Baseball Night at the Rink a Success in Meaford

Feb 13, 2026

On January 29, 2026, the Knights of Meaford and Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Bruce teamed up for Mental Health Baseball Night at the Rink at the Meaford and St Vincent Community Centre.

The arena was filled with great energy and community spirit, and by the end of the night, $5,600 had been raised to support local mental health programs.

Fans embraced the theme, arriving in baseball jerseys and caps as the Knights hit the ice in custom, baseball inspired uniforms created just for the night.

Following the final buzzer, six of those special edition jerseys were auctioned off, raising $1,570 alone.

“The energy in the rink was incredible,” said Don Vail. “From the creativity of the jerseys to the generosity shown during the auction, every person who came out made a difference. This was more than a themed game night. It was a show of community support for mental health.”

Special Guest in the Stands

The evening was made even more meaningful with the presence of Kurtis Gabriel, a former professional hockey player and well known mental health advocate. Kurtis, along with the game sponsors took part in the ceremonial puck drop. Kurtis also spent time connecting with fans and reinforcing the importance of speaking openly about mental health. His presence helped shine an even brighter light on the message behind the event, that mental health matters in sport and in our communities.

(Photo Credit: PIP Media )

Thank You to Our Sponsors

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of:

• Royal LePage Locations North Brokerage, Grand Slam Sponsor
• Free Spirit Forest School, Base Hit Sponsor
• West River Design and Build, Base Hit Sponsor

Their support helped maximize the impact of the evening and strengthen mental health supports in our community.

Where the Funds Go

Funds raised from the evening will stay local, supporting programs delivered by CMHA Grey Bruce across Grey and Bruce counties, including:

• Talk Today, a sport based youth mental health initiative
• Workplace mental health education and training
• Youth programs that build coping skills and confidence
• Evidence based training such as Mental Health First Aid, SafeTALK, and ASIST

(Photo Credit: PIP Media )

Events like Baseball Night at the Rink show what can happen when sport and community come together with a shared purpose.

Cheque Presentation

In the cheque presentation photo are:

• Dan Smith, Scouting Director, Knights of Meaford
• Michel Croteau, Captain, Knights of Meaford
• Don Vail, Manager of Communications, CMHA Grey Bruce
• Krystal Stukas, Fund Development Coordinator, CMHA Grey Bruce