Forestry woes stop 2007 Frog's Breath tournament.

• Author: Stewart, Nick
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT: GOLF GUIDE

Golfers hoping to take a swing at the annual Frog's Breath Charity Golf Tournament and Social event will have to wait as this year's has been cancelled.

Held in the Tri-Town area, the event typically features two qualifying rounds at local golf courses before moving the players to the Frog's Breath course in New Liskeard. The final competition pairs Canadian PGA professionals with participants, who vie for the top prize of a trophy and bragging rights. Net proceeds from the event, which also includes an auction and dinner, are donated to a variety of causes and organizations in the Tri-Town and Timmins areas.

The cost of the event is largely funded by Grant Forest Products, with the assistance of additional industry sponsors. However, industry-wide financial hardship has halted this year's event. "This year, there's been a downturn in the oriented strand board industry and the forestry industry as a whole, and we don't want to put undue pressure on Grant Forest Products or their suppliers," says Susie Johanson, executive director, Frog's Breath Foundation.

"Many people in the industry have been laying off employees just to stay afloat, and we can't be asking them to be giving money to this event, even if it is a good cause. So cancelling it this year is the responsible thing to do."

Last year, 190 golf teams participated in the event and over 1,100 people ate at the follow-up charity dinner.

As a result of event proceeds, sponsorships and donations, the foundation was able to donate $750,000 towards the Kirkland District Health Centre in 2006, as compared to the $500,000 split between the Temiskaming Hospital and the Englehart and Area Community Complex project in 2005.

The tournament has raised over $10 million over the last nine years, helping to fund various large-scale projects as a CAT scan machine for New Liskeard, as well as a local sports complex and a hospital project in Englehart.

Johanson says such amounts are extremely strong for Northern Ontario, especially when compared to similar events involving high-profile participants.

"I was looking at an event that Mike Weir attends which is for Heart and Stroke, and the event brought in $37,000. And I thought, 'Oh my goodness,' in comparison to us, a small...