CALGARY – The 2020 Shaw Charity Classic golf tournament has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis, the company and PGA Tour Champions announced today.
It was scheduled for August 24-30, 2020, at Calgary’s Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.
With international travel restrictions still in place, along with federal and provincial governments urging caution, the official decision came after the City of Calgary cancelled all event permits through to August 31st, in an effort to minimize the spread of Covid-19.
“Over the past few weeks, we have had extensive meetings with all of our key stakeholders including the PGA Tour, along with our generous corporate partners and vendors. We’ve determined that, after weighing all options, it was best to press pause and focus on bringing golf fans back together in 2021,” said Sean Van Kesteren, executive director, Shaw Charity Classic, in a press release.
Shaw Communications also announced its commitment to continue supporting kids and youth who depend on the tournament by contributing $1 million to match community donations through the “Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink” program.
“Charity has always been at the heart of this tournament, and this year it is even more important. While we are unable to physically come together this year, we are absolutely committed to working with the community and our amazing partners to continue the Shaw Charity Classic’s incredible legacy of giving,” said Brad Shaw, executive chair and CEO, Shaw Communications.
The Patron group behind bringing many of golf’s biggest over-50 stars to Calgary over the last seven years already donated $100,000 in April to be split among four local organizations (Mustard Seed, Calgary Food Bank, Meals on Wheels and Inn from the Cold) supporting the city’s pandemic relief efforts.
Since its inception in 2013, the lone PGA Tour Champions event in Canada has raised more than $48 million for 213 youth-based charities across the province through its Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink program.
With more than 200 Alberta kids’ charities benefitting, Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink will continue to match donations through 2020.
