46th Annual
March 8th, 2012 | River Rock Show Theatre
Recognizing the Best of Sport in BC
Celebrating excellence in sport. Since 2000, TELUS has contributed over $38 million to sport in BC. We are committed to building healthy communities, which is why we are proud to present the 46th annual Athlete of the Year Awards. Every customer helps us give where we live. Thank you. telus.com/community
Š 2012 TELUS. 12_00044
Welcome to the 46th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards Presented by TELUS
Schedule of events Sport BC’s Athlete of the Year Awards is the longest standing sport recognition event in Canada and has been a constant feature in the British Columbian sport community for 46 years. Past recipients include Emily Brydon, Simon Whitfield, Rick Hansen, and Steve Nash. Nominations of BC’s best and most deserving are solicited from sport organizations across the province. The Selection Committee, comprised of sport media and sport sector representatives, review the nominations to select finalists and award winners in 15 categories. The nominees, who come from communities across BC, participate in a variety of sports and represent some of the best sport has to offer on the national and international stage. Tonight, awards in 17 different categories will be handed out to athletes, coaches and officials for their outstanding achievements and contributions to sport in the province. These awards play a valuable role in nurturing athletic success and recognizing BC’s growing talents.
5:30pm – Doors open for Welcome Reception 6:30pm – Dinner 8:00pm – The 46th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards (presented by TELUS) 9:45pm – Closing remarks Hosts Tom Mayenknecht, The Sport Market Kathy Kovacs, The Sports Experience Guest Speakers Steve Podborski, TELUS The Honourable Ida Chong Entertainment House Band: Odds featuring Shaun Verreault of Wide Mouth Mason Musical Guest: Cole Armour Pacific Allstar Cheerleading
TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE Vancouver’s Flagship Sports Radio Stations
letter from sport bc Welcome to Sport BC’s 46th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards, presented by TELUS. Tonight, you join us in celebrating those who participated in what was another outstanding year for organized sport in BC. The Athlete of the Year Awards is an opportunity to recognize the athletes, coaches, and officials who accomplish extraordinary things everyday in the world of sport. This year, we look specifically to those who achieved greatness in 2011. As the longest standing sport recognition event in Canada, we have recognized some of BC’s greatest icons with these awards and last year, we added some of our home-grown 2010 Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including Maelle Ricker and Lauren Woolstencroft, to the 46 year-old list. Now, we are set to recognize a new crop of athletes, coaches and officials who inspire us on the provincial, national and world stage. It’s a special time for sport in BC, as we are now two years removed from the Olympic and Paralympic celebration in 2010, and the legacies and impact of the Games are now being fully realized. In 2012, we work together as a united sport sector to ensure we are our most effective in order to give all British Columbians the opportunity to lead active, healthy lifestyles. There are many champions of sport who help make this tradition possible. Thank you to our Minister, the Honourable Ida Chong, and the Province of British Columbia for our continued partnership and their support of sport as it contributes to the growth of healthy families and communities in BC. We are also grateful to TELUS, presenting sponsor of the Athlete of the Year Awards – thank you for your continued commitment to and investment in the amateur sport sector in British Columbia. With TELUS, and all of our sponsors’ help, we are able to bring you what we consider to be one of the premier awards galas in the province. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, to the finalists this evening. Each of you has demonstrated a dedication and commitment to your craft that is admirable. Your unwavering pursuit of your goals is an inspiration to us all, and represents the very best sport has to offer - not only through your athletic achievement, but through your character and integrity as people. Whether you are training for London 2012 or working to achieve your personal best, we are proud of all you’ve accomplished and look forward to celebrating you in the year ahead. On behalf of Sport BC, we congratulate all tonight’s finalists on their remarkable achievements.
