Golf Classic aims to boost cardiac care in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat

By Lethbridge Herald on April 1, 2026.

Herald photo by JOE MANIO Ron Sakamoto sits in a new GPS-equipped golf cart outside the Paradise Canyon clubhouse Tuesday. The recently updated fleet of carts will help streamline play for the upcoming inaugural Hearts & Health Classic.

By Joe Manio

Lethbridge Herald

If you’ve ever had to make the drive to Calgary for a cardiac appointment—or waited while someone you love made that trip—you already understand the stakes.

Now imagine not having to leave southern Alberta at all.

That’s the goal behind the newly announced Hearts & Health Classic, a charity golf tournament set for Aug. 26 at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort. 

Launched Tuesday by the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation (CRHF), the inaugural event will support the Bringing Hearts Home campaign—an ambitious push to expand cardiac care closer to home.

“This is about something that touches all of us,” said Crystal Elliott, CEO of the foundation. “Too many people in southern Alberta still have to travel too far to receive the care they need. We’re working to change that.”

The campaign is focused on enhancing cardiac services across the region—improving access to advanced technology, recruiting specialized professionals and ultimately building a centre of excellence for heart health in the South Zone.

But beyond the medical impact, the story behind the campaign is just as much about the community driving it forward.

Since launching in August 2024, Bringing Hearts Home has raised more than $27 million toward its $30-million goal, powered by a mix of major donors, corporate sponsors and grassroots contributions.

“Every dollar matters,” Elliott said. “We’ve seen everything from kids donating their allowance to multi-million-dollar gifts. It’s not about the size—it’s about people wanting to make a difference.”

The Hearts & Health Classic is designed to build on that momentum, bringing together up to 150 participants—what Elliott calls “community champions” from across the region—for a premium tournament experience.

For Paradise Canyon owner Ron Sakamoto, who is also serving as an honourary chair of the campaign, the cause is deeply personal.

“My father-in-law had heart problems, and getting to Calgary in time wasn’t always possible,” Sakamoto said. “That’s the reality for a lot of families—and sometimes, they don’t make it. That’s why this is so needed here.”

It’s also why he believes events like this resonate.

“You can’t get more community than healthcare,” he said. “Tournaments like this bring people together, and when people come together, they make a real difference.”

Paradise Canyon hosts roughly 40 charity tournaments each year, raising between $1 million and $2 million annually. But for this event, Sakamoto is adding something a little different—drawing on his long-time ties to the music industry.

In addition to the tournament, sponsors, participants and volunteers will be invited to a free summer concert at the Yates Theatre on July 21, produced by Sakamoto’s Gold & Gold Productions.

“It’s our way of giving back to the people who give so much,” he said. “The tournament will be fun, the concert will be fun—it’s about camaraderie as much as anything.”

Organizers hope that sense of connection will help carry the event forward beyond its inaugural year.

“This is a new chapter for us,” Elliott said. “Our goal is to build this into something that continues to support healthcare needs across southern Alberta for years to come.”

With the tournament already about 40 per cent sold out ahead of its official launch, early signs suggest the community is ready to answer the call once again.

And in a campaign built on momentum, that matters.

Because while the focus may be cardiac care, the bigger story is one of people—neighbours, businesses and organizations—stepping up in ways big and small to support something that ultimately affects everyone.

Or, as Elliott put it, “This is about building a future where care is closer, outcomes are stronger and everyone in southern Alberta has access to the healthcare they need.”

And if a round of golf—and a concert thrown in for good measure—helps get them there, all the better.