Energy company’s golf tournament raises nearly $68K for three charities

FORT ST. JOHN,B.C. — Tourmaline Oil has raised nearly $68,000 in donations for three non-profits in the city. 

During its 2025 annual employee golf tournament, the company raised $67,940 to be split between the Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society, the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation and the Child Development Centre. 

Talese Shilleto, director of community and Indigenous relations for Tourmaline Oil, told Energeticcity.ca: “The funds raised by the employees in the golf tournament are matched by Tourmaline and then we split it between three community organizations every year.” 

Estefania Albornoz, manager of fundraising and community engagement at Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society, told Energeticcity.ca the funds will be used towards the society’s operational costs. 

“[It will help] cover essential costs to keep our doors open and continue providing free programs and services to women and families in the community,” Albornoz said. 

The Women’s Resource Society promotes equality and wellbeing for women by providing various education, advocacy and social justice services.

Emily Olson, the community giving and event coordinator for the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation, stated the donation was directed to the Peace Villa Fund. 

“[It will] support the purchase of equipment for the residents of the Peace Villa residential care facility,” Olson said. 

The foundation raises funds to enhance patient care at both the Fort St. John Hospital and Peace Villa, which is a long-term care facility.

The Child Development Centre (CDC) will be using the money for its Capital Campaign program and the maintenance of the centre’s current building. 

Tana Millner, executive director for Child Development Centre, told Energeticcity.ca: “They reached out to us just shortly after Christmas and let us know that they had a donation for us.

“They are an amazing community partner. They not only support us quite frequently, but they also [support] other non-profits in the community, so they really are embedded in our community for support.” 

The centre – which supports children, youth and families with services such as therapy rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, sensory spaces and a gymnasium – is excited and happy, she said.

“[The] program provides families with the opportunity to have respite, and their kids [can] attend programming during that time and build life skills,” Millner shared. 

The CDC has two main fundraisers per year – a talent show and a golf tournament. 

Millner shared: “Fundraising for us is a necessity in order for us to be able to provide the programming that we do.

“The support of our community over the last 50 years we’ve been in operations really speaks to what our center is.”

Shilleto stated Tourmaline aims to support the community where its employees work and live. 

“So it’s important that we’re supporting the youth in our communities and ensuring that they have access to resources,” Shilleto said. 

CDC’s next major fundraiser is the talent show in March. 

The place and an exact date is yet to be decided for the March talent show. 

People interested in performing at the CDC’s annual talent show can call the Child Development Centre at 250-785-3200.