Toronto, ON - February 10, 2004 - The Spirit of Sport Foundation (SSF) today officially announced its list of 46 finalists in five award categories for the 31st Annual Canadian Sport Awards (CSA), presented by Investors Group.
Highlights from today's announcement include:
- Jeremy Wotherspoon, World Champion 500-metre speed skater, the most successful 500-metre World Cup competitor ever and a finalist for the Male Athlete of the Year;
- Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz, 10-time Canadian
Ice Dance Champions, 2003 World Champions and finalists in the Partners of the Year category; - Canadian Women's World Cup Soccer Team, finalists in the Female Team of the Year category and fourth place finishers at the World Cup;
- Canadian Mens World Championship Hockey Team, finalists in the Male Team of the Year category and gold medal winners at the 2003 World Hockey Championship;
- World Champion hurdler Perdita Felicien, World Champion diver Emilie Heymans, and World Champion downhill skier Melanie Turgeon, all finalists in the Female Athlete of the Year category;
- Canada's World Champion mens coxless four and rowing eight teams, finalists in the Partners of the Year
category; - Rowing legend Silken Laumann, a finalist in the Athlete Leadership category.
The inspirational Spirit of Sport Story award finalists are:
- PAN AM Games rower David Kay who fundraised for school supplies and sports equipment for underprivileged children in the Dominican Republic;
- Cross country skier Beckie Scott who was awarded an Olympic Gold Medal almost two years after her race in the Winter Olympic Games, and is an international role model for fair and ethical sport;
- Hockey player Jordin Tootoo who Canadians cheered on during the 2003 World Junior Hockey Championship, is the first Inuit to play in the NHL, and is a role model
for Inuit children and youth.
Nominated for the new True Sport Community Recognition
Program, which honours three Canadian communities for their best practices, commitment and accomplishments in its community-based sports programs, are: Huntsville, ON,
Kitchener, ON, and the province of Quebec (Quebec en Forme) , PQ.
The five award categories are: Athletic Performance, Leadership in Sport, Corporate Excellence, Spirit of Sport Story of the Year, and True Sport Community Recognition. Independent juries selected the Athletic Performance, Leadership, and Corporate Award finalists from more than 100 nominations.
"The Spirit of Sport Foundation congratulates all of the finalists that have been recognized today for their dedication, achievement, drive and passion - both as athletes and as Canadians," said Victor Lachance, Chairperson, Spirit of Sport Foundation. "The finalists are inspiring role models for all Canadians and truly exemplify the spirit of sport. They have all contributed tremendously to our country's national spirit through their outstanding achievements this past year."
"Congratulations to all the finalists of the 2003 Canadian Sport Awards," said Minister of State (Sport) Stan Keyes. "These athletes, coaches, and leaders are remarkable role models for all Canadians. They demonstrate the hard work, dedication, and courage necessary to succeed, and their achievements help build the dreams of our next generation of sport heroes."
"Investors Group is proud to support Canada's amateur athletes and sports leaders, and we congratulate all the finalists of the 31st Annual Canadian Sport Awards," said Richard Irish, vice-president of community affairs and area marketing, Investors Group. "Amateur sport builds character, communities and national pride, and that is important to our employees, consultants and clients across Canada."
Each November, the Spirit of Sport Foundation calls for nominations from the general public and the Canadian sporting community. Accepted nominations are forwarded to the Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) for initial review and sent to two juries. Jury ballots for all categories are submitted to KPMG directly for final tally. The winners will be announced at the Canadian Sport Awards on March 23, 2004 at a gala event at the CBC in Toronto.