letter from the premier
March 8, 2012
A Message from the Premier As Premier of the Province of British Columbia, it is my pleasure to welcome everyone to the 46th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards, recognizing excellence in amateur and professional sport in B.C. Dreams are often inspired by the success and perseverance of our role models. The nominees this evening have worked hard and strived to be the best they can be in a sport they love. To the nominees this evening, your peers hold you in the highest regard because of your integrity, passion, and leadership. You are the role models of today, the leaders who will inspire greatness among young athletes across the province. Congratulations on this significant achievement! Thank you to Sport BC for hosting these awards and for promoting healthy communities through the power of sport. The work you do not only supports the province’s amateur and professional athletes, but also brings together and strengthens our communities. I hope you will all enjoy this special evening. Sincerely,
Christy Clark Premier
Province of British Columbia Office of the Premier www.gov.bc.ca
PO Box 9041 Stn Prov Gov Victoria BC V8W 9E1
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Steve Nash, Basketball 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006 Best of BC 2008 Community Champion 1992 high school athlete
Selection Committee Over 375 Years Experience The 25 member selection committee for the 46th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards reads like a “who’s who” of sportswriters, broadcasters and amateur sports experts representing every part of the province. Their job? To carefully sift through a mountain of nominees in 15 different categories and come up with a list of finalists. The Selection Committee has over 375 combined years of experience in following amateur sport in the province. Many members have put in at least eight years of service on the committee, contributing to the credibility of the awards within BC’s sporting community.
Front Row: (left to right) Brian Dance, CBC Kent Gilchrist, The Province Tom Larscheid Wendy Long, Freelance Writer Judy Joseph-Black, Sports Reports Consulting Services Kelly Mann, BC Games Society Karin Larsen, CBC TV Don E. Brown, Western Rim Images Missing from photo Bernie Pascall, Bernie Pascall Enterprises Ltd. Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria TimesColonist Lynda Mailer, SportMedBC Alison Mailer, BC Sports Hall of Fame Wendy Pattenden, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific
Back Row: (left to right) Rick Cluff, CBC Radio Larry Harper, Sport BC Tom Berridge, Burnaby NOW Ajay Patel, Human Kinetics Dept. Langara College Tim Gayda, Sport BC Kelcey Brade, CTV Bob Mackin, Vancouver 24hrs Denise Coutts, Pacific Parklands Foundation Len Corben, North Short Outlook
Athlete with a disability Presented by: This award recognizes an athlete with a disability who has demonstrated extraordinary athletic performance in regional, national or international competitions in a team or individual sport.
Braedon Dolfo
Scott Patterson
Michelle Stilwell
Athletics
Swimming
Wheelchair Athletics
Braedon Dolfo hit some new highs in 2011 – literally. He set the Canadian High Jump record at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships, where he took home the bronze medal in that event. He also won bronze in the IPC World Championships 4X100 relay, both of which were personal bests. Dolfo also set the Canadian record for 100m at the Para Pan American Games in Guadalajara and is ranked number one nationally in High Jump, Long Jump, 60m, 100m, and 200m. This is Dolfo’s second nomination for a Sport BC Athlete of the Year award.
Scott Patterson had a banner year in 2011, winning five gold medals at the Can Am Championships, and two bronze medals at the Para Pan Pacs. A threetime Paralympian in downhill skiing, Patterson only took up competitive swimming recently, and started out by breaking 10 Canadian Para records. His goal is to join the Canadian Paralympic team and compete in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Michelle Stilwell is a force to reckon with in the world of wheelchair athletics. She is ranked number one in the world in the 100m, 200m, 400m and, despite recovering from spinal surgery earlier this year, set a 200m world record at the USA Nationals event. Stilwell won three gold medals at that event, two gold medals at the 2011 Swiss Series, and three gold medals and a silver medal at the 2011 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Para-Athletics World Championships. Having regained her form since her surgery, Stilwell now has her eye on London in 2012.
coach of The Year Presented by: This award recognizes an individual who has been responsible for coaching amateur team(s) and/or individuals at any level of athletic competition.
