The provincial government is providing $25,000 to help Golf Canada host the world's best female golfers at the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open, announced Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Ida Chong.

The CN Canadian Women's Open is one of the longest-running women's golf championships in the world and a part of the Ladies' Professional Golf Association Tour schedule. Held at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam Aug. 20 to 26, the Open will attract some of the LPGA's brightest stars and give fans the opportunity to interact with some of their favourite female golfers.

The 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open will also leave a lasting charity legacy with the BC Children's Hospital Foundation. The foundation has been selected as the community beneficiary of CN Miracle Match - a national charitable initiative that rallies communities across Canada behind a worthy cause. Funds raised through this initiative in the Greater Vancouver area and throughout British Columbia will be given to BC Children's Hospital Foundation.

Quotes:

Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development -

"Supporting a prestigious event such as the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open is good for British Columbia, the sport of golf, the City of Coquitlam and the fans who will be following this major international event, either as spectators or through international broadcasts."

Scott Simmons, Golf Canada executive director -

"Along with our partners at CN, we believe it is very important that the CN Canadian Women's Open leave a lasting legacy in our host communities. Coquitlam is part of a world-class community with passionate golf fans and we are thrilled that Canada's National Women's Open Championship will benefit BC Children's Hospital and its important work."

Quick Facts:

• Provincial funding for the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open is from the sport portion of the 2010 Sport and Arts Legacy.

• The Province is developing the capacity of B.C. communities to host mid- to large-scale sporting events that support growth of local recreation, tourism and hospitality sectors.

• Golf Canada estimates the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open will result in an economic impact of approximately $10 million for B.C. and nearly $7 million for Coquitlam.

• The CN Miracle Match campaign is held every year during the CN Canadian Women's Open, and the BC Children's Hospital Foundation has been selected as this year's official beneficiary of the campaign.

• Each year since 2006, CN and Golf Canada have raised money to support children's hospitals by matching funds raised through initiatives connected with the CN Canadian Women's Open. In the past six years, the CN Miracle Match program has raised $6.45 million for children's hospitals located in the cities that have hosted the Open.

• Televised broadcast of the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open will reach more than 150 million households worldwide.

• The CN Canadian Women's Open is truly an 'Open' championship, giving non-LPGA Tour members, including a number of Canadian amateur and professional golfers, the opportunity to qualify and compete against the best players in the world.

Learn More:

About Golf Canada: http://www.golfcanada.ca/

About the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open: http://www.cncanadianwomensopen.com/default.aspx

About the CN Miracle Match Program: http://www.cncanadianwomensopen.com/news_details.aspx?ID=2655

About the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development: http://www.gov.bc.ca/cscd

Contacts:

Jeff Rud
Communications Director
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 953-3677 (office)
250 208-4028 (cell)

Dan Pino
Director, Corporate Communications
Golf Canada
905 849-9700 (office)
416 434-5525 (cell)