TULLOCH Fights Cancer Raises $118,000 and Wins Industry Award
TULLOCH Fights Cancer Raises $118,000 and Wins Industry Award
By TULLOCH | Published September 14, 2026
The story behind the impact.
TULLOCH Fights Cancer has received a 2026 ACEC-Ontario Engineering Project Award in the People First category. The recognition celebrates an employee-driven initiative that has raised more than $118,000 for individuals, families and organizations affected by cancer.
Since its first tournament in 2020, the annual fundraising event has brought employees together through euchre, personal stories and friendly competition. It has become a company tradition with a purpose that extends well beyond the card table.
How the Tradition Began
The initiative began after a cancer diagnosis affected a member of the extended TULLOCH community. Treatment, travel and financial pressures created an immediate need for assistance, while the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic made it harder for people to connect in person.
TULLOCH turned to a familiar part of company gatherings: euchre. In November 2020, the game became the centre of a virtual fundraising tournament that employees could join from their homes, offices and project locations.
The format gave colleagues a way to spend time together while contributing to a cause with a personal connection. What began as a response to one family’s circumstances grew into an annual event benefiting others facing similar challenges.
More Than $118,000 Raised
Over six annual tournaments, TULLOCH Fights Cancer has raised more than $118,000, with annual totals generally ranging from $18,000 to $22,000. Employees contribute through donations and fundraising, with TULLOCH matching and often exceeding the amount raised.
Funds have assisted individuals facing cancer and supported healthcare and charitable organizations, including:
- Canadian Cancer Society
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
- Sault Area Hospital
- Hospice Huntsville
- Enliven Cancer Care Muskoka
- Terry Fox Foundation
The initiative forms part of TULLOCH’s broader Community Commitment Program, through which the company reinvests 10% of annual profits into community initiatives.
Bringing Employees Together
Approximately 250 employees participate each year as players, viewers, donors, presenters or volunteers. Preliminary matches take place in virtual breakout rooms before participants gather to watch the final game and the presentation of the TULLOCH Euchre Championship Belt.
The afternoon also includes company updates, project presentations, fundraising announcements and messages of encouragement. Employees from different disciplines and locations have an opportunity to meet outside their usual project teams and share what is happening across the organization.
Behind the scenes, Administration, Information Technology, Marketing and leadership teams coordinate the broadcast, matches and presentations. Microsoft Teams and an online card platform connect participants, while technical assistance and backup plans help the event run smoothly across offices and remote locations.
Making Participation Part of the Workday
TULLOCH holds the tournament during regular working hours, with schedules and workloads adjusted to make participation possible. This gives employees time to contribute without treating the event as another commitment to fit around work and family responsibilities.
Senior leaders take part alongside employees, helping host the program and sharing in the competition. That involvement makes the company’s people-first culture visible through the time and attention given to the event.
The result is an afternoon that combines financial assistance with personal connection. Employees can contribute in different ways, whether they play, donate, volunteer or join the broadcast.
Recognition Shared Across the Company
The People First award recognizes the initiative’s response to a meaningful challenge, its employee involvement and its lasting contribution to the organization and wider community.
For TULLOCH, the achievement belongs to everyone who has helped the tournament continue: employees, volunteers, donors, participants and community partners. Their contributions have sustained the event across six years and extended its reach beyond the circumstances that first inspired it.
TULLOCH plans to continue the annual tournament while exploring opportunities to involve more community partners and preserve the personal focus at its centre.
Read more about the recognition in ACEC-Ontario’s 2026 Ontario Engineering Project Award winners announcement.
