Sports Dinner 2026
Thursday, May 28
Sports Dinner 2026
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Paperny Family JCC Sports Dinner presented by ATB Financial. We are pleased to feature former Toronto outfielder Kevin Pillar as our guest speaker, and Grant Buchanan as our master of ceremonies.
This corporate event is our largest fundraiser of the year and one of the biggest fundraising dinners in Calgary. As a not-for-profit organization, the JCC is a community centre that relies on fundraising to provide social, educational, recreational, and cultural programming to individuals and families of all ages, stages, and backgrounds.
For sponsorship opportunities contact Rhona Shore at 403-444-3168 or email.
Individual Tickets – $350
Table of 8 – $3,500
Price includes dinner and host bar. Call 403-444-3145 or email to purchase.
About Kevin Pillar
With a 13-year career as an MLB outfielder, Kevin Pillar was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2013 to 2019. Prior to his professional career, Kevin was an All-American centre fielder in college at California State University Dominguez Hills where he set the NCAA Division II record with a 54-game hitting streak in 2010, and established his school’s all-time record with a career batting average of .367. Pillar was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 32nd round (979th overall) of the 2011 MLB draft.
From 2015 to 2019 Pillar was the everyday centre fielder and helped the team make back-to-back ALCS appearances in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, Pillar led all major league outfielders in putouts, and was named the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year for centre field. In 2016, he was awarded the Fielding Bible Award for the centre field position. In 2017, his 0.997 fielding percentage as a centre fielder was the best in the American League.
In 2016 he established the Pillar-Lambert Scholarship in Accounting at Tel Aviv University in Israel, in honour of his late maternal grandfather Ed Lambert.
About Grant Buchanan
A Calgary-born broadcaster, Grant Buchanan more than 20 years of live entertainment experience. He’s been energizing fans as the in-arena host for the Calgary Flames since 2014 and has hosted the Calgary Stampede’s Rangeland Derby since 2021.
A testicular cancer survivor and yoga enthusiast, Grant is honoured to return as master of ceremonies for the 35th anniversary of the Paperny Family JCC Sports Dinner, presented by ATB Financial.
About the Paperny Family JCC
For over 40 years, the Paperny Family JCC is a place where lifelong, meaningful connections have been made. Whether it is swimming laps in our salt water pool, taking a yoga or spin class, enrolling your children in our licensed childcare programs, building cultural bridges, or meeting with friends at an Adults 55+ monthly luncheon – the future of the JCC is up to all of us.
Our vision is focused on sharing diverse experiences in a safe and inclusive space for everyone. We continue to be guided by our core values when planning and executing all of the programs and services that we offer.
“Community” is our middle name and maintaining the culture that goes along with that is – and has always been – our number one priority. As always, we are stronger together!
