August 14 – 30, 2026
Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre, 295 90 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2J 0A1
In Memorium
Phillip Anthony Thomas
Phillip grew up around the Calgary Tennis Club and was introduced to tennis at an early age and began to demonstrate a natural affinity towards the sport. He trained at the Tennis Academy High Performance program and benefited from his dad’s tutelage and guidance. He competed in many tournaments and played on the U of C Dinos tennis team while acquiring his degree in Computer Science and then working towards his master’s. Phillip had a penchant for research since he was a young boy and revealed a natural teaching ability that had been acknowledged just before his passing at 25 years of age.
Ping pong was another regular practice at our home where he began to defeat his father more frequently than not. Phillip’s natural athleticism was evident in many other forms,
such as running, sprinting, weightlifting and badminton. Intelligent and athletic, he had
an incredible ability to make everyone laugh.
As a member of the U of C Calgary Dinos tennis team, and a master’s student in Math and Computer Science, Phillip had a bright future. However, Phillip passed away in 2019 at the age of 25, following a mental health battle. “He was an incredibly bright and talented young man and was able to brighten many of his fellow students’ days. He was one of the most perceptive and unique minded people some have ever met, he was accomplished, supported and loved, and yet he battled anxiety and depression most of his adult life,”
says Vanessa Thomas, Phillip’s sister.
To honour Phillip’s legacy, and to support other young adults with their mental health, Canadian Mental Health Association – Calgary Region (CMHA Calgary) has launched a brand new resource called EQUIPPED.
DIVISIONS OFFERED
Who Can Play ?
The tournament is open to players of all skill levels, from competitive club players to those just looking to test themselves against strong local competition. Players travel from across Western Canada and beyond to take part, making this one of the more competitive regional stops on the calendar.
The tournament runs over three consecutive week-ends, with matches scheduled throughout each day to accommodate the number of divisions and participants. A detailed day-by-day schedule will be published closer to the event once the draw is finalized.
The History of the Tournament
Phillip Anthony Thomas
In 2022, the Calgary Tennis Club hosted the Wearmouth Thomas Memorial Tournament in memory of Josie Wearmouth and Phillip Thomas, whose lives ended prematurely after battling mental illness.
Both kids and their families were active in the Calgary tennis community at clubs such as the Calgary Winter Club, Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre, Calgary Tennis Club and Tennis Academy.
215 players participated in the 2022 Wearmouth Thomas Tournament which raised $16, 675.00 for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA - Calgary Chapter and the University of Calgary (UCalgary).
In 2023, the Wearmouth family launched the Josphine Wearmouth Memorial Doctoral scholarship with UCalgary in honor of Josie, supporting research in suicide prevention and mental health.
In Memory of Josephine Wearmouth - University of Calgary
In 2021, CMHA received an anonymous donation of $100, 000.00 to honor the memory of Phillip Thomas. This funding made it possible to develop and launch the EQUIPPED program, an online mental health platform that offers free, self-directed courses for young adults.
In Memory of Phillip Thomas | EQUIPPED Mental Health Courses
The tournament continued as the Phillip Thomas Memorial tournament (PTMT) in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and became the largest outdoor tournament in Alberta, with 260 players in 2023, 319 players in 2024 and 329 players in 2025. Approximately $16,000.00 was donated to the CMHA program in memory of Phillip each year.
In August of 2026, the PTMT will be hosted by the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre featuring three tournaments : a Junior division, an Adult doubles division, and an Adult singles division, welcoming players of all ages and abilities to compete in memory of Phillip Thomas while continuing to support CMHA Calgary's EQUIPPED mental health program for young adults.
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
The tournament exists to raise funds and awareness for youth mental health programs through CMHA Calgary — including EQUIPPED, a resource created specifically for young adults and launched in memory of Phillip. In 2025, the tournament raised $15,000 for CMHA Calgary, and the 2026 edition aims to grow that impact even further.
If you'd like to contribute, donations can be made directly to CMHA Calgary and are eligible for a tax receipt.