🔦 Tracey Graves: Volunteer, Fundraiser, Force of Nature | Feature Spotlight

At Kingston Spotlight, we have a massive soft spot for our local volunteers. They really are the heartbeat of our city, and we love getting to share the stories of the people who give so much of their time to make Kingston better.

This week, we are shining a light on Tracey Graves. To say Tracey is involved in the community is an epic understatement. Whether she is organizing and promoting the Annual Mason Golf Classic (which we will dig into later in this article), serving on the Board of Directors for Breast Cancer Action Kingston, helping out Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs, or volunteering with Kids 4 Kids organization and the Kingston Canadian Film Festival, she is a one-woman powerhouse for good in our community. 

If your head is already spinning trying to understand how all this is possible, this is all on top of her full-time career! Even in her professional life, Tracey’s dedication shines through as a member of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee, the Social and Wellness Committee, and the Ethnocultural and Diversion Committee. It really speaks to the genuine heart she puts into every single part of her day.

When Tracey finally moved to Kingston in 2006, the transition wasn't exactly seamless. As a self-described "big city girl" from Montreal, she quickly realized that the pace and style of her new home were worlds apart from what she knew.

She recalls a funny but frustrating moment at a local job finding club where an advisor told her she was actually too polished. "They told me I was intimidating because I dressed too well for interviews," Tracey laughs. "In Montreal, your jacket matches your pants and your shoes match your bag! Here, things were just a bit more laid back."

But that big city hustle served her well. She eventually landed a role at the Heart and Stroke Foundation after pushing through a grueling interview while sick with pneumonia. It was that never-give-up attitude that would eventually define her role in the community.

Tracey’s life changed forever when Chris passed away. They were truly two people with one soul, best friends and soul mates in every sense. Chris was a successful advisor, and he was also a devoted husband, dad, and gramps who gave nine years of his heart to the board of the Partners in Mission Food Bank. He was a man who lived by a simple, powerful rule: No one should ever go hungry.

To honor his legacy, Tracey launched what is now known as the Annual Mason Golf Classic. What started as a small gathering for mental health and connection has exploded into a massive community event. In just three years, Tracey and an amazing group of friends who support and help with gift and basket developing/wrapping, has raised over $66,000 for the Food Bank.

The 2025 Annual Mason Classic Golf Tournament

While Tracey spends her workdays as an HR professional, her soul fuel comes from the quiet corners of Kingston. After the loss of her husband, it took time to return to the trails they once shared, but this year she has made a point of getting back out there.

You might find her snowshoeing at Little Cataraqui Creek, which she considers one of the city's best kept secrets, or walking the trails around the West End and Lemoine Point, which is another of her top favorites.

She also credits the team at K4Paws (Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs) for helping her navigate some of her darkest days. After getting involved through a COVID era bottle drive, she found that the connection with the dogs provided a unique kind of healing that she now pays forward by volunteering with the organization whenever she can.

Today, Tracey describes herself as "lost in a living body," but she is fighting every day to relearn life. Between her lead role in the Annual Mason Golf Classic, her board position at Breast Cancer Action Kingston, her work with the Kingston Canadian Film Festival, and her renewed activity with Kids 4 Kids, she has become a familiar face and a dedicated helping hand for so many local causes.

She recently spent a weekend almost losing her voice at the Slush Puppie Place arena selling Chuck-A-Puck, where she was told you could hear her from a mile away!

"It’s a labor of love," she says. "The gratitude from the community is my payment."

The tournament is a high energy day dedicated to keeping Chris’s legacy alive while supporting our local Partners In Mission food bank.

Contact Tracey Graves directly at 613-888-3587 or via email at [email protected].