Ellen Cousins has been a proud lifelong resident of Wallaceburg and has worked in the insurance industry for 36 years, with the last 23 as a bodily injury/liability claims adjuster. She truly loved her job, but her world changed forever with the sudden passing of her son, Matt, in May 2023.

Determined to honour Matt’s memory in a meaningful way, Ellen turned to something he loved—sports. While Matt was an exceptional golfer, his heart was always with lacrosse. With that in mind, Ellen set out to create the Matt Cousins Memorial Golf Tournament, using its proceeds to give back to the sport he was most passionate about.

For nearly 14 years, Matt’s lacrosse teammates affectionately called Ellen “Mummaellen”—a name she wears with great pride. Giving back has always been at the heart of who she is, whether volunteering with the Salvation Army to distribute Christmas baskets or preparing and delivering box lunch fundraisers for Community Living.

Supporting Wallaceburg lacrosse means everything to Ellen. She is committed to growing the game, inspiring young players, and ensuring Wallaceburg remains a stronghold for this incredible sport. Lacrosse is more than just a game—it’s about friendships built on the field, at tournaments, and during team travels.

Ellen’s greatest dream is to see lacrosse continue to thrive in Wallaceburg. She hopes to build an indoor training facility in Matt’s honour, providing future generations with a place to develop their skills and passion for the game he loved all year round.

She is also incredibly proud of Matt’s former teammates, many of whom are now coaching the next generation of players. Without a doubt, Matt would have been right there alongside them—on the bench, giving back to the game and the community that meant so much to him.

Sticks up, always.

Ellen, alongside her fiancée Eric Ruggles, is dedicated to keeping Matt’s Legacy alive through the Matt Cousins Memorial Golf Tournament.

Eric Ruggles is the owner of ENSPEC (Encouraging New Solutions for People, the Environment, and Compliance) Environmental. With 33 years of experience in the environmental sector, Eric has built ENSPEC into a trusted leader in hazardous materials management and risk assessment, serving industrial, manufacturing, corporate, commercial, and residential clients.

Beyond business, Eric and ENSPEC are deeply committed to giving back to the community. ENSPEC proudly provides free fieldwork and reporting services for churches, non-profits, and publicly funded organizations. The company also sponsors numerous local initiatives, including Wallaceburg Red Devils Jr. B Lacrosse, Wallaceburg Minor Lacrosse, the Chatham-Kent Cyclones, Theatre Sarnia, the Royal Canadian Legion Command, WAMBO, Walpole Island Wild as well as many memorial golf tournaments, multiple real estate agencies, and various children's events.

Eric has a special connection to Wallaceburg Lacrosse, recognizing that it is often underfunded compared to other sports. With record-breaking registration numbers last year, he saw the importance of reinvesting in the sport and its players.

One of Eric’s most passionate projects is the Matt Cousins Memorial Golf Tournament —a meaningful event that brings together friends, families, and communities to support lacrosse and honour the late Matt Cousins, son of Ellen Cousins, Eric's fiancée. Witnessing its incredible success, he envisions expanding it into a two-day event in the coming years, with sponsors and vendors eager to participate. This year alone, two golf courses have expressed interest in hosting, and several vendors have already reached out—a testament to the tournament’s growing impact.

Through both his business and philanthropy, Eric remains dedicated to supporting his community, fostering youth sports growth, and ensuring environmental responsibility is accessible to all.

Emily and Cody Gurd, sister and brother-in-law to Matt, along with their two sons, and daughter, Anthony (9), Beckham (3) and Aria (8 months) remember Matt as an incredible and loving uncle and brother. Though Beckham was only four months old when Matt passed, the love Matt had for him was undeniable and truly heartwarming. He shared a special bond with Anthony, often wrestling, playing video games, watching YouTube videos, or looking at “Uncle Mac’s” cool Pokémon cards while they snuggled together.

The love and loss they feel for Matt is beyond words. Emily holds her memories with her brother close to her heart and often wishes for just one more brother-sister chat. The golf tournament is their way of honouring and celebrating everything Matt loved — family, friends, golf and lacrosse — all wrapped up in one unforgettable day.