Implementation of First Tee – Canada and Youth on Course programming will
provide affordable access to the game for youth in underrepresented
communities
TORONTO, April 28,
2022 /CNW/ - Today, RBC announced the first wave of
publicly accessible golf courses selected to join RBC Community
Junior Golf, a new initiative designed to build greater diversity
and inclusivity in golf by creating affordable access to the sport
for youth in underrepresented communities across Canada.
In partnership with Golf Canada, RBC Community Junior Golf will
support the implementation of the First Tee –
Canada and Youth on
Course programs at municipal or publicly accessible golf
courses, with the goal to engage 15 facilities in 2022. The
courses were selected based on accessibility to local public
transit as well as proximity to community centres, with an
intentional focus on regional and diverse representation.
By 2023, RBC Community Junior Golf is expected to
engage more than 10,000 young people by
delivering free First Tee programming, which teaches
life lessons through the game of golf, as well as
$5 Youth on Course green fees to select Canadian courses
across the country.
RBC Community Junior Golf
Locations:
- Chedoke Golf Club – Hamilton,
ON
- Club de Golf Municipal Dallaire – Rouyn-Noranda, QC
- Club de Golf Les Rivières – Trois-Rivières, QC
- Humber Valley Golf Course – Etobicoke, ON
- Legends on the Niagara – Niagara, ON
- Mill River Golf Course – Woodstock, PEI
- Peel Village Golf Course – Brampton,
ON
- Tam O'Shanter Golf Course – Scarborough, ON
- Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course – Brantford, ON
- Whitewater Golf Club – Thunder Bay,
ON
"As a long-standing supporter of golf and an advocate for youth,
RBC is proud to bring RBC Community Junior Golf to life," said
Shannon Cole, Vice-President, Brand
Marketing, RBC. "We believe that sport has the power to build
character, teach valuable life lessons, and provide opportunities
for young people to grow, and we are excited to work with Golf
Canada to provide First Tee and Youth on Course programming across
the country."
Canadian youth ages five to 18 years can benefit from
programming at one of the participating golf courses. RBC Community
Junior Golf participating facilities will work with community
centres or schools in their local area to register youth
participants. For more details, visit the RBC Community Junior Golf
website: https://www.golfcanada.ca/rbcjrgolf.
Golf Canada is grateful to have
a like-minded partner in RBC with a shared intentional focus to
increase access to junior golf, especially for youth from
backgrounds that historically have been underserved.
"The enthusiasm from RBC to advance the sport and provide
funding to introduce the game to a diverse range of young golfers
at municipal and especially publicly accessible facilities has been
extraordinary," said Kevin Blue,
Chief Sport Officer, Golf Canada. "RBC Community Junior Golf will
accelerate the delivery of First Tee programming across the country
and with RBC's support, golf will be a vehicle to foster life
skills and positively impact Canadian youth from all
backgrounds."
PGA TOUR professional golfer and Team RBC ambassador
Harold Varner III serves as an
advisor for RBC Community Junior Golf and helped launch the
initiative at Humber Valley Golf Course in Toronto – a participating location – last
September. He was joined by youth from the Rexdale Boys and Girls
Club, where he offered advice and guidance for reaching one's
potential both on and off the course. Learn more about the launch
event and Harold's and RBC's vision at RBC Stories.
"RBC Community Junior Golf will give many kids who don't
currently have access, the opportunity to play golf and experience
all of the benefits associated with the game," said Harold Varner III, Team RBC ambassador. "I've
always been passionate about introducing young people to golf, and
I'm excited to champion this initiative that will provide youth
across Canada with an equal
opportunity to play the sport I love."
One of the important ways RBC brings its Purpose of helping
clients thrive and communities prosper to life is by empowering
young people. RBC Future Launch is the bank's $500 million commitment to help Canadian youth
prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, including $50 million in focused funding to create
meaningful and transformative pathways to prosperity for 25,000
BIPOC youth by 2025. In addition, through the RBC Heritage and RBC
Canadian Open tournaments, RBC has helped raise over $35 million in support of local charities in
Canada and the United States.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a
global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led
approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from
the 88,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights
to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our
clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest
in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified
business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional
experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn
more at rbc.com.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives
through donations, community investments and employee volunteer
activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.
About Golf Canada
Golf Canada is the National
Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada, representing nearly 270,000 golfers
and 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the
Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada's vision is to be a world
leader in golf and achieving the mission to increase Canadian
participation and excellence. For more information about what Golf
Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit
www.golfcanada.ca.
SOURCE RBC