Oakville, Ont. — Golf Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Newton as the new Tournament Director of the CPKC Women’s Open. 

As Tournament Director, Newton will lead all planning, execution, and stakeholder engagement for the CPKC Women’s Open, working collaboratively with the LPGA Tour, corporate partners, host communities, and internal teams to advance the continued growth and success of Canada’s premier women’s golf championship.

Newton brings a proven track record of leadership in championship operations, most recently serving as Director, Operations – Professional Championships with Golf Canada. Over the past seven years, with both events achieving record growth, he oversaw the full operational delivery of the CPKC Women’s Open and RBC Canadian Open, managing budgets, leading national operations teams, and coordinating complex event infrastructure.

The Toronto resident has worked extensively with key tournament partners and stakeholders across Canada’s two National Open Championships, including title sponsors, host clubs, contractors, government funding partners, and both the LPGA and PGA Tours. He has also led major supplier negotiations, developed RFPs for championship services, and supported the integration of sponsor and hospitality programs to ensure an exceptional championship experience for players, fans, volunteers, and corporate partners.

“I am thrilled to step into the role of Tournament Director for the CPKC Women’s Open. The momentum across the LPGA Tour and women’s golf worldwide is incredible, and the excitement around Canada’s National Open Golf Championship has never been stronger,” said Newton. “To help shape and lead a signature Canadian sporting event that brings world-class athletes and passionate golf fans together is truly inspiring, and I look forward to this historic championship continuing to elevate on the global golf stage.”

Prior to joining Golf Canada, Newton held event operations leadership roles with Hockey Canada, overseeing venue operations for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, as well as with SportBox Entertainment Group, Cabot Links Golf Resort, and the Canadian Junior Golf Association. His experience spans world-class golf and hockey championships, national junior events, and premium guest experience environments.

“Brian has played an integral role in delivering Canada’s National Open Championships, leading the operational planning and execution that underpin both the CPKC Women’s Open and the RBC Canadian Open,” said Golf Canada Chief Operating Officer Garrett Ball. “His deep familiarity with our championships as well as experiences across the broader event management landscape position him exceptionally well to lead the CPKC Women’s Open into its next chapter.”

Newton takes over the role from former CPKC Women’s Open Tournament Director Claire Welsh, who is departing Golf Canada. 

Calgary, ALTA. – Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is proud to announce that Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation has been chosen as the primary charity partner for the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open, to be held at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alberta from August 19 – 23, 2026.

“Together with the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, we are focused on raising funds at the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open to advance cardiac care for children and families throughout our home province of Alberta,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. “Support for children’s heart health is a central pillar of our community investment initiative, CPKC Has Heart. This summer, as we welcome some of the world’s most talented golfers to Edmonton, we look forward to leaving a legacy that makes a difference in the lives of children who need it most.”

CPKC’s goal in 2026 is to raise more than $3.9 million in support of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. These vital funds will support the advancement of their world-renowned pediatric cardiac program by providing state-of-the-art equipment including ultrasound echocardiography machines and neuromonitoring systems. In addition, funds will fuel cutting-edge research through the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute and enhance specialized staff training and family outreach initiatives. Together, this support will make a difference in the lives of children requiring complex heart care for generations to come.

“We are incredibly grateful to CPKC for choosing Edmonton and for their generous support of cardiac care at the Stollery Children’s Hospital,” said Karen Faulkner, President and CEO of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Their commitment will make a real difference in the lives of children and families facing heart conditions which helps us expand critical services, invest in leading-edge technology, and give every child the best chance to live a long and healthy life.”

“CPKC Has Heart has made an extraordinary impact in every community that has hosted our National Women’s Open Championship, and we are thrilled to welcome the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation as the charitable beneficiary of the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open,” said Laurence Applebaum, Chief Executive Officer of Golf Canada. “The return of the CPKC Women’s Open to Royal Mayfair Golf Club and the City of Champions this August is going to be electric. Fans will experience the world’s best players in action while helping drive the incredible, life-changing work of the Stollery Children’s Hospital.”

The CPKC Women’s Open community charity partner will be announced in the coming weeks.

