Toronto, ON ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation announced today that CBC news anchor, Peter Mansbridge, has agreed to be the honorary national spokesman for The PGI Golf Tournaments for Literacy.

Founded by the late Peter Gzowski, the PGIs are held annually in every province and territory. In addition to the traditional golf game, the 15 tournaments feature entertainment by national and local literary and musical talents. Past participants include numerous Canadian celebrities, politicians and musicians. Proceeds from the PGIs support local literacy initiatives in communities across Canada. These programs help adults and their families improve their basic reading and writing skills. Now in their 18th year, the PGIs have raised over $7 million, making this initiative the most successful literacy fundraiser in Canada.

“On behalf of PGI coordinators, volunteers, corporate sponsors and participants across the country, I would like to thank Peter Mansbridge for his active participation and endorsement of an initiative that is so important to the literacy cause in Canada,” says ABC CANADA president, Christine Featherstone. “As a leading Canadian journalist and television news personality, Peter’s involvement as national spokesman will help ensure that the PGIs continue to inspire Canadians to celebrate and support literacy in the tradition intended by their founder.”

Mansbridge confirms that the literacy cause carries added significance because of his professional and personal connection to the printed word. He adds that his involvement in these tournaments is driven by the knowledge that over 22 per cent of Canadian adults do not possess the reading and writing skills needed in everyday life: “Who among us can imagine a life without the ability to read the news, enjoy a great book, or have the chance to get ahead in whatever possibilities life might hold?”

Mansbridge, the signature anchor for CBC News and the network’s host and journalist for most major news and sports events, has been associated with the PGIs since 1991, when he was invited by Peter Gzowski to attend his first tournament at the PGI Briars in Sutton, Ontario. Since then, he has played in every PGI Briars, has become the annual host of Vancouver PGI, and has attended several other PGI events across the country.

Every year, Mansbridge is joined in support of the cause by more than 2,200 PGI participants, including decision-makers from business, media, entertainment, sports, academic and political circles, who recognize that basic literacy skills are essential for adults to participate fully in their workplaces and communities, and in the social and political life of their country. “Canadians - from volunteers to public personalities - are supporting the cause…in a spirit of action on behalf of adults who are striving to improve their literacy skills,” confirms Mansbridge.

This “spirit of action” extends to corporate Canada as well, with many leading companies supporting the PGIs as national sponsors, including Air Canada, Canada Post Corporation, The Co-operators, Epson and Great-West Life/London Life. Along with local businesses, these corporations help the PGIs achieve their fundraising objectives year after year.