The story of our event is a wonderful example of the sense of community rising from personal tragedy.

In the mid-1980’s, a friendly golf challenge started between various law enforcement officers at Vancouver International Airport. Members of the RCMP, US Immigration, Canada Customs, US Customs and other law enforcement agencies from Canada and the US participated in a fun tournament.

In 1991, two members of Canada Customs, Brian and Audrey Flagel lost their daughter Elise to cancer. In response, the airport community rallied together and changed the law enforcement tournament into a golf challenge and auction, with the proceeds to be donated to a charity in memory of Elise Flagel. Thus began the YVR Golf for Kids Tournament.

The charity of choice became Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. The driving force behind the establishment of Canuck Place was Brenda Eng, a pediatric nurse who had nursed Elise in the children’s oncology ward at B.C. Children’s Hospital.

Over the years, funds raised have donated one of the rooms at Canuck Place called the blue “Lizzy Creek” room decorated with dinosaurs from Elise’s favourite movie “The Land Before Time”. Funds have also gone to ongoing operating costs for this valuable facility, which serves families in all of British Columbia.

Since the event’s transformation from a golf tournament to a philanthropic outreach for the airport community, in excess of $4 million has been raised for children’s charities. We celebrate our 32nd year serving the community, with many more legacies to come!