If you’ve been around Apex long enough, you know that certain faces help define the weekend. For years, one of those faces was Foster Paris — ‘The Mayor.’
Every year, you could count on seeing him: strolling the fairways near the 3rd hole or holding court in the clubhouse, chirping the guys from Halifax like it was part of his job description, and telling stories that somehow got funnier every year. This summer, with Foster’s passing, the lead-up to the tournament felt different. But in its own way, his presence still shaped the weekend.
By the time August rolls around, you can feel Apex in the air before anyone even steps on the course. People start texting about their tee times, folks start rolling back into Truro, and all the old jokes start making their rounds again.
That feeling—of people coming together, catching up, and picking up right where they left off—is really what Apex weekend is about. It always feels a little like a family reunion—one where half the people are cousins, the other half act like cousins, and everyone somehow knows your business.
This year’s tournament brought 115 golfers together for two days of competition at the Truro Golf & Country Club. Special guests flew in from Ontario, including Amaya Athill, PGA Canada golf pro and founder of Black Women Golfers, who joined us with three friends and fellow BWG members Sera-Lee Mondesir, Charmaine Williams, Minnelle Williams. After writing about Apex in ScoreGolf in recognition of our 50th anniversary, she was eager to experience the weekend firsthand — and we were truly pleased to welcome them. It meant a lot to share our tradition with people who understand the importance of creating space for Black golfers, and to watch them become part of the weekend in their own way.
When it came to the competition, Arnie Morris of Dartmouth made history. His closing round of 73 didn’t just secure the tournament win — it completed an Apex “slam,” meaning he has now won every division in the tournament’s 51-year history. No one else has ever done it.
In the Women’s division, Christine Parris from Toronto battled down to the final holes to emerge victorious, while the 9-hole divisions were claimed by Heather Maxwell (Women), Raymond Tynes (Men), and Nakai Simon (Junior).
Beyond the leaderboard, the weekend offered something for everyone. The 3v3 basketball tournament, domino tournament, and prize bingo each returned after last year’s successful debut, giving folks who weren’t golfing their own way to take part in the weekend.
Friday’s dance at the Truro Legion and Saturday’s dance at the Inn on Prince, both DJ’d by Lance Sparks, kept the energy alive well into the evening.
Saturday evening’s banquet is always a highlight, and this year was no different. The Apex Golf Committee presented scholarships to 10 students (see names and schools below), bringing the total since 1998 to 156 scholarships totalling $129,800. Among this year’s recipients was Ella Farquharson, who also received the Robbie Jones Award in recognition of her academic excellence, community involvement, and leadership.
- Oluwanifemi Adebowale — attending Mount Allison University
- Joseph Astatkie — attending Dalhousie University
- Nadia Barrington — attending Holland College
- Elizabeth Bradford — attending St. Francis Xavier University
- Ella Farquharson — attending University of Manitoba
- Victoria Avalos Jackson — attending Humber Polytechnic
- Nevaeh Lynds — attending Acadia University
- Elijah Rayner Paris — attending Dalhousie University
- Charles Tynes — attending Seneca Polytechnic
- Natalia Wright — attending HDC – College of Hair & Aesthetics
A touching moment came with the announcement of a $5,000 donation to the scholarship fund from Michael Duck, in honour of the Clyke family of Truro. And Nevin Jackson was recognized with the Arthur Jordan Award – nominated by Heather Maxwell and presented by his son, Patrick.
A particularly emotional moment came when George Ash of Dartmouth received the inaugural award dedicated to Foster Paris. George, hanging out in the lobby at the time of the initial announcement, teared up once he caught up on what he was being presented with — a poignant reminder of Foster’s lasting impact.
We are also grateful to the 34 financial and hole sponsors, as well as all those who donated prizes and gift cards. A special thank you also goes to Coldstream and Golf Visa for their contributions to the weekend. Your support helps keep Apex strong and growing, year after year.
Finally, we want to give a shout-out to the entire committee, our volunteers, and the photographers who’ve helped capture the spirit of Apex—especially over the past two years. This year, we were fortunate to have Amélie Gero, African Nova Scotian Pathways Community Navigator at Mount Saint Vincent University, join us to photograph each group as they headed out for their rounds on Day 1. A special thank-you as well to Patrick Fulgenci, who partnered with A+B Roll Films to capture many of the images featured in our 50th Anniversary calendars, which were shared with everyone who pre-ordered earlier this year.
By the time the weekend wraps up, you’re always left with that familiar mix of laughter, exhaustion, and gratitude. Apex isn’t just a tournament—it’s a tradition, a gathering, a homecoming. It’s the community, the stories, the memories, and the people—past, present, and future—who make it what it is.
Here’s to 51 years of golf, community, and legacy. Here’s to seeing you all back in Truro next year.
Apex Invitational Golf Tournament 