Ottawa’s hottest pickleball fundraiser serves up $160K for Heart Institute

University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) Foundation president Lianne Laing (left), with UOHI president and CEO Dr. Rob Beanlands, Foundation vice-president Lindsay Firestone, Madison Tackaberry, also part of the UOHI Foundation team, and volunteer chair Jake Levinson with the total raised at this year’s Ottawa Pickleball Classic. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa’s hottest pickleball fundraiser serves up $160K for Heart Institute

Published On: April 27, 2026By Caroline Phillips

Some fundraisers need a jolt of energy. This one arrived fully charged.

The Ottawa Pickleball Classic returned to the EY Centre and its donated space on Sunday, raising a record $160,080 for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI). The event saw 127 teams serve, smash and scramble their way across 36 courts in nonstop action.

Skill levels ranged from beginners to seasoned players, with a dedicated area for more competitive play.

“I was very surprised when I walked in,” said Steve Harding, marketing and account director with Xactly Design & Advertising. “I was like, ‘Holy moly, this has got to be one of the biggest charity pickleball tournaments in the city’.”

As it turns out, the Ottawa Pickleball Classic, presented by CHG-MERIDIAN, is also among the largest of its kind in Canada.

Proceeds jumped by more than 50 per cent over last year. When it began in 2023, the tournament had just seven courts and 25 teams — a warm-up for what was to come.

“It’s an intimidating precedent to set,” said volunteer event chair Jake Levinson of the tournament’s continued growth. “I don’t know if we can do it again next year but, certainly, we’ll always promise to be bigger and better, one way or another.”

Levinson is a board member with the UOHI Foundation. He’s also president of Ottawa-based real estate development and investment firm Tillbury Group. He said the secret to the tournament’s success comes down to “a lot of help” and a bit of luck. “You put something good out into the world, and it seems to work out.”

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in Canada and the United States. Altea Ottawa, a popular premium fitness and wellness club, offered six courts when it first opened in late 2024 and has since added four more.

Altea Ottawa pickleball instructor Sean James gives John Levesque a quick paddle tap after their good play during the Ottawa Pickleball Classic, which returned to the EY Centre on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Business leader Stuart Ages, principal at Paramount Properties, was back for his third year as both a sponsor and participant. He likes how everything is run.

“I appreciate a well-organized event,” said Ages, who chairs an even larger fundraiser, the Ottawa Celebrity Sports Dinner (it’s featuring tennis legend Maria Sharapova this year).

Cheryl Kardish-Levitan was surprised to learn during one of her matches that she was playing against Dr. Rob Beanlands, president and CEO of the Heart Institute and renowned cardiologist.

“I told him, ‘I have so much to thank you for,’” she later said. She credits the Heart Institute with saving her husband Brian Levitan’s life last year through the care and treatment he received there.

“Six weeks later, we were biking in France.” They were electric bikes. But still.

Among the Heart Institute patients in the tournament was government speechwriter Rob Ferguson, joined by his partner Susan Smith, co-founder and principal of Bluesky Strategy Group.

Ferguson has faced heart failure, a heart attack and cardiac ablation in recent years. With help from the Heart Institute and its cardiovascular rehabilitation program, he’s back out and moving again.

“They said ‘Be active,’ so I’m living up to expectations, I guess. It’s just great to be active,” said Ferguson after working up a sweat on the court.

University of Ottawa Heart Institute patient Rob Ferguson and Susan Smith sprint toward the ball during the Ottawa Pickleball Classic held in support of the Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Dr. Rob Beanlands, left, standing next to event chair Jake Levinson, offered his gratitude to all the sponsors, participants and volunteers of the Ottawa Pickleball Classic held in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Stuart Ages, principal at Paramount Properties, teamed up with his uncle, retired lawyer Murray Ages, for this year’s Ottawa Pickleball Classic held at the EY Centre in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Pickleball players could take advantage of free mobile heart valve screenings. They could also participate in the One Million Canadian Hearts initiative, which aims to screen one million Canadians for cardiovascular risk factors.

Returning for their second year were Louise Malhotra and Sarah Grand, representing sponsor Claridge Homes. Matching outfits and pickleball socks aside, they’re a seriously competitive duo.

“We’re getting our butts kicked,” Mike Hapke, CEO of major sponsor Advanced Mortgage Investment Corporation, acknowledged during his match against the women.

Graham Richardson, bureau chief for CTV National News, teamed up with CTV News Ottawa anchor Patricia Boal, his on-air partner from his days behind the anchor desk. The familiar chemistry carried over to the court, where their timing and teamwork looked just as natural. It was a reunion of sorts, with former CTV sports director Terry Marcotte helping out as emcee.

Heart Institute Foundation president Lianne Laing is also an alum, having enjoyed a 20-year television career with Bell Media.

