Award Categories
- Athletic Performance Awards
- Leadership Awards
- Corporate Excellence Award
- Spirit of Sport Story of the Year Award
The Athletic Performance Awards recognize and celebrate outstanding athletic performances. An athlete, partners, or team may be entered in ONE of the following seven athletic performance awards categories.
Male Athlete of the Year
The Norton H. Crow Award
Named in honour of Norton H. Crow, one of Canada’s most prominent sport executives, this award is presented to the outstanding male athlete of the year. Norton H. Crow was instrumental in consolidating the Amateur Athletic Union in Canada, assisted in the development of amateur baseball and hockey, and was involved in the Olympic movement.
Female Athlete of the Year
The Velma Springstead Award
This award is presented annually to Canada’s outstanding female athlete. The award honours the brilliant track athlete Velma Springstead whose spectacular career ended prematurely when she succumbed to pneumonia in 1926 at the age of 20. The Women’s Amateur Athletic Federation of Canada founded this Award in her honour.
Junior Athlete of the Year
The Viscount Alexander & The Elaine Tanner Award
This award, named in honour of Viscount Alexander of Tunis (Canada’s Governor General from 1945 to 1951) and Elaine Tanner, one of Canada’s greatest female swimmers, is presented to Canada’s outstanding junior athlete of the year. An athlete recognized by his/her National Sport Federation and/or International Federation as a junior athlete is eligible in this category. This also includes junior athletes competing in senior or open events.
Team of the Year
The Dick Ellis Trophy & The Edmonton Grads Trophy
This award is presented annually to Canada’s outstanding junior or senior team. The award honours the significant contribution of Dick Ellis to sport and the game of rugby and the incredible performance of the Edmonton Grads basketball team. Teams eligible for nomination in this category include the following team sports: baseball, basketball, cricket, curling, field hockey, football, hockey, lacrosse, ringette , rugby, sledge hockey, soccer, softball, synchronized swimming, team handball, volleyball, and water polo.
Partners of the Year
The Wilson and McCall Trophy
The first Canadian artistic skating team to win an Olympic medal, Tracy Wilson and Rob McCall captured the bronze at the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games. Inaugurated in 1995, the Wilson and McCall Trophy has evolved to recognize Canada’s outstanding partnerships. Sports that include individual and team elements are considered eligible for this award and include the following type of events: pairs, crews, relays, doubles, triples, fours, eights and events where individuals compete together in a team event.
Leadership Awards recognize and celebrate an individual’s outstanding contribution to the betterment of sport. An individual may be entered in ONE of the following categories:
Athlete Leadership
The Bruce Kidd Award
This lifetime achievement award is presented by the Spirit of Sport Foundation and Athletes CAN to a retired national team athlete who has provided meaningful contributions to sport as a leader, advocate, change agent, or builder. This award is named in honour of Dr. Bruce Kidd who has made enormous contributions to Canada’s sporting community as an athlete, advocate, author, historian, and academic. Inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1968, Dr. Kidd also received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 1994 for his outstanding contributions to Canadian sport.
Volunteer Achievement
The Bryce Taylor Award
This lifetime achievement award is presented to a volunteer who has made an overwhelming contribution to Canadian sport that is consistent with spirit of sport values in the areas of leadership, sport development, innovation, and growth. The award recognizes the significant contribution of Bryce Taylor who was a member of the Board of Directors of the Sports Federation of Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee, and was a founding director and professor of physical education at York University.
Leadership in Sport
This lifetime achievement award recognizes the outstanding contribution of a sport leader or organization who exemplifies Spirit of Sport values as demonstrated by ground breaking organizational leadership, innovative practices, influential communications, cutting edge sport marketing or powerful positioning.
The Corporate Excellence Award recognizes and celebrates a corporation who provides outstanding support to Canadian sport. Exclusions for all categories include any mention of product endorsement. From the collective submissions one (1) corporation will be recognized.
National Team Support
Presented annually to a corporation that has demonstrated an understanding of a national team’s needs and a willingness to develop a number of corporate initiatives that support the training, competition, and promotional activities of a national team program.
Individual Athlete Support
Presented annually to a corporation that has shown a sincere interest in an athlete’s development by providing both monetary and personal development support. This corporate commitment has provided stability, thus enabling the athlete to set and achieve progressive goals over time.
National Initiative Support
Presented annually to a corporation that has addressed its corporate marketing strategy to include support of a grass roots program or league. This support has allowed for program design, implementation, ongoing operations, and growth of the program.
Spirit of Sport Story of the Year Award
Spirit of Sport Story of the Year Award recognizes and celebrates 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. This award showcases the magic that lies within sport to inspire, motivate, and capture the hearts and minds of all Canadians. The Spirit of Sport Foundation and the Government of Canada, through Sport Canada, present this award to a Canadian citizen who exemplifies these values in an inspirational and meaningful way.
