Jack Ferguson’s life was full of love, grit, and leadership. We honour that legacy by uplifting our community through annual events and shared memories.
Jack was a beloved son, a loyal friend, an accomplished athlete, and an outstanding student whose life left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.
Born July 12, 1997, in Kingston, Ontario and raised in Ottawa, his love for basketball developed from age 9 when he began playing for the Kanata Youth Basketball Association and later the Ottawa Next-Level competitive leagues. Jack pursued both academic and athletic excellence in Canada and the USA. At age 15, he moved with his parents to the US when his father, an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, was assigned to the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC.
In the US, Jack graduated from McLean HS in Northern Virginia with an AP Honours diploma while also playing Varsity and AAU competitive basketball. He was recruited by several universities, eventually choosing Salisbury University in Maryland. There, he played NCAA basketball while studying pre-med, majoring in exercise science and chemistry.
In August 2018, Jack was entering his senior year and had been appointed co-captain of the men’s basketball team, when he was diagnosed with Histiocytic Sarcoma — a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He returned to Canada for treatment and battled courageously for seven months before passing away at the age of 21.
To this day, Salisbury University continues to honour Jack at an annual alumni game and by keeping his #10 jersey on the team bench during games.
Hugh and Vallena, Jack’s parents, started an annual golf tournament five years ago to honour and celebrate their son’s life. Each year, the event grows in meaning and impact, a reflection of the lasting impression Jack left on his community.
Through the Jack Ferguson Foundation, they are committed to doing good in his name—raising funds for organizations that support youth development through basketball and those that helped them in their most difficult moments.
In 2020, back home in Ottawa, his parents and childhood friends came together to launch the Jack Ferguson Foundation to keep Jack’s spirit alive through acts of community, kindness, and connection.
Each year, we celebrate Jack’s birthday with a golf tournament that brings together friends, family, and community. In just four years, over 350 golfers have joined us, raising more than $5,000 for local organizations such as the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club and Bereaved Families of Ontario (BFO). This year will mark our 5th edition of the tournament, a celebration of what would have been Jack’s 28th birthday.
In 2024, Jack’s friends raised over $7,500 for the Movember foundation, supporting men’s health, cancer awareness, and mental health initiatives, and we’re just getting started!
