This year marked the second annual Jimmy Classic, a golf tournament honoring the legacy of local pilot Jim Peters who passed away in August of 2022. This year, 160 golfers participated in the tournament, a testament to the event’s growing popularity and the deep respect the community holds for Jimmy and his family.
The tournament, organized in part by Jim’s daughter Vienna, and his wife, Carla, not only celebrates Jimmy’s life, but also contributes to the community by raising funds for both S.T.A.R.S air ambulance, and this year, the Morden Fire and Rescue Wellness Centre.
Carla Peters reflected on the significance of the event, noting, “This time of year... is when [Jimmy] had the accident, and this tournament is here to bring honor to him and hopefully have something good come out of the tragedy that occurred.” She emphasized the emotional impact of the event, sharing, “The feeling that it brings us is... just this incredible connection and feeling of goodness in our community.”
Vienna Peters echoed these sentiments, highlighting the support and positivity that the tournament has fostered these past two years. “This week has been made a lot more bearable with the pour in of our community and lots of glimmers of joy throughout yesterday and today... Taking away how big of an impact people can have on each other when they’re just present for each other and show up... It was such a good day, it was palpable.”
Though the current number of donations is yet to be totaled, Carla expressed hopes to have matched last year's donations of $20,000.
The event itself featured a 50/50 ball drop, a creative highlight where a firefighter dropped a series of balls onto a putter’s green painted Canola yellow, with a bug target, emulating Jimmy’s crop-dusting work. The day also included a silent auction, and for the first time, a $1,000 scholarship aimed at supporting a student from the Morden Collegiate Institute with an interest in first responding or aviation.
In special tribute, Ryan Rach, a close friend of Jimmy’s, crafted a guitar using parts from his crashed plane, including a boom pressure gauge and nozzles, blending personal memorabilia with artistic craftsmanship.
Carla voiced her thoughts on how she thinks her husband would feel about the Jimmy Classic, and its continuing, yearly progression. “I know that Jim would be very proud to see us sharing his light with the world even though he can’t anymore. We are essentially carrying his torch for him. He was an amazing human and is loved and missed deeply by all of us. Especially me and the kids.”
Looking ahead, the Jimmy Classic is already set for its next edition on July 31st, 2025, continuing to honor Jimmy Peters and support the community he cherished.
- With files from Carla and Vienna Peters -
