Since it’s mostly accountants playing in the Blachford Tax Law Charity Game, we could break down the game results into spreadsheets, graphs and charts.
But, really, the most important takeaway is: two local charities, both serving some of the most vulnerable members of our community, went home with more money than they had when they arrived at Wednesday’s game, held at a RA Centre baseball diamond.
Representatives from ABLE2: Support for People with Disabilities and the Youth Services Bureau Foundation were also invited to speak about the work their organization does, in order to raise awareness.
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Ottawa tax lawyer Dean Blachford organizes the game each August, with assistance from his law clerk and office controller Ella Sui. He’s done it six times now. His firm specializes in tax dispute resolution, and helps individuals and businesses resolve their tax matters with the CRA.
“We do that about 50 per cent of the time,” said Blachford before joking: “The other 50 per cent we spend organizing this softball game.”
Blachford takes it upon himself to recruit the players and, by taking their experience and skill levels into consideration, tries to create two well-balanced teams. All the participants were connected in some way to business, except for Blachford’s other half, Stephanie Talsma, a director at Canadian Women & Sport.
Spectators could help themselves to nostalgia-inducing Cracker Jack snack food and Big League Chew bubble gum while soaking up the mix of music supplied by DJ Cedric. Volunteering next to him was one of the city’s most outgoing CPAs, Sarwar Qureshi, partner at Paterson and Company. He announced the batters as vintage baseball organ music played along.
This year’s volunteer captains, Gavin Miranda, regional tax leader at MNP LLP, and Stacey McMillan, senior manager with KPMG Enterprise, determined the batting order, assigned the field positions, and chose their team’s beneficiary. McMillan was also one of Ottawa’s Forty Under 40 award recipients this year.
The annual game is a chance for the accounting community to connect with others in their business, the captains agreed. “It makes Ottawa a more friendly place to work,” said McMillan.
Said Miranda: “Dean does such a good job putting it on and organizing everything. What’s not to like about being out on a weekday in August, and bailing on work for a bit to support a charity.”
After the game, everyone headed to Hometown Sports Grill, located a home-run distance away on Bank Street, for food and drinks courtesy of the sponsors.
McMillan, who’s on the board of the Youth Services Bureau (YSB), picked the YSB Foundation. Miranda selected ABLE2. Its past board chair is tax accountant Nick Korhonen, who recently joined MNP as a consultant.
ABLE2 is best known for its Matching Program, which pairs volunteers with individuals living with disabilities. Together, they do everyday activities. “Things that we all take for granted — calling a friend, talking about your day, going for a drink after work, going to see a movie,” said Korhonen. “These are things that can be incredibly difficult to do for somebody living with a disability.”
Essentially, the volunteers provide friendship, he continued. “They hang out, form meaningful relationships, and they become a really important person in these people’s lives.”
YSB provides “critical” support to young people aged 12 and older and, in many cases, their families, said YSB Foundation executive director Patti Murphy. It runs youth shelters and housing, mental health services, employment services and youth justice support.
Funds donated from the charity softball game will help homeless youth relying on the shelter services provided by YSB.
“For some of us that’s hard to imagine but, trust me, I see it, I hear the stories every day,” said Murphy. “I see the impact that the community support provides for these young people.”
The crowd heard briefly from the sponsor representatives. They included Audit Shield, Exponent, 360 Health Benefits and TAG HR, a staffing and recruitment firm that’s been supporting the annual softball game since it first began. Its director of marketing and culture, Jesika Arseneau, was the first woman in the event’s history to take to the pitcher’s mound. Participating accounting firms included Deloitte, KPMG, MNP, Hendry Warren, Baker Tilly, Roussy Tax Services, Parker Prins Lebano, BDO, Welch, Crowe BGK, McCay Duff, Lekadir LLP, Helen Ge CPA, Paterson and Company.
Blachford reviewed the safety rules and logistics with the players prior to umpire Robin Kerr yelling “Play ball!”. It was Jason Koenig from Audit Shield who jokingly suggested Blachford forgot one important safety consideration. “That we all must remember — especially myself — that I am not 20 years younger than I think I am.”
The teams played seven innings. There were powerful hits that sent players racing around the bases, along with stunning catches and perfect throws. The weather played nice until the sixth inning, when the light rain arrived.
The final score was 25 to 22, which means Miranda’s charity of choice, ABLE2, received a cheque for $6,000. Blachford did his due diligence and covered all the bases, however.
“We never let the other charity go home empty handed,” the lawyer said before announcing that YSB Foundation would receive $5,000 thanks to additional donations made by the four sponsors, along with Video Tax News, Wolters Kluwer, AJAG and retired federal tax judge Cameron McArthur and Jacline McArthur. As well, the team captains each chipped in $500.
caroline@obj.ca