Canada’s National Women’s Open returns to the City of Champions for the first time since 2013

CPKC Has Heart to leave meaningful community legacy in support of pediatric heart health

EDMONTON, Alta. – Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) announced today that the historic Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alta. will host the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open.

The 2026 CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton will be held on August 17-23, 2026, the 52^nd playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

The 2026 tournament marks the return of the National Women’s Open to Royal Mayfair for the third time and first since LPGA Tour star and three-time CPKC Women’s Open champion Lydia Ko won the 2013 event at Royal Mayfair as a 15-year-old amateur. Ko won back-to-back events as an amateur in 2012 and 2013 and would go on to win her third Canadian title in 2015. Royal Mayfair also hosted the championship in 2007, an event won by LPGA Tour legend Lorena Ochoa.

The 2026 CPKC Women’s Open will mark the eighth time that Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has been contested in the province of Alberta.

“In partnership with CPKC, we are very pleased to confirm that the CPKC Women’s Open will return to the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in 2026,” said Golf Canada Chief Operating Officer Garrett Ball. “Edmonton is a passionate golf community and Royal Mayfair is an outstanding venue to challenge the world’s best players. We extend our thanks to the membership and staff at Royal Mayfair as well as the City of Edmonton who will once again prove to be fabulous hosts for our National Women’s Open Championship.”

The CPKC Women’s Open through the CPKC Has Heart program will once again leave a meaningful legacy in the host community of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship. Since 2014, CPKC has raised more than C$23 million for pediatric heart health in the communities that have hosted the CPKC Women’s Open through the company’s tournament sponsorship and the CPKC Has Heart program. 

“We are very excited to bring the CPKC Women’s Open back to Edmonton and once again back to our home province of Alberta,” said CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel. “For more than a decade, this tournament, through our CPKC has Heart community investment program, has helped build stronger communities across Canada by investing in the heart health of our young people. We look forward to continuing that legacy next summer in Edmonton.”

The CPKC Has Heart community partner will be announced in early 2026.

For more than a century, Royal Mayfair has been recognized as one of Western Canada’s premier golf facilities. Shaped by legends such as Stanley Thompson and Les Furber as well as a Doug Carrick renovation in recent years, the club is consistently ranked within the ScoreGolf Top 100. The club celebrated its centennial in 2022 and is one of 17 clubs to have hosted both the Women’s and Men’s National Open Championship. In 2023, Royal Mayfair completed an extensive clubhouse renovation with modern amenities for a premier member and championship experience.

“On behalf of the Board of Governors along with our membership, management and staff, we are thrilled to be named host of the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open,” said Royal Mayfair Golf Club President Daniel Kickham. “We look forward to once again welcoming the many golf enthusiasts from within our city, surrounding communities and across the province to one of Canada’s premier sporting events. We are equally excited about partnering with CPKC and Golf Canada in raising critical funds for local children’s charities.”

The Board of Royal Mayfair has also appointed longtime Edmontonians and Royal Mayfair members, Marilyn Cox and Don McGarvey as Host Club Tournament Co-Chairs.

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events and a signature stop on the LPGA Tour, the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open was named Sport Tourism Canada’s International Sport Event of the Year at the 2025 Sport Tourism Canada PRESTIGE Awards. The CPKC Women’s Open also earned the LPGA Tour’s Tournament of the Year award in back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023.

“Edmonton boasts a rich legacy of exceptional women’s sporting events, teams, and heroes across various sports, and we are thrilled to welcome the world’s finest women’s golfers back to Alberta’s capital city,” says Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “This event not only highlights our passion for sports but also inspires the next generation of athletes in our city while bringing our community together.”

“Explore Edmonton is thrilled to welcome the world’s top golfers to our city to compete in the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open,” said Traci Bednard, President and CEO of Explore Edmonton. “This event further showcases our commitment to supporting women’s sport in our city. We are excited to host thousands of visitors from around the globe to experience the best of Edmonton next August and work with our valued partners to help maximize the impact of this incredible event.”

The 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will take place August 20-24, 2025, at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. MacKids, the arm of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation dedicated to fundraising for MacMaster Children’s Hospital, has been selected as host charity for this year’s event with Trillium Health Partners serving as a community beneficiary.

For information about tickets, volunteer opportunities or corporate hospitality, please visit www.cpkcwomensopen.com.