In support of Frontier College
In 1986, celebrated Canadian journalist, Peter Gzowski, invited some of his family and friends to an informal golf tournament on his home course at The Briars in Jackson's Point, Ontario. When he said that he wanted to raise "a few bucks" for literacy it was the beginning of a long, prosperous, innovative and simple fundraising initiative.
Today, the PGIs are the most successful literacy fundraising events in Canada, generating more than $10 million (net funds) and held in thirteen provinces and territories.
"The PGIs bring together so much that matters to me: friends, laughter, poetry, music--all playing to make a better world. Thanks to the thousands of golfers, corporate sponsors and hardworking volunteers, the PGIs have become a network that stretches from sea to sea to, as I am proud to say, sea. We've raised millions of dollars to help people learn to read and write or just make their lives a little better. And we're going to keep on doing it."
- Peter Gzowski
Peter passed away in 2002 and is missed by Canadians everywhere, but perhaps never more than those who knew him at his favourite activity, golfing for literacy. The tradition lives on. 
In the spirit of Peter Gzowski, PGI committees in Victoria (BC), Vancouver (BC), Whitehorse (YT), Calgary (AB), Saskatoon (SK), Winnipeg (MB), Toronto (ON) (Jackson's Point), Ottawa (ON), Cambridge Bay (NU), Montreal (QC), Fredericton (NB), Truro (NS), Charlottetown (PE) and Mount Pearl (NL) coordinate golf tournaments in communities across the country to raise funds to teach people to read and write and inspire Canadians to celebrate literacy.
Each PGI features music and poetry, often heard on the greens. Many of the tournaments hold "night before" events featuring outstanding musical and literary talent, both local and national. Special guests have included Peter Mansbridge, Loreena McKennitt, Valdy, Natalie McMaster, Barenaked Ladies, Laura Smith, Ashley MacIsaac, Cynthia Dale, Murray McLauchlan, Pamela Wallin, John McDermott, Susan Aglukark, Ron Maclean, Tom Jackson, and Shelagh Rogers.
Each tournament features a Poet Laureate who writes a poem about the day and shares it with the golfers at the banquet. Past Poets Laureate have included Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Atwood, Dennis Lee and Sheree Fitch.
The PGI in support of Frontier College has been lucky to have Shelagh Rogers, of CBC Radio, as our host since 2001. Shelagh brings her inimitable style to the golf tournament and we are forever grateful to her. |
