The 50th Annual Apex Golf Tournament wasn’t just a milestone—it was an unforgettable celebration of community, sportsmanship, and legacy.
From July 31st to August 4th, 2024, Truro, Nova Scotia became the epicenter of Canadian Black golf culture, bringing together participants, fans, and supporters from across the country. With a packed five-day schedule, including two days on the golf course, this year’s event brought fierce competition, family fun, and meaningful moments that left everyone buzzing.
Here’s everything that went down:
The Lead-Up to the 50th
Planning for our 50th anniversary began as soon as the 49th Apex tournament weekend wrapped up. Rather than quarterly planning meetings, as was typical in past years, the Committee made the decision early on to gather monthly and give a real go at making the sort of splash such a half-century-long celebration deserved.
Well before August, different opportunities to commemorate Apex’s success started coming our way. First up was the opportunity to erect a plaque documenting “how it all started” that now stands as a permanent tribute in the Truro Golf Clubhouse.
Not long after that, a Score Golf magazine article brought national attention to Apex, thanks to contributor and golf pro Amaya Athill. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, additional buzz began to swirl when A+B Roll Films, an emerging production company in Nova Scotia, reached out to inquire about filming a documentary not only in celebration of our 50th year, but also to encapsulate everything that Apex represents. More on this in a bit.
Behind the scenes, there were a lot of plans to get into motion — events to organize, funds to raise, merch to make — and the Committee knew that to pull it off, they’d need to engage more volunteers, more sponsors, and more participants than ever to help in creating the best experience they possibly could for attendees. And that they did.
Five Days of Celebration: Event Highlights
Apex attendees were presented with a myriad of ways to stay busy this year, unlike anything seen before. Each day, events and activities like a washer toss tournament, a basketball game, a gala, and of course, the golf tournament, kept the fun going for golfers, families, and the community at large.
As the capstone of the celebrations, a meaningful legacy marker ceremony commemorating the Black community’s contributions to the Truro Golf Club was a significant and emotional moment for everyone involved.
For those unable to make it out, or anyone wishing to relive the fun, let’s dig into more of what went down for each event:
A Halifax Heritage Tour and Friendly Competition
A bus tour on July 31st kicked off the week with a journey through Nova Scotia’s Black heritage. Guests toured the Africville Museum, the Black Cultural Centre, and stopped for a delicious meal at R&B Kitchen.
The ride was filled with stories and history thanks to our unofficial guide, Darrell Maxwell, making it both an educational and entertaining trip.
Back in Truro, a new activity broke out at the Stan “Chook” Maxwell Playground: washer toss. A 2-hour, double knock-out tournament, featuring 12 teams, ended with the Maxwell brothers (Derrick and Troy) beating out Bucky Daye and Betty Maxwell to claim victory in the finals.
Honoring the Past: A Legacy Marker Ceremony
At 7:45PM on Wednesday, a crowd began to gather at the back of the number 2 tee on the course of the Truro Golf Club. This hole, which faces the historic Black community more commonly known as “The Island”, or West Prince Street, holds significant importance to the community, further explained below.
Spearheaded by longtime Truro Golf Club (TGC) member, community native, and provincial volunteer representative for the town of Truro, Nevin Jackson, this impactful ceremony brought to light the significant contributions of our Black community, who have been in the province over 400 years and Colchester County over 250 years, in shaping the local golf grounds.
We learned that the first golf in Truro was played along Longworth and Pattillo Ave., in 1907. This is in large part thanks to a group of Black men from the area, led by James Mentis, who were recruited to get the course in shape in the summer of 1906. The Legacy Marker is a tribute to those men, as well as other trailblazers from the community.
As was noted, it wasn’t until decades later that Black residents were allowed to join and obtain membership, and this really brings deeper significance to what Apex symbolizes. To be able to claim the largest and longest-running Black golf tournament in all of Canada when, not even a decade prior to the tournament starting, our people were segregated from the very game, speaks tenfold to what challenges we’ve faced and how we’ve continued to overcome.
Committee member Wayne Talbot commented on the attendance of the broader Truro community at the unveiling, stating, “Change takes more than us pushing the wheel – we need the majority community to be behind us, to step up, to question when wrong is being done.”
Reflecting on a history often marked by exclusion, Truro Golf Club’s VP, Ralph Basterache, issued a formal apology on behalf of the Club for past policies that barred Black residents. “There was a time when a lot of people weren’t allowed to be members of the club,” Basterache said. “As we grow and become better as a club, [we won’t] forget the unjust times of the past [but can] acknowledge them and move forward in a positive way.”