Sarah Grand, left, and Louise Malhotra from Claridge Homes were back to play together in the Ottawa Pickleball Classic held at the EY Centre in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips

CTV News Ottawa anchor Patricia Boal and Graham Richardson, bureau chief for CTV National News, teamed up just like old times for the Ottawa Pickleball Classic. Photo by Caroline Phillips

There was a generous supply of food and drinks donated by LUXE Bistro, comfy lounge areas, and a steady soundtrack of catchy tunes played by a DJ. Prizes added to the buzz, including WestJet flights for two to Belize, courtesy of Belize Collection, won by Deborah Burgoine.

During closing remarks, Dr. Beanlands enthusiastically thanked the nurses and other Heart Institute staff on hand, along with the sponsors, Laing and her vice-president of corporate engagement and events, Lindsay Firestone.

“Wow, wow. This event keeps getting better and better,” said Dr. Beanlands, a four-time participant whose own game is also keeping pace.

The Heart Institute’s strategic plan is called Your Heart. Your Institute. Our Future Together, he told his audience.

“It’s your heart and your heart health that we’re striving for,” said Dr. Beanlands. “But, it’s your institute — the people’s institute — and we cannot do what we do without the support of the community. Events like this really help us. I want to thank each and every one of you for your support of the Institute. It helps us to create the future for cardiac health and heart health for the community, across the country and around the world.”

A very focused Dr. Rob Beanlands, seen during the Ottawa Pickleball Classic with his wife and pickleball partner, Dr. Geneviève Moineau. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Riaz Sidi, CEO of Sidi.io, and his wife Fatima were out supporting the University of Ottawa Heart Institute by playing in the Ottawa Pickleball Classic, which has grown to become the city’s largest charity pickleball tournament. Photo by Caroline Phillips

University of Ottawa Heart Institute patient Rob Ferguson was airborne during the Ottawa Pickleball Classic at the EY Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation team, (front row, from left) Jessica Roback, Elizabeth Rodgers, Matt Harris, and (back row) Stephanie Lefebvre and Laura Stevanovic at the Ottawa Pickleball Classic held at the EY Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

First-time Ottawa Pickleball Classic participant Josh Engel, a partner at GGFL Chartered Accountants, showed serious hustle on the court with Jason Tudor-Roberts. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Mike Hapke, CEO of Advanced Mortgage Investment Corporation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) Foundation president Lianne Laing, and UOHI president and CEO Dr. Rob Beanlands at the Ottawa Pickleball Classic — the city’s largest charity pickleball tournament. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation board members Jean Spicer, portfolio manager at RBC Dominion Securities, and Deneen Perrin, director of public affairs, government relations and stakeholder engagement at the Royal Canadian Mint, at the Ottawa Pickleball Classic, held at the EY Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Susan Smith and Rob Ferguson were first-time participants in the Ottawa Pickleball Classic held in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, where Ferguson is a patient. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Krista Kealey (Ottawa International Airport Authority), Deborah Murphy, Korey Kealey (RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group), Julie Findlay (Ottawa in the Know) and Shannon Lambert (Vibrance Medical Rejuvenation Centre) were out supporting the University of Ottawa Heart Institute at the Ottawa Pickleball Classic. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa Pickleball Classic player Cheryl Kardish-Levitan, who works in commercial sales and leasing at CLV Group, credited the Heart Institute with saving her husband’s life last year. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Lianne Laing, president of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation, alongside board member and volunteer event chair Jake Levinson, and Lindsay Firestone, vice president of corporate engagement and events at the Foundation, at the Ottawa Pickleball Classic held at the EY Centre on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Steve Harding, Matthew Côté, Jennifer Gardner and Blair Burchill, all with Xactly Design & Advertising, participated in the Ottawa Pickleball Classic, which has become the largest single-day charity pickleball event in the city. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Mark Noonan, vice chair and partner at Deloitte and board vice chair with The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, teamed up with his wife Jenny Noonan to play in the Ottawa Pickleball Classic in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Guy Poirier, Marshal Taffe and Lyne Desaulniers from CHG-MERIDIAN Canada, which was back as presenting sponsor of the Ottawa Pickleball Classic held in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Graham Richardson, Patricia Boal and Terry Marcotte were out supporting the University of Ottawa Heart Institute at the Ottawa Pickleball Classic. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Louise Malhotra and Sarah Grand, representing Claridge Homes, were back to play in the Ottawa Pickleball Classic in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Altea pickleball instructor Sean James on the court at the Ottawa Pickleball Classic, which returned to the EY Centre on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, retired lawyer Murray Ages, professional sports artist Tony Harris and Stuart Ages, principal at Paramount Properties, participated in the Ottawa Pickleball Classic in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ben Brûlé got his blood pressure checked by Heart Institute advanced practice nurse Cindy Cross during the Ottawa Pickleball Classic, held at the EY Centre in support of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WEALTH (WCPD), Syntax Strategic, RBC, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, Welch LLP, and Brazeau Seller Law.
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