hard line drive, came as a surprise. He welcomed the easy jog around the bases, though. “My legs are hurting, so the least amount of running I have to do the better,” he said with a smile.

Also scoring home runs from the White Team were James McGillvray (Vaive and Associates), Jeff Roswell (Armstrong Jones LLP), Matthew Westphalen (Crowe BGK), and sponsor Benoit Poliquin.

For the Green Team, Blachford managed to hit it over the fence.

Matthew Westphalen, a partner at Crowe BGK LLP, was one of several players to hit the ball over the fence at the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game, held at the RA Centre on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Photo by Matthew Stewart

Outfielder James McGillvray (Vaive and Associates) goes for the catch at the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game, held at the RA Centre on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Photo by Matthew Stewart

Sponsor Ian Keith from 360° Health Benefits watches over first base as Jacob Maakaroun from MNP tried making the base ahead of the catch during the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Matthew Stewart

Stacey McMillan from KPMG played in the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game this year after serving as team captain in 2024. Photo by Matt Stewart

Sponsor Benoit Poliquin (Exponent Investment Management) took flight trying to make the catch during the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Matthew Stewart

Rookie Talia Morin from McCay Duff LLP played softball for her first time during the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game, held Wednesday, August 20, 2025 to the RA Centre. Photo by Matt Stewart

The annual game— now in its 7th year — usually enjoys great weather.DJ Cedric was back to play tunes (and some ballpark music) while Hussein Mahmoud, senior relationship manager at BMO, served as the PA Announcer. Robin Kerr was the returning umpire, calling all the balls and strikes.

There were dozens of fans who watched from the stands, though none cheered louder than supporters of Lorna Crowe, a senior tax manager at Lekadir LLP. Refreshments and snacks brought a nostalgic touch, featuring Cracker Jack and Big League Chew.

After the game, everyone was invited over to nearby Hometown Sports Grill for food and drinks.

DJ Cedric, right, was back to play tunes while Hussein Mahmoud, senior relationship manager at BMO, was the PA Announcer for the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Fans cheered on the teams during the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Each year, Blachford invites the team captains to select their beneficiary. For him, the excitement comes first in learning which charity they’ve chosen, and then again when hearing directly from its representative about the impact being made in the community.

“I learn about new charities,” said Blachford. “It helps to remind me about why we’re sending all these emails and doing all these tedious LinkedIn posts with 40 tags in each LinkedIn post, and triple-checking the jerseys to make sure the names on the back of them are all correct.”

The charitable component makes all the hard work done put in by him and his law clerk and officer manager Ella Sui feel worth it. “It gives me a spark of inspiration and energy,” said Blachford, who did a great job recognizing everyone who played a supporting role, big or small.

Multifaith Housing Initiatives is the third-largest affordable housing provider in Ottawa, composed of 422 units throughout the city and serving more than 1,200 tenants. It also runs programs and workshops that help improve the wellbeing of its tenants.

“It’s not just that we provide affordable housing, where we hand over the key and that’s it, but we actually do want [the tenants] to survive in their new communities,” said Sheldon Leong, director of fund development at Multifaith Housing Initiative.

Sheldon Leong, director of fund development at Multifaith Housing Initiative, was invited to speak about the work the charity does in Ottawa during the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Leong spoke about how excited MHI is over its new 133-unit housing development at LeBreton Flats, being built next to the new public library. Thirty of the units are designated for Indigenous families, who represent only about two percent of Ottawa’s population but account for roughly 20 percent of the city’s homeless population, Leong noted.

While not a lot of people have heard of PLEO — Parents’ Lifeline, its executive director, Michelle Crogie, has been working hard to change all that.

The small charity is a family peer support organization for parents whose children, up to the age of 25, are facing mental health challenges or substance use-related health concerns. In the last year alone, PLEO engaged with parents and caregivers more than 6,000 times, Crogie noted.

“When you’re in a situation as a parent supporting your child, it can be very isolating, it can be lonely, it can be scary, it can be full of guilt and shame,” said Crogie. “So, our mission is that parents don’t have to feel alone in that journey.

“Sometimes, you don’t feel comfortable going to a friend or another family member to talk about it because they don’t always understand, or you feel that they don’t understand. Talking to somebody who’s been there, who gets it, who really understands what you’re going through is so important.”

Team captains, organizers and sponsors with the recipient charities of the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game, which returned Wednesday, August 20, 2025 to the RA Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Lorna Crowe, a senior tax manager at Lekadir LLP, had her own cheering section during the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Matt Stewart

Ottawa tax lawyer Dean Blachford and his law clerk and officer manager Ella Sui organize the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game every August, involving mostly local chartered accountants. Photo by Matt Stewart

Joseph (Joey) Belanger from Baker Tilly Canada at bat during the 2025 Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Matt Stewart

Michelle Crogie, executive director of PLEO – Parents’ Lifeline, was invited to speak about the charity during the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Jason Koenig from sponsor Audit Shield at bat during the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Matt Stewart

Players from the winning White Team high fiving each other during the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Matt Stewart

Stephanie Talsma, a director with Canadian Women & Sport, covered first base while Stacey McMillan from KPMG tried making it to the base before the catch at the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game. Photo by Matt Stewart

The small but mighty group of women who participated in the Blachford Tax Law Charity Softball Game, whether as players, volunteers or representing the beneficiary charities. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, RBC, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law.

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