Darrell Maxwell, who was presented with an honorary membership from the TGC (and only the 16th person to receive such an honour in the Club’s 120-year history), said, “I never thought this day would come. I look back to when we were just kids caddying, and as far as golf was concerned, we had to get out here in the dark and be off before the golf course officially opened.” He continued, “It was bittersweet because, all the obstacles we had to face, we were very fortunate with a lot of members, like Mr. Nelson, Mr. Doyle, and many others would leave their golf clubs outside, overnight, and we would pick them up at 5 o’clock in the morning, in the fog or the dark, and that’s how we got into paying golf as caddies. Without their support, we wouldn’t have been able to progress at the rate that we did.”
Many of us have heard the tales from our parents and grandparents sneaking out to play “2 to 7” — a route that wraps around the Black neighbourhood — and practicing at dusk or dawn with borrowed clubs left out by allies within the Club.
The evening concluded with a powerful acknowledgment of the talented Black golfers from Truro whose contributions have rippled beyond the greens of their hometown. Several of the community’s residents went on to accomplish great achievements in golf, both provincially and nationally, during their youth and early adulthood.
In case you didn’t know, there’s also a hole-in-one club on The Island. Over 20 golfers from the community have accumulated 40+ hole-in-ones to date.
This ceremony, with the acknowledgements made and the stories shared, only amplified the deep sense of pride and gratitude we already held for this community. As said by Nevin at the start of the ceremony, “We are here on the backs of those who came before us, our local ancestors.” With this plaque, the rest of Truro can better understand these sentiments.
Basketball and Lawrence Hill Gala
On Thursday, brothers Courtney and Chance Simmonds brought local youth and community members out to Cobequid Educational Centre (CEC) for an afternoon of ball. Courtney shared how it felt good being able to open the gym for the kids and play a few friendly games of 5v5.
Later that evening, a wine-and-charcuterie gala took place featuring keynote speaker Lawrence Hill, author of The Book of Negroes, and performances from world-renowned ventriloquist and Truro-native, Michael Robinson, as well as Halifax singer Hailey Smith, who lent her voice to a couple songs, including the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Committee member Jude Clyke initiated the evening with welcoming remarks, followed by addresses from Senator Wanda Bernard and Provincial Minister Twila Grosse, both of whom recognized the contributions of Black Nova Scotians to the province. Guests, dressed to impress, travelled in from across the province, and indulged in an elegant spread featuring platters of meats, cheeses, breads, sliders, smoked salmon bites, and more.
Days on the Greens: The Tournament
Day 1 of Apex opened with perfect weather and high spirits all around. CTV Atlantic News arrived early to capture some of the action, while sponsors Coldstream and Golf Visa set up stations to hand out samples and share information.
There were a few incentives spread around the course for those seeking to claim additional bragging rights, including a longest drive challenge on hole 10 (Darrin Talbot shot a dart straight down the middle to win), a hole-in-one contest on hole 2 (courtesy of Devine Travel, where a lucky golfer could have walked away with a free vacation), and our usual closest-to-the-hole competitions.
A film crew, filming for an Apex documentary set to be released via CBC, was also on-site interviewing players and spectators, and capturing much of the action happening around the course. Brittney Gavin of A+B Roll Films, whose mother and maternal grandparents are from Truro’s Black community, initiated the commemoration of the 50th in this way. We can’t wait to see the final result (streaming early in the new year)!
After about six hours of competitive play, Terrence Gough from Halifax emerged as the day-one leader with a score of 69 (2 under par), while four women shared the lead in the Women’s division, each shooting 107.
Day 2 kicked off with our typical split tee format in an attempt to get 135 golfers finished in time for the banquet and dinner. It started sprinkling around 3:30-4PM, but otherwise it was an easy-playing, overcast day. Golf Visa was back out, and Jost (another sponsor) took Coldstream’s spot.
There was anticipation in the air as a crowd gathered near the 18th green to watch the final teams come in—we even got to witness a one-in-a-lifetime shot as Braxton Maxwell took his second shot from behind the bridge, landing his ball onto the green and into the hole for eagle.
While Terrence tried to hang on earlier in the day, Terry Clarke, who was two shots away in second place on Day 1, came from behind to win for the third consecutive year. In the Women’s division, Heather Maxwell claimed the top prize earning her seventh Apex win.
Additional Social Activities
Off the green, rock climbing and swimming were arranged at the Rath Eastlink Centre for families to keep kids entertained on Friday and Saturday.
A mid-afternoon social also took place on Friday up the Island where dozens of people gathered after golf for some refreshments, mingling, and time to unwind before the dance.
Speaking of the dance, returning to our familiar Friday night spot, the Truro Legion hosted the 50th Apex Tournament dance with DJ Lance Sparks once again at the helm. The floor was packed all night, with guests alternating between dancing and cooling off just outside the Legion doors. (Side note: The heat was intense this year, but we learned that the Legion recently installed a heat pump that promises a more comfortable experience next time!).
