Mental health speaker and former host of TSN’s Off The Record Michael Landsberg will be the keynote speaker as Pronghorn Athletics hosts its annual Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast on Thursday September 28^th, 2017 in the 1^st Choice Savings Centre gym.

"We're thrilled to welcome Michael Landsberg as the guest speaker at our scholarship breakfast this year," says Robb Engen, manager of Development & Marketing, Pronghorn Athletics. "He’s one of the most important and influential voices for breaking the stigma of mental illness not just in sports but in society at large.”

Former TSN host Michael Landsberg will speak to his career in sports journalism and mental health issues.

Now in its sixth year, the breakfast has grown both in terms of its profile in the community and the important role it plays in advancing Pronghorn excellence. As a key fundraiser for athletic scholarships, support for the breakfast directly affects the program's ability to attract the country's top student athletes.

As part of its ongoing commitment to Pronghorn Athletics, the University of Lethbridge generously provides up to $30,000 in matching funds for the event in support of Pronghorn student athletes.

“Being a student-athlete comes with a variety of challenges and knowing that you can receive a full scholarship is a major driver of any recruit’s decision to attend a university, says Ken McInnes, Executive Director, Sport & Recreation Services. “By investing in scholarships through events like the Pronghorn breakfast, you help us recruit the best student-athletes and provide them with the support they need for success.”

Michael Landsberg began his broadcasting career with TSN in 1984, first as an anchor on SportsCentre, and then later helping to create and host Off The Record, Canada’s longest running talk show. Not one to shy away from anything, he talks frankly about mental health—and specifically, his own struggle with depression—and urges others to do the same.

Landsberg has made sharing his experiences with mental illness the biggest priority in his professional life. He has been an ambassador for Bell Let’s Talk, an initiative focused on raising awareness and encouraging dialogue about mental health, since it launched in 2011.

His documentary Darkness and Hope, which chronicles his experience and the experience of three star athletes battling depression, was nominated for a 2013 Canadian Screen Award. In 2012, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health also named Landsberg one of its Champions of Mental Health.

Landsberg also takes to Twitter, using the hashtag #sicknotweak to encourage discussion around mental health and create a forum for those needing help. For his longstanding dedication to promoting mental health awareness, Landsberg was honoured with the Humanitarian Award at the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards.

The estimated attendance for the 2017 Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast is 400 guests, with tickets available at: gohorns.ca/breakfast. There are also opportunities for individual and corporate support. Those who are interested in sponsoring the Pronghorns Scholarship Breakfast can contact Robb Engen at 403-332-5253 or by emailing robb.engen@uleth.ca.