(Ottawa, ON) – The True Sport Foundation (TSF) today announced the finalists for the 37th Canadian Sport Awards (CSA), the ultimate recognition event for excellence in Canadian sport. The awards program promotes sporting excellence across Canada and is a tribute to the hard work, the dedication and the victories of our country’s finest athletes.
“The annual Canadian Sport Awards is the ideal time to honour our amateur athletes,” says Victor Lachance, Executive Director of the True Sport Foundation. “It will be a great way to cap off the thrill of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and get revved up for the Paralympic Games.”
The Canadian Sport Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario in Toronto. A limited number of tickets to the awards/press conference are available. Tickets will be awarded on a first serve basis by contacting the Program Director Robin Turnbull at rtevent@sympatico.ca. Passes for accredited media can be requested through Christine Mulkins at cmulkins@rogers.com.
“We are honoured to provide the venue for such an important event as the Canadian Sport Awards. As a leader in providing high performance programming and services to our amateur athletes, it is exciting for the CSC Ontario to host this elite group of athletes,” says Debbie Low, President, CEO, CSC Ontario.
3rd Annual True Sport Road Trip: Athletes Visit Toronto Students
The morning of the Canadian Sport Awards, nominees and recipients will visit Grenoble Public School in Toronto where these role models will engage with students, sharing success stories and challenges and advancing the True Sport benefits of values-driven sport in Canada.
Grenoble P.S. is a dynamic, community-based school in the Flemingdon Park area and is committed to the principles of academic excellence, safety, equity, partnerships, and collaboration. The staff serve approximately 700 students - J.K. to Grade 5. Approximately 93% of the students and/or their parents have immigrated to Canada and there are more than seventy-three different languages represented at the school.
"The staff and students of Grenoble Public School are excited about the opportunity to meet our Canadian Athletes and hear their message about fair play in sports," says Ted Goldring, School Principal.
Media are welcome to accompany athletes on the school visit between 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Event details to follow.
2009 Canadian Sport Awards Finalists
The Athletic Performance Awards recognize outstanding athletic performance.
Finalists include:
Male Athlete of the Year
- Jasey Jay Anderson – Snowboarding
- Charles Hamelin – Speed Skating
- John Kucera - Alpine Skiing
Female Athlete of the Year
- Christine Nesbitt – Speed Skating
- Annamay Pierse - Swimming
- Sherraine Schalm - Fencing
Junior Athlete of the Year
- Aaron Brown – Athletics
- Marianne St-Gelais – Speed Skating
- Kurtis Wenzel - Biathlon
Team of the Year
- Men’s Hockey – IIHF
- Para Curling – Wheelchair Mixed Team
- Women’s Water Polo (WC)
Partners of the Year
- Rowing: M Eights (M8+) (VanKnotsenburg/Laidlaw/Csima/O’Farrell/Bergen/Gibson/DunawayHoward/Byrnes)
- Para Nordic Ski: B. McKeever / R. McKeever
- Speed Skating: Women’s SSK (Groves/Nesbitt/Schussier)
The Leadership Awards recognize and celebrate an individual’s outstanding contribution to the betterment of sport.
Finalists include:
Leadership in Sport Award
- Christine Hampshire
- Robert Jackson
- Jack Poole
Athlete Leadership in Sport Award
- Pete Andrews
- Sylvie Frechette
- Adam Kreek
Volunteer Achievement
- Slava Corn
- Maureen Orchard
- Carole Thomas
The Corporate Excellence Award recognizes and celebrates a corporation who provides outstanding support to Canadian sport.
Finalists include:
- Intact
- Pfizer Canada
- Shaw Cable
The Spirit of Sport Story of the Year category recognizes and celebrates Canadian heroes who, in the pursuit of sporting excellence, have demonstrated values such as fairness, inclusion, perseverance, sportsmanship, respect for others, and a true love of sport.
Finalists include:
- Soldier On (SO) program - Canadian Forces Personnel & Family Services
- Duff Gibson
- Woodstock Thunder
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, 2009 through to December 31, 2009.
About CSC Ontario
The Canadian Sport Centre Ontario (CSC Ontario) is a multi-sport organization that supports elite sport development and performance in Ontario through long-term partnerships with Provincial and National Sport Organizations. These relationships enable the CSC Ontario to deliver holistic programs and sport science services to high performance coaches and athletes that enhance their ability to achieve international success.
About the Canadian Sport Awards
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 award 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.
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 complete nomination rules and guidelines, and more information about the Canadian Sport Awards, please click here.
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For more information, please contact:
Robin Turnbull
Canadian Sport Awards, Program Director
416.604.0310
rtevent@sympatico.ca
Victor Lachance
Executive Director, True Sport Foundation
613.521-3340
vgl@rogers.com
