‘The audit will demonstrate what those closely involved have always known \u2014 that this is a well-run event with clear, honest accounting and a strong track record of community benefit,’ Mayor James Leduc says<\/p>\n
Discussion around an annual Bradford West Gwillimbury golf tournament has hit a bit of a rough patch.<\/p>\n
On Thursday afternoon, Mayor James Leduc used his strong mayor powers<\/a> to direct staff to hire an accounting firm for an independent audit of the annual BWG Mayor and Council’s Golf Classic for 2023, 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n That\u2019s set to include a review of donations received, tournament costs and how the proceeds were allocated. It’ll come\u00a0as part of the 2026 budget, which is scheduled to be released publicly on Nov. 20.<\/p>\n Leduc also directed the cost of the audit to be funded from\u00a0tournament proceeds, to avoid any additional expense to taxpayers.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the audit will demonstrate what those closely involved have always known \u2014 that this is a well-run event with clear, honest accounting and a strong track record of community benefit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Ward 2 Coun. Jonathan Scott noted\u00a0the Sept. 4 directive comes one month after he made a similar request.<\/p>\n \u201cThis turn of events shows that pressure works, and that demands for transparency matter,\u201d he said. \u201cOur residents deserve nothing less than the truth, in black and white.\u201d<\/p>\n While that request was for a report from staff, the mayor explained the directive is for a more comprehensive financial audit that can reveal more information and comes in response to comments on social media suggesting the math behind the event doesn\u2019t add up.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt it was important to take decisive action to support those involved, demonstrate our commitment to accountability, and conclusively reaffirm that the Mayor and Council\u2019s Golf Classic has always been managed with transparency and professionalism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n During an Aug. 5 meeting, Scott moved, and council then voted, to refer back to staff a report from Karen Gill, executive assistant to the mayor and council, providing a summary of this year\u2019s golf tournament.<\/p>\n Scott took issue with how the event\u2019s promotional materials, news release and\u00a0report all claimed the proceeds were to be used for upgrades to \u201cvarious parks\u201d or \u201cvarious park enhancements.\u201d However, he claimed only one park has benefited after $40,000 was used to partially offset the $165,000 already allocated in the 2025 budget to replace the wooden gazebo at Rotary Park.<\/p>\n \u201cThat wasn\u2019t as advertised,\u201d he said during the Aug. 5 meeting. \u201cI worry about approving this until we have more transparency around the numbers.<\/p>\n “We owe it to the public to tidy this up.\u201d<\/p>\n Scott requested staff provide a breakdown for 2023, 2024, and 2025 showing gross revenue from registration and sponsorship, event expenses, net proceeds, how those funds have been spent\/committed and what percentage of those projects were funded by the tournament.<\/p>\n Ward 3 Coun. Ben Verkaik seconded the motion and also asked that include a list of how much had been donated by each sponsor.<\/p>\n At the time,\u00a0Leduc claimed the requested information was already available to councillors, and acknowledged \u201ceverything\u2019s fair game\u201d but also suggested councillors were accusing him of hiding something.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want a forensic audit, we can give you a forensic audit. I have nothing to hide,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The mayor also stressed\u00a0the names of the donors are on display at the event for those who want to know who they are, but cautioned that if council tells the public exactly how much each donated \u201cthey probably won\u2019t do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n While Leduc explained that is still a concern, he\u2019s hoping the audit will actually have the opposite effect, by reassuring donors the tournament is \u201cmanaged with the highest standards of transparency and financial stewardship.\u201d<\/p>\n The town\u2019s website didn\u2019t name this year\u2019s premier and platinum event sponsors (at costs of $20,000 and $10,000, respectively). But it\u00a0did list some of the other sponsors:<\/p>\n
Files from the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library archive show the mayor and council\u2019s golf tournament has been active since at least the late 1990s, and Leduc said it has delivered \u201csignificant value\u201d to the community without placing a financial burden on taxpayers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has saved the municipality hundreds of thousands of dollars by funding major community projects,\u201d he said. \u201cIt fosters meaningful connections between local businesses and supports important community causes.\u201d<\/p>\n More recently, the tournament reportedly raised $100,000 in 2023<\/a> for the new nature centre<\/a> at the Scanlon Creek Conservation Area, $100,000 in 2024<\/a> to be split between the town\u2019s celebration of the Royal Canadian Air Force centennial<\/a> and its\u00a0future civic centre<\/a>, and $100,000 in 2025<\/a> for the Holland Marsh 100th\u00a0anniversary<\/a>\u00a0as well as park upgrades.<\/p>\n Staff confirmed to BradfordToday\u00a0that in order to avoid overlapping efforts, they will wait for the completed external audit before reporting back on the referral.<\/p>\n While staff have yet to hire an accounting firm for that work, they expect it will be completed this fall.<\/p>\n Aside from procedural matters such as approving decisions of council and initiating the annual budget process, Leduc has only used his strong mayor powers four times before.<\/p>\n Three of those were to appoint staff, including a new deputy chief administrative officer<\/a> in March 2024 and new director of growth services in May 2024 as part of the town\u2019s corporate restructuring<\/a>, as well as promoting staff to fill a vacancy for director of infrastructure services in July 2024.<\/p>\n
\n\tLunch ($7,500) \u2014 The Sarjeant Co., Giampaolo Developments, Guglietti Brothers Investments
\n\tSpecial event hole ($5,000) \u2014 Lisbon Paving, Ambria Group, Anatolia Investment, DG Group,
\n\tPlayer cart ($4,000) \u2014 The Sarjeant Co.
\n\tBreakfast ($3,000) \u2014 Aird and Berlis LLP, Lindvest
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