WACCA U40 Steps Up to the Plate Again for Mental Health

What started as a bold first-year experiment is now officially a tradition. On August 21, the Walls and Ceilings Contractors Association's Under-40 division (WACCA U40) returned to Brewer Park for its 2nd Annual Charity Softball Tournament, once again bringing Ottawa's construction community together in support of mental health.

Building on the momentum of last year's inaugural event, Vice President Antonio Repaci and the U40 committee delivered another sold-out day of competition, connection, and community, raising $15,000 for The Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health.

More Than a Game

Year two proved that the first tournament was no fluke. Behind the friendly rivalries and highlight-reel plays was the same driving purpose: breaking the stigma around mental health in construction. With each passing year, these conversations become a little easier to have on jobsites across Ottawa, and that is the real win.

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“Two years in and this event just keeps getting better. Great ball, great people, and most importantly, real money going toward mental health in our industry. Proud to see the U40 group leading the way, and Accurate Drywall will be back every year they'll have us.”
- Dan Robibero, owner Accurate Drywall.

A Team Effort for a Greater Cause

This year's format was refined based on lessons from year one, with eight teams battling it out across a full day of ball, a catered team lunch, a gelato cart, and goodie bags courtesy of The Royal. The results speak for themselves:

$15,000 Raised – Funds donated to The Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health, bringing the two-year total to $35,000.
8 Teams Competing –Contractors and suppliers from across the Ottawa walls and ceilings industry.
120 Attendees – The biggest crowd yet, with players, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters filling Brewer Park.
Back-to-Back Sellouts – Registration filled up once again, proving this event has become a fixture on the industry calendar.

A special thank you to Hannah Smith and the volunteers from The Royal for joining us on the day, to our WACCA U40 committee members for months of work behind the scenes, and to the WACCA Executive Director Derek Smith and all our sponsors for making the event possible.

Antonick Interiors joined forces with Accurate Drywall again this year.

Looking Ahead

Two years in, WACCA U40 has shown what young professionals in this industry can accomplish when they rally around a cause. With more fundraisers and networking events on the horizon, the committee is already looking toward year three.

Antonick Interiors is proud to have supported WACCA U40 from day one, and we remain committed to initiatives that strengthen both our industry and our community. To learn more about The Royal Ottawa and the work they do, please visit their website: https://www.theroyal.ca/