A Whitehorse golf tournament has raised $23, 357 for Yukon literacy.

The Yukon Learn Society (YLS) hosted the territory’s 23rd annual Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournament for Literacy last Saturday at Mountain View Golf Club.

The PGI Golf Tournaments for Literacy were founded by the late Canadian broadcaster and journalist Peter Gzowski and are affectionately known as “the PGIs.”

The events have raised needed resources for the thousands of adult learners who struggle with the challenge of low literacy.

Since its inception in 1986, the PGIs have raised more than $14 million.

These funds go directly to support literacy initiatives in the provinces and territories where the PGIs are held.

The Yukon version of the event has become the largest fundraiser for literacy in the territory over the past 23 years.

More than 70 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to adult learning resources, services, and programs supported by the YLS.

Every year Yukoners – sponsors, business owners, entertainers, politicians, and other influential people – participate in the annual tournament held at Mountain View Golf Course.

This year’s tournament also featured well-known Canadian comedian Ron James.

Meanwhile, this year’s recipient of the Learner of the Year Award went to Boram Kim, while Ross Mclachlan was named Volunteer of the Year and Jared Gonet, Tutor of the Year.

The inaugural Lifelong Learner Award went to the organization’s eldest learner Louis Smith, 82.

Additionally, 2015 marked the 30th anniversary of the very first PGI, which took place at Frontier College in Toronto.

In celebration of this 30-year milestone, PGI Canada recognized two longtime supporters of each local PGI.

The first recipient of the Yukon award, in recognition of hundreds of volunteer hours he put towards getting the Yukon PGI established and towards each tournament that took place thereafter, was John Spicer.

And in recognition of its consistent sponsorship support over the life of the Yukon PGI, the second recipient was Canadian Tire.

“Over the past 23 years, the YLS’s PGI has raised over $350,000, which we used to support our literacy programs and services,” said YLS executive director Debbie Parent.

“Without the support of the Gzowski Foundation, PGI Canada, our sponsors, the hundreds of volunteers, as well as the YLS staff, we would not have realized this amount.”

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Next mont, the Rendezvous Society will be hosting its own inaugural golf tournament fundraiser.

The event will take place Aug. 15 at Meadow Lakes Golf and Country Club, with the nine holes of golf taking on a Rendezvous theme.