(Ottawa, ON) – The True Sport Foundation today announced its call for nominations for the 35th Canadian Sport Awards (CSA).  The nomination period begins today and closes on January 18, 2008 and will recognize excellence in sport in 2007.  The official nomination forms are available at www.canadiansportawards.ca.

“The Canadian Sport Awards are the definitive recognition event for sport in Canada,” said Victor Lachance, Executive Director of the True Sport Foundation. “For 35 years, this event has honoured the nation’s leading athletes, teams, leaders and businesses for their expertise and contribution to Canadian sport. Now is the time for sport organizations, media and the general public to nominate their sport heroes for this year’s Canadian Sport Awards,” said Mr. Lachance.

Finalists for each CSA award will be announced in February 2008.  Winners will be announced at the official gala awards ceremony in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Established in 1972, the Canadian Sport Awards brings together leaders from the sporting and corporate communities who represent the pinnacle of commitment and competition: Canadian amateur athletes, coaches, sport leaders and volunteers. The annual event promotes sporting excellence across Canada, and reminds Canadians how sport lifts the human spirit. It is a tribute to the hard work, the dedication and the victories of our country’s finest athletes.

The 35th Canadian Sport Award categories are listed below, followed by a list of athletes, teams and corporations honoured for each award in 2006.

  • ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AWARDS:  
    Male Athlete of the Year; Female Athlete of the Year; Junior Athlete of the Year; Team of the Year; Partners of the Year.
  • LEADERSHIP AWARDS: 
    The Leadership Awards category recognizes and celebrates an individual’s outstanding contribution to the betterment of sport.
    Athlete Leadership Award; Volunteer Achievement Award; Leadership in Sport Award; Coach of the Year
  • CORPORATE EXCELLENCE AWARD:
    The Corporate Excellence Award recognizes and celebrates corporations that provide outstanding support to Canadian sport.

The 34th Canadian Sport Award honourees were: 

ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AWARDS:  
Male Athlete of the Year
2006 winner: Duff Gibson, Skeleton
Female Athlete of the Year
2006 winner: Cindy Klassen, Long Track Speed Skating
Junior Male Athlete of the Year
2006 winner: Stefan Guay, Alpine Ski
Junior Female Athlete of the Year
2006 winner: Kirsten Sweetland, Triathalon
Male Team of the Year
2006 winner: Men’s Olympic Curling Team (Brad Gushue Rink)
Female Team of the Year
2006 winner: Women’s National Hockey Team
Partners of the Year
2006 winner: Pierre Lueders/Lascelles Brown, Bobsleigh

LEADERSHIP AWARDS: 
Athlete Leadership Award
2006 winner: Beckie Scott, Vergreville, Alberta
Volunteer Achievement Award
2006 winner: Walter Sieber, Saint Julie, Quebec
Leadership in Sport Award
2006 winner: Victor Lachance, Navan, Ontario
Coach of the Year
2006 winner: Neal Marshall, Calgary, Alberta

CORPORATE EXCELLENCE AWARDS:
National Team Support
2006 winner: Pacific Custom Brokers
Individual Athlete Support
2006 winner: Hudson’s Bay Company
National Initiative Support
2006 winner: BMO Financial Group

True Sport Community Award
Baker Lake, Nunavut
Hamilton, Ontario
Richmond, British Columbia

INVESTORS GROUP SPIRIT OF SPORT STORY OF THE YEAR
The Investors Group Spirit of Sport Story of the Year Award recognizes a Canadian hero who, in the pursuit of sporting excellence, has demonstrated values such as dedication, perseverance, sportsmanship, respect for others and a true love of sport.
2006 winner: Clara Anne Hughes, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Nomination Eligibility
Any Canadian citizen can nominate an individual, team or corporation for the Canadian Sport Awards.  Individuals and corporations can also self-nominate.  Eligible entries are for performances or contributions from January 1, 2007 through to December 31, 2007.

Submissions must be received at the True Sport Foundation no later than 5:00 p.m. E.S.T., January 18, 2008.  Late submissions will not be accepted. Completed ORIGINAL submissions should be sent to:

True Sport Foundation
CSA Selection Advisory Committee
350-955 Green Valley Crescent  
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada  K2C 3V4

About the True Sport Foundation
The True Sport Foundation is a charitable organization committed to ensuring that sport makes a positive contribution to Canadian society. Managed by the Foundation, the Canadian Sport Awards boasts a strong relationship with its modern day founding partners, which include Athletes CAN, the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada, the Canada Games and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.  For more information about the Canadian Sport Awards, please visit www.canadiansportawards.ca.

For complete nomination rules and guidelines, and more information about the Canadian Sport Awards, please visit www.canadiansportawards.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Robin Turnbull         
Canadian Sport Awards, Program Director 
1.800.672.7775 ext 4000 
rtevent@sympatico.ca

Victor Lachance 

Executive Director, True Sport Foundation
613.521.3340 x 3224 
vgl@rogers.com

Christine Mulkins
Publicist
416-652-2544
Cell: 647-242-3686
cmulkins@rogers.com