The PGIs: Improving Lives for 28 Years

In 1986, award-winning Canadian broadcaster and journalist Peter Gzowski began raising funds for literacy through an annual golf tournament, The Peter Gzowski Invitational (PGI) – a single event that evolved into the national PGIs for Literacy. His goals were to raise much-needed resources for the thousands of adult learners who struggle with the challenge of low literacy, and have a lot of fun in the process.

Held annually in every province and territory, the PGIs have raised more than $12.5 million net since 1986. These funds directly support literacy initiatives in the provinces and territories where the PGIs are held.

Peter Gzowski, PGI founder

The PGIs bring together so much that matters to me: friends, laughter, poetry, music – all playing to make a better world.

- Peter Gzowski, writer, broadcaster, philanthropist.

Peter Mansbridge, PGI National Spokesperson

In my association with the PGIs, I have come to understand some of the many reasons why a person has low literacy skills – including learning challenges that undermined self-confidence, difficult childhood circumstances or perhaps economic pressures that short-circuited educational opportunities. Every adult learner I have met expresses so much gratitude to their tutor for imparting the gift of literacy. By participating in a PGI event, you are helping to deliver that gift.

- Peter Mansbridge, Anchor of CBC-TV’s The National and National Spokesperson for the PGIs.

Shelagh Rogers, Honorary PGI National Chair

“Across this vast country the PGIs have become a ribbon of hope that links a network of unsung heroes – volunteer literacy tutors. Their work is instrumental to the effort by adults who struggle with reading and writing. It is a noble cause indeed, and I applaud and support each and every learner and tutor.”

- Shelagh Rogers O.C., Host of CBC’s The Next Chapter and Honorary PGI National Chair