Gary Bernard Announced as New Executive Director of the Canadian PGA

Newest leader in Canadian golf selected following three month interim position

ACTON, ON (January 31st, 2009) – After a lengthy search and intense deliberation, the Canadian PGA announced today that Gary Bernard has been named the Association’s new Executive Director. The executive search process conducted with McKinley Solutions Inc., a leader in the corporate hiring world, began in early November and culminated in today’s announcement.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce to our membership that Gary Bernard has been selected as the Canadian PGA’s next Executive Director,” said Lindon Garron, President of the Canadian PGA. “Gary has always acted in the best interests of the Canadian PGA Members and his intimate knowledge of our Association will ensure that current initiatives will continue in a seamless manner. Canadian PGA Director of Education since 2004 and currently acting in the Interim Executive Director role since October, Gary has clearly demonstrated that he is the right person at the right time for this pivotal position.”

As a Canadian PGA Member, you are the first to receive this announcement, followed by the Canadian golf media. A subsequent announcement will be made during the World PGA Alliance conference on Sunday.

“I have never been more proud to be a Member of the Canadian PGA than I am today. I am thrilled and humbled to take on the responsibility of serving the 3,600 members of the Canadian PGA on a daily basis. It is a true honour to be selected as the new Executive Director of the Canadian PGA” said Bernard, who will jump immediately into the position with Canadian PGA Board meetings underway next week. “I, along with the 3,600 members of the Canadian PGA, have a passion for our great game and I am very serious about making progressive steps for our Members within the Canadian golf industry. I welcome the challenge and look forward to working with the Board, national staff and all of our partners across the country to develop new opportunities for the game of golf.”

A native of Chatham, New Brunswick, Bernard spent eight years as an educator within the New Brunswick public school system. During that time he was named “Young Professional of The Year” by the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (CAPHER). In addition, he served as Vice-President, and later President of the Physical Education Teachers Society; representing New Brunswick at the World CAPHER conference in Vancouver in 1986.

Following his education career, Bernard spent two years in the sporting goods industry where he managed several T & R Sports locations in Atlantic Canada. After a successful run, Bernard realized that his true passion lay in the game of golf and his decision to work in the game had an instant impact on the future of the Canadian PGA.

“This is a very exciting day for the Canadian PGA and golf in Canada. We are delighted to select Gary Bernard as the new leader for our Association.” stated Garron, who is currently serving his second year as President of the Canadian PGA. “Under the professional direction of McKinley Solutions, we have successfully completed a very comprehensive process. A number of qualified candidates were interviewed and evaluated. In the end, Gary was our unanimous selection. He holds valuable knowledge of the Canadian PGA and its partners within the World PGA Alliance, as well as with our industry partners in Canada. He has excelled inside and outside of the Canadian PGA and we are confident that he is the right candidate to set the present and future direction of our sport and our organization.”

Among his many career achievements, Bernard was a leader in the development of the Teaching and Coaching Certification Program (TCCP) alongside fellow Canadian PGA member Henry Brunton. He has been involved in education with the Canadian PGA since 1995 when he began facilitating all workshops to Canadian PGA Professionals across the country. He was instrumental in leading the integration of the TCCP program with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC).

Bernard was also a key member of the Royal Canadian Golf Association’s National Player Development Program coaching staff from 1999 to 2001. He has worked at a number of different facilities, both in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, and has a full understanding of what a Canadian PGA Member must do to succeed in the golf business.

A graduate of the University of New Brunswick (B.Ed ’79) and currently nearing completion of his Masters degree (M.Ed) from UNB, Bernard will participate in his first official meeting when he represents the Canadian PGA at the World PGA Alliance conference in Orlando, Florida.

ABOUT THE CANADIAN PGA
Established in 1911 and the second oldest professional golf association in the world, the Canadian Professional Golfers' Association is a non-profit Association comprised of 3,600 golf professionals across the country. The Association’s mandate is to develop, promote and support our members as experts in the game and business of golf and, in so doing, serve both its members’ needs and those of the golfing public through the Association’s varied programs and events.

The Association consists of the National Office located in Acton, Ontario and nine Zone Offices across the country.

For more information please visit http://www.cpga.com/