Three PGA of Manitoba Professionals Win National Awards

For the first time ever, 3 PGA of Manitoba Zone Professionals have won National Awards from the PGA of Canada in the same year.  The finalists and winners have been announced this week on the PGA of Canada social media channels as we head in the holiday season.

Andrew Steep from the Southwood Golf & Country Club has been named the Murray Tucker Class A Professional of the Year for the second time is his career.  He previously won the award in 2017 and was also the national winner of the Moe Norman Apprentice Professional of the Year Award in 2012.  

Steep has grown up in the business of golf, playing as a junior at the Glendale Golf & Country Club and then moving up through the staff ranks there.  He has now spent the past 7 seasons as the Head Professional at Southwood, building a strong community at the club that has seen staff retention dramatically increase in addition to member satisfaction numbers that have grown from 6.14 to 8.3 or higher annually as shown in their member survey. 

Participation and support at all levels has been a key factor in Steep's career.  Along with 12+ years of service on the PGA of Manitoba Zone Board of Directors, he has also participated in the PGA of Canada Leadership Retreat in 2022 and travelled south to play in the PGA of Canada Head Professional Championship in Phoenix and most recently in Mexico.  Under his leadership, Southwood has also played host to many Golf Manitoba events, junior development opportunities and camps and also participated in the inaugural Golf Canada National Golf League this past season.  

Steep is a consummate professional and his passion and dedication show through in all that he does both personally and professionally. 

Bri-ann Tokariwski from the Elhurst Golf & Country Club has been named the winner of the  PGA of Canada Tex Noble Professional Development Award for 2023.  This award recognizes a PGA Professional who is the model of life long learning, and Tokariwski's career shows her dedication to continuous improvement.

Tokariwski has immersed herself in continuous education every year since joining the association.  She is not only a regular participant in the PGA of Manitoba Zone Education Seminars, but has also attended the PGA of Canada Tee Talks Live Conference every year since its' inception.  

In 2021, she became one of eight women to become part of the first cohort to participate in the PGA of Canada Women in Coaching Program, a national higher coaching program that allows female PGA coaches to learn and shadow Team Canada's top coaches. 

Each year, she also attends the International PGA Show in Orlando where she meets with many PGA professionals, focusing on the education portion of the show. She also makes sure to attend Canada Night to support and network with her fellow PGA members.

This past spring, she was asked to be the facilitator for the Community Coaching and First Tee program in Manitoba and was flown to the National Office in Toronto for training. She will be facilitating the program late fall 2023 and early 2024.

Tokariwski believes that education is key to not only better herself but to allow her students to become better as well.  Through her dedication, passion and involvement, she can learn, grow and development as a professional and a coach, inspiring all around her to become the best they can be and growing the game in the process.

Dustin Wilson of the Whitewater Golf Club in Thunder Bay has been named the Warren Crosbie Community Leader of the Year by the PGA of Canada.  

Wilson's story is one of strength, commitment and inspiration.  He has been open and transparent in sharing his story of addiction, hoping to inspire others facing similar battles. He is an active member of his recovery groups, speaks at meetings and has been influential in helping others on their own journeys.

Junior golf is also passion for Wilson.  He spends countless hours developing and facilitating camps and clinics, covering everything from grassroots to high performance training.  Many of his students have received scholarships and have gone on to play college or university golf all across North America.  

One student in particular, Dustin Barr, made a tremendous impact on Wilson.  Wilson had been his coach for 10 years when Barr, at just 17 years of age, was diagnosed with cancer.  The battle continued for 7 years, but unfortunately, during his sophomore year of college, Barr passed away from the disease.  Barr's wish was to support other families directly when they were in need.

Wilson has taken that wish to heart, spreading the word and raising funds on Barr's behalf.   In 2020, he co-founded the "Raising the Barr Foundation" with the Barr family.  Together they have held a charity golf tournament and the "Golf Balls From Heaven Helicopter Ball Drop" in each of the past 4 years.  Wilson spends countless hours selling ball drop tickets, organizing and facilitating the event and other such fundraisers.  Over its' 4 year history, the events have raised over $250,000.

These funds are utilized in a variety of ways to directly support families whose children are fighting cancer.  Money has been distributed to  Ronald McDonalds House, Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Foundation, Special Olympics Northwestern Ontario, Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer and " Make A Wish".  They have also contributed directly to expenses for multiple families as they face these difficult battles.

Dustin leads and inspires those around him, not only in golf but in their own personal journeys.  He continues to overcome, learn and grow and has helpe many others in a variety of ways over the years.

For more information on Wilson's personal story, please click here.

Fore more information on the Raising the Barr Foundation, please click here.

Past PGA of Manitoba National Award Winners: