November 24, 2025 (Victoria, BC) – It may still be months away until The Forge Open: Rally For Recovery charity pickleball tournament kicks off on January 30, 2026 at Victoria Pickleball Centre, but that hasn’t stopped the event from filling up in just hours following the opening of registration last Friday.
The two-day fundraiser is raising money and awareness for the Construction Foundation of BC’s (CFBC) Forge initiative, a peer-led recovery initiative for tradespeople that fills critical gaps in mental-health and addiction care by offering accessible peer support, recovery coaching, clinical counselling, and treatment navigation without the high costs of traditional services.
The Forge: Rally for Recovery event founder, Mike Manhas
“By creating a community where trades workers can get real, culturally-relevant help from people who understand their world, the FORGE reduces stigma, improves access to care, and ultimately saves lives by catching people who would otherwise fall through the cracks,” explained event founder Mike Manhas, whose previous fundraising efforts surrounding mental health and addictions includes the annual SoberFest and the Rewired Recovery Foundation.
“I have been planning events to help people struggling with mental health and addictions for quite a while,” added Manhas. “When setting up my plan for the year at CFBC I wanted to do something a little different…and I felt that pickleball is the new golf tournament. It’s one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and everyone is trying it. And everyone can play.”
While the tournament’s registration has filled up, interested players can still join the waitlist for events at the tournament page located by clicking HERE.
“I’m super grateful to the community for coming on board and rallying for recovery,” added Manhas. “It is so important that the conversations around the epidemic and recovery be had around coolers, at jobs, and in the community. In order for us to succeed this has to be a community initiative.”
Interested in getting involved? Organizers are still looking for sponsors, volunteers, and donations. Find out more at https://entertheforge.ca/how-to-donate/
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