Record-Breaking Summer Street Scramble Raises $575,610 for People with Diverse Abilities
Community generosity drives progress toward “the Remedy” and a more inclusive Nova Scotia
New Glasgow, NS — September 19, 2025. The 31st Annual Summer Street Golf Scramble brought together 36 teams at the Abercrombie Golf and Country Club, raising an incredible $575,610 — the highest total in the event’s history.
Hosted by Summer Street Industries, the Scramble is Pictou County’s longest-running charity golf tournament and its only major fundraiser. The funds raised provide meaningful employment, skill development, and community inclusion opportunities for more than 200 people with diverse abilities each year.
“Every year, the people of Pictou County remind us what community really means,” said Bob Bennett, Executive Director of Summer Street Industries. “The Summer Street Scramble isn’t just a golf tournament — it’s a testament to how much people care about creating opportunities for others. The generosity shown by our teams, sponsors, and donors allows us to keep moving forward in our work toward the Remedy — building a more inclusive province where people with diverse abilities can live, work, and contribute in ways that are meaningful to them.”
This year’s Scramble carried a farm theme, celebrating the upcoming opening of the Summer Street Farm — a new closed-environment agriculture social enterprise. The project reflects the desires of participants to support the food security of the community and demonstrates Summer Street’s belief that inclusion thrives when communities support one another. The Farm is both practical and deeply symbolic: guided by participant leadership, it shows that even those often considered most vulnerable are eager to help others. It’s a project built on shared purpose, designed to strengthen local food systems while providing meaningful training and employment opportunities.
This year also marked the introduction of updated fundraising categories to recognize the tournament’s extraordinary growth:
“When this tournament started over 30 years ago, we never imagined how far it would grow — or how much impact it would have for the people we support at Summer Street,” added Bennett. “Because of the generosity of our community, the bar keeps getting higher. Our teams are now consistently raising more than we ever dreamed possible — and that means more jobs, more programs, and more opportunities for the people who rely on us every day. This year, we even updated our recognition levels to reflect just how remarkable our supporters’ efforts have become.”
The City Club team led the way with an impressive $105,100 raised, followed by several “Green Jacket” and “Masters” teams who together set a new benchmark for community support.
The event included a moving tribute to two cherished members of the Summer Street community who passed away this year — David Wallace and Irene Aucoin — whose dedication and vision helped build the Scramble into what it is today. “We remember and celebrate those whose dedication and vision helped build this tournament into what it is today,” read a statement shared at the event. “These Champions laid the foundation for the success of this tournament and returned year over year as committee members, volunteers, and golfers. Their passion and commitment will always be a part of this event and the success of Summer Street and our Community of Champions.”
Lawtons Drugs returned as presenting sponsor, joined by Sobeys, Abercrombie Country Club, Forward Creative, Twin Rivers Home Builders, CIBC Wood Gundy, MacDonald & Murphy, CF Construction, and EM Real Estate, among many others.
Funds raised through the Scramble will help Summer Street continue its work toward the Remedy — Nova Scotia’s transformation of the Disability Support Program — ensuring individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have greater independence, inclusion, and opportunity.
About Summer Street Industries
Summer Street Industries is a charity in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, dedicated to helping people with diverse abilities realize their potential through meaningful employment, skills development, and community participation. Learn more at www.summerstreet.ca.
Media Contact:
Liz LaPier
Event Coordinator
Summer Street Scramble
liz@summerstreet.ca | 902-301-0817