CSA 2003 Finalists
Athletic Performance Awards
The finalists in the Athletic Performance Category for the 31st Annual Canadian Sport Awards, recognizing and celebrating outstanding athletic performance in 2003 are:
· Male Athlete of the Year
- David Ford, Whitewater Slalom Kayaking
- Adam Van Koeverden, Kayaking
- Jeremy Wotherspoon, Speed Skating - Long Track
· Female Athlete of the Year
- Emilie Heymans, Diving
- Perdita Feliciens, Track and Field
- Melanie Turgeon, Alpine Skiing
· Junior Male Athlete of the Year
- Francois Bourque, Alpine Skiing
- Alexandre Despatie, Diving
- Aaron Rathy, Water Skiing
· Junior Female Athlete of the Year
- Sarah Charles, Trampoline
- Brittany Reimer, Swimming
- Shannon Rempel, Speed Skating - Long Track
· Male Team of the Year
- Canada's Men's World Championship Hockey Team
- Team Canada's Men's Standing Disabled Volleyball Team
· Female Team of the Year
- Canada's Women's World Cup Soccer Team
- Junior Woman's National Waterpolo Team
· Partners of the Year
- Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz, Figure Skating
- Men's Rowing Coxless Four
- Men's Rowing Eight
Leadership Awards
The finalists in the Leadership Awards Category for the 31st Annual Canadian Sport Awards, recognizing and celebrating an individual's outstanding contribution to the betterment of sport in 2003 are:
· Athlete Leadership Award
- Silken Laumann, Rowing / Right to Play
- Carla Qualtrough, Paralympic Swimmer / Athletes CAN
- Tricia Catherine Smith, Rowing / Canadian Olympic Committee
· Leadership in Sport Award
- John Furlong, Canadian Olympic Committee
- Judy Kent, Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport
- Jean-Guy Ouellette, Athletics Canada
· Volunteer Achievement Award
- Slava Corn, Gymnastics Canada
- Eldon Godfrey, Diving Plongeon Canada
- Dr. Ross Outerbridge, Water Ski Canada
· Coach of the Year
- Michel Larouche and Cesar Henderson, Diving
- Even Pellerud, Women's Soccer
- Mike Spracklen, Rowing
Corporate Excellence Awards
This year's finalists of the Corporate Excellence Awards for the 31st Annual Canadian Sport Awards, recognizing and celebrating corporations who provided outstanding support to Canadian sport in 2003 are:
· Individual Athlete Support
- Decoma International Inc.
- Speedo
- St. John's Fishing Lodge
· National Team Support
- adidas Canada
- Visa Canada Association
- Whirlpool
· National Initiative Support
- Investors Group
- Monster.ca
- Sears Canada
Spirit of Sport Story of the Year
The finalists for the Spirit of Sport Story of the Year Award, created to recognize and celebrate 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 2003, are:
- David Kay, Rowing
- Beckie Scott, Cross Country Skiing
- Jordin Tootoo, Hockey
True Sport Community Recognition
The finalists for the first-ever True Sport Community Recognition, created to recognize a Canadian community for its best practices, commitment and accomplishments in its community-based sports programs, are:
- Huntsville, Ontario
- Kitchener, Ontario
- The Province Quebec (Quebec en Forme)
Canadian Sport Awards
The CSA Gala will take place at the CBC's Canadian Broadcasting Centre in downtown Toronto on March 23, 2004 and will be aired on CBC Television at 7:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, March 24, 2004. Ron MacLean will host the show.
This event brings together more than 700 leaders from the sporting and corporate communities who represent the pinnacle of commitment, passion and competition, including Canadian amateur athletes, coaches, sport leaders and volunteers. The event promotes sporting excellence across Canada, and reminds Canadians how sport lifts the human
spirit. It is a tribute to the hard work, dedication and victories of Canada's finest.
The 31st Annual Canadian Sport Awards is presented by Investors Group, and Official Partner, Sport Canada and the Official Broadcaster, CBC Sports; event Gold Sponsors: Cheerios and HBC; Silver Sponsor: Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC); and Bronze Sponsors: Air Canada, Holiday Inn On King, Algonquin Travel & MKI Conference Management and Timex. In addition, Canada NewsWire, Willow Heights Winery, Christine Bib catering, Tim Hortons, and AVW-Telav are Supplier Sponsors. KPMG LLP, also a Supplier Sponsor, serves as the scrutineer for the Awards by independently counting the ballots, and determining the finalists and winners in each award category.
The Spirit of Sport Foundation
The Spirit of Sport Foundation is a charitable organization committed to ensuring that sport makes a positive contribution to Canadian society, our 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.
Tickets to the Canadian Sport Awards gala event can now be purchased online at: www.canadiansportawards.ca.
For more information on the 31st Annual Canadian Sport Awards, visit the Spirit of Sport Foundation's web site, www.spiritofsport.ca
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For more information, please contact:
Kristen Rector, JKR Communications, T: (416) 486-2286, Email: krector@jkr.ca
Robin Turnbull, Project Director, Canadian Sport Awards, T: (416) 604-0310, Email: rturnbull@canadiansportawards.ca
