The True Sport Foundation officially announced the winners of the 32nd Annual Canadian Sport Awards (CSA), presented by Investors Group, tonight at a gala event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. 

Hosted by TSN broadcaster, Rod Black, the evening brought together leaders from the sport and corporate communities who represent the pinnacle of commitment and competition in the world of amateur sport. The show will be broadcast on TSN on Thursday, March 31, 2005 from 7 to 8 p.m. ET.

Wheelchair athlete Chantal Petitclerc took home honours for Female Athlete of the Year, while gymnast Kyle Shewfelt was awarded Male Athlete of the Year.

Awards for Male Team of the Year and Female Team of the Year went to Men’s Wheelchair Basketball and Women’s Goalball Team, Canadian Blind Sports, respectively. The Partners of the Year Award went to Canada’s Men’s Rowing Four.

"I am proud to offer the sincerest congratulations of the Government of Canada to the winners of the Annual Canadian Sport Awards," said the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport). "Their commitment and pursuit of excellence instills great pride in all Canadians."

 “On behalf of the True Sport Foundation, I congratulate these athletes and sport leaders for their outstanding achievement and contribution to Canadian amateur sport,” said Paul Melia, president, The True Sport Foundation. “They are outstanding role models whose character, drive, determination and love of the sport inspires us all.”

Among the winners tonight, diver Myriam Boileau was honoured with the Investors Group Spirit of Sport Story of the Year. This 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 in 2004.

“Investors Group is proud to support Canada’s amateur athletes, their pursuit of excellence and world class achievements,” said Richard Irish, vice-president of Community Affairs, Investors Group. “The determination, skill and dedication shown by all of the winners of the Canadian Sport Awards provides an outstanding example for Canadians to follow in their daily lives.”

The winners were chosen by an independent jury from among 41 finalists in the following categories: Athletic Performance, Leadership in Sport, Corporate Excellence, Investors Group Spirit of Sport Story of the Year and Bell True Sport Community Award.

Winners of the 32nd Annual Canadian Sport Awards

ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AWARDS:  
This year’s winners in the Athletic Performance category for the 32nd Annual Canadian Sport Awards, recognizing and celebrating outstanding athletic performance in 2004, are:

Male Athlete of the Year
Kyle Shewfelt, Men’s Gymnastics
Gold Medallist on the floor exercise at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens
Hometown – Calgary, AB

Female Athlete of the Year
Chantal Petitclerc, Athletics - Wheelchair Track and Field
Five-time Gold Medallist in Wheelchair Track at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens
Hometown – Montreal, QC

Junior Male Athlete of the Year
Michael Mason, Athletics - Track and Field, High Jump
2004 World Junior Track and Field High Jump Champion with a leap of 2.21 metres
Hometown – Nanoose Bay, BC; Currently enrolled at University of Kentucky

Junior Female Athlete of the Year
Shannon Rempel, Speed Skating – Long Track
World Cup Silver Medallist in December 2004; Bronze Medallist at the 2004 World Junior Championships
Hometown – Winnipeg, MB; Trains: Calgary, AB

Male Team of the Year
Men’s Wheelchair Basketball
Gold Medallists at the 2004 Paralymic Games

Female Team of the Year
Women’s Goalball Team, Canadian Blind Sports
Gold Medallists at the 2004 Paralympic Games

Partners of the Year
Canadian Men’s Rowing Four
Silver Medallists at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens
Cam Baerg – Hometown: Saskatoon, SK
Tom Herschmiller – Hometown: Comox, BC
Jake Wetzel – Hometown: Saskatoon, SK
Barney Williams – Hometown: Salt Spring Island, BC

LEADERSHIP AWARDS: 
The winners in the Leadership Awards category for the 32nd Annual Canadian Annual Sport Awards, recognizing and celebrating an individual’s outstanding contribution to the betterment of sport in 2004, are:

Athlete Leadership Award
Patrick Jarvis, Amarok Training Centre

Leadership in Sports Award
Dale Henwood, Calgary Sport Centre

Volunteer Achievement Award
Eldon Godfrey, Diving Plongeon Canada

Coach of the Year
Peter Eriksson, Athletics Canada

CORPORATE EXCELLENCE AWARDS:
The winners of the Corporate Excellence Awards for the 32nd Annual Canadian Sport Awards, recognizing and celebrating corporations who provided outstanding support to Canadian sport in 2004, are:

Individual Athlete Support
Royal Bank Financial Group

National Team Support
Pfizer Canada

National Program Support
Bell Canada

INVESTORS GROUP SPIRIT OF SPORT STORY OF THE YEAR
The winner of the Investors Group Spirit of Sport Story of the Year Award for the 32nd Annual Canadian Annual Sport Awards, recognizing 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 in 2004, is:

Myriam Bolieau, Diving Plongeon Canada
Hometown – Montreal, QC

BELL TRUE SPORT COMMUNITY AWARD
The winners of the Bell True Sport Community Award, created to recognize a Canadian community for its best practices, commitment and accomplishments in its community-based sports programs, are:

Edmonton, AB
Sherbrooke, QC
Tumbler Ridge, BC

The True Sport Foundation
The True Sport Foundation is a charitable organization committed to ensuring that sport makes a positive contribution to Canadian society, the athletes, and the physical and moral development of Canada’s youth. Powered by the Foundation, the Canadian Sport Awards boasts a strong relationship with its modern day founding partners, which include Athletes CAN, Commonwealth Games Canada, the Canada Games Council and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. 

For more information, please visit www.canadiansportawards.ca

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For more information, please contact:

Jennifer Kitchen    
JKR Communications   
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Mobile: (416) 576-5892   
jkitchen@jkr.ca      

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Kristen Rector   
JKR Communications   
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Mobile: (416) 705-5412
krector@jkr.ca