On Saturday, while the golfers took back to the greens, 13 teams of dominoes players gathered for their own friendly competition. Community member, Tara Paris, organized a dominoes tournament in support of the Apex Scholarship Fund and ended up raising $1,020.00 for the fund.
Tara and her partner, and nephew, Mehki Paris beat out Tyrece Paris and Troy Maxwell in the finals, and we hear they’re already calling on even more challengers for next year.
The Grand Finale: Saturday Dinner & Banquet
The Saturday dinner and banquet at the Inn on Prince provided a cozy and welcoming setting for the second year in a row. A mix of longtime Apex attendees and newcomers filled the room, indulging in a hearty buffet of salads, veggies, chicken, roast beef, and a choice of desserts from an extravagant spread.
The evening began with Darrell Maxwell’s customary blessing before dinner at 6:30PM, and the highlight came when this year’s scholarship recipients were celebrated: Rylan Gray, Keandre Paris, Jhevon Paris, Jacey Bishop, and Vantaya Talbot, each bound for higher education. Here’s where these students are off to in the fall:
- Rylan Gray, Acadia University
- Keandre Paris, Crandall University
- Jhevon Paris, NSCC
- Jacey Bishop, NSCC
- Taya Talbot, Holland College
Both Keandre Paris and Vantaya (Taya) Talbot were also honored with the Robbie Jones Award, recognizing their hard work and achievements throughout high school.
Keandre delivered a touching speech, thanking Apex’s founders and committee members, and expressing deep appreciation for the unity and strength exemplified through the carrying on of this tradition for the past 50 years: “Thank you to those creators, the resilient people for going through what they went through to ensure that we have, and always will have, the gift of family and unity during this Apex season,” he said.
Another special moment followed when Ardith Simmonds presented the Arthur Jordan Honour Roll Award to her brother, Trevor Jordan. Ardith spoke about Trevor’s dedication to his community and pointed out how much he reminds her of their late father, the Apex legend and award namesake – Arty.
A couple other new speeches this year came from Melinda Patterson and Selina Jones.
Melinda, the Women’s runner-up this year, had donated a handcrafted quilt, called “Go North,” that guests were able to purchase raffle tickets on over the weekend. Ahead of presenting it to the winner, she shared the quilt’s significance, speaking to the “Flying Geese” pattern—a symbol used along the Underground Railroad to guide enslaved people northward to freedom. All proceeds raised from the raffle were donated to the Scholarship Fund.
When Selina stepped to the mic, she shared with the crowd how the Apex Golf Tournament was instrumental in her meeting her dad for the first time, and getting acquainted with her Truro roots.
The celebration continued into the evening, culminating with the Saturday night dance. In honour of the 50th year, guests were invited to dress in black and/or gold, and the crowd showed up in their best looks. People Wobbled and (Electric) Slided all night, as the room buzzed with energy and laughter.
When the night ended, many found their way to The Commune, a new venue in town that welcomed the Apex crowd with open arms as the unofficial after-party spot—its inviting ambiance and excellent food and drinks capping off an unforgettable 50th Apex Anniversary.
But That’s Not All… Closing Day
The final events of Apex weekend wrapped up a memorable week of community celebration and connection. On Sunday afternoon, prize bingo was held down in the park and brought a fun twist to a well-known game. Attendees, playing with laminated cards and poker chips, competed for winnings like gift cards and Apex memorabilia.
Later that afternoon, a pop-up shop was held back up on the Island featuring several Black vendors with homemade products, including skincare, jewellery, blankets, and more. And as is typical for Apex Sunday, various gatherings broke out up and down the street – that is, before getting interrupted by a downpouring of rain.
The Future of Apex
The 50th year saw the Apex Invitational reach new heights, with expanded media attention, activities to keep all attendees engaged, and more competitors than ever.
The Committee would like to thank everyone that came out — anyone who engaged and supported this celebration in any way. It takes a lot to organize an event of this magnitude, let alone keep it running (and successful) for 50 years.
As a reminder, this is all done through volunteer work, and a love for the community, golf, and bringing family and friends together. And we’re always looking for more people (especially our youth) to get involved.
As we head into our next chapter, the hope is that we can continue to enrich the Black Canadian golf community and keep our legacy going and growing for the next 50+ years. For now, see you in 2025!
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After the Tournament
On September 17th, Apex, and the Apex Committee, was invited to Province House in Halifax to be recognized and introduced by MLA of Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River, Dave Ritcey. In his speech, Ritcey declared: “This milestone celebrates not only five decades of golfing excellence, but also a rich legacy of perseverance, community and progress.”
We thank the province for this recognition. You can watch the clip of the moment here:
Apex Invitational Golf Tournament 