Anatoliy Bondarchuk
Athletics A frequent nominee in the Coach of the Year category, Anatoliy Bondarchuk has consistently been one of the top coaches in Canada in the sport of Athletics. Bondarchuk had five athletes compete nationally or internationally, including 2011 IAAF Diamond League winner and world shot put silver medalist, Dylan Armstrong. For the consistency of his athletes’ successes, Bondarchuk was awarded the Petro Canada Coaching Award, as well as the awards given to coaches whose athletes win medals at a World Championship event.
Peter Lawless
Wheelchair Athletics In creating the Vancouver Island Paracycling program, Peter Lawless helped establish handcycling as a sport in BC. The results of this program were on display at the UCI Para-Cycling World Cup when Karen March became the first-ever to don the World Cup Leader’s Jersey for the H1 class. Aside from coaching March to gold, Lawless also coached Michelle Stilwell to a record-setting season, and coached Mark Ledo to a bronze medal in the road race at the Para-Cycling World Championships. Lawless is one of Canada’s top para-athletics and paracycling coaches and one of only two para-athletics coaches to ever be certified at Level 4 of the NCCP.
Bruce Wilson
Soccer A legendary figure in Canadian soccer history, Bruce Wilson completed his 24th year as head coach of the men’s soccer team at the University of Victoria with a national title on home field. The former captain of Canada’s lone entry in the World Cup in 1986, Wilson took home the 2011 Canada West Coach of the Year award and was a 2011 Canadian Interuniversity Sport Coach of the Year nominee. His Vikes lost just three games in 2011 and had a perfect 3-0 record en route to the school’s fifth national Canadian Interuniversity Sport title.
High School Female Athlete Presented by: This award recognizes a female athlete who was enrolled in a secondary school in the province of BC and who competed in a sport or sports, team or individual, representing her school in the 2010-2011 school year.
Georgia Ellenwood
Athletics At the BC High School Track & Field Championships, Georgia Ellenwood outran 30 of BC’s best 100m Hurdlers, 19 of BC’s best High Jumpers, 23 of BC’s best Long Jumpers and 15 of BC’s best Heptathletes. Post High School season, Ellenwood went on to beat a field of eight at the 2011 Legion Canadian Youth Championships. Winning there, she was then selected to the World Youth Championships in Lille, France, where she placed 12th amongst 34 of the world’s best Heptathletes in her age group. Ellenwood reached personal bests in Heptathlon, High Jump, and Long Jump in 2011 and was named 2011 BC High School Track & Field Championships Top Female Performer as a representative of Langley Secondary School.
Alexandra McCawley
Field Hockey, Basketball, Rugby Alexandra McCawley was named 2011 Carson Graham Secondary School’s Outstanding Athlete of the Year in 2011 and it’s easy to see why. As a 2011 North Shore Secondary School Athletic Association Premier First All Star for Senior AAA Rugby play, McCawley helped lead her rugby side to a first place finish at the 2011 AAA Senior Provincial Championships and also won an All Star Award at the 2011 Crehan Cup Lower Mainland AAA Girls Basketball Championships. But it is field hockey at which she truly excels, joining the Canadian Junior National Team in 2011 and co-captaining her high school team to a 2011 Team of the Year title.
Emily Oxland
Volleyball As a grade 11 student, Emily Oxland co-captained Handsworth Secondary School’s Girls Volleyball team to a 52-2 season record and a number one ranking all season long. The team then went on to win the highly competitive 4A Senior Girls High School Volleyball Championships, and Oxland was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player – for the second consecutive year. Oxland is the starting setter for the current U18 Team BC and won 18U Club Provincial Championships with her club team. To round out her achievements for the year, she was also the 18U Beach Volleyball BC Champion in 2011.
No matter what the game, we’re in it with you. Scotiabank is honoured to sponsor the Female High School Athlete of the Year as part of Sport BC’s 46th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards. Good luck to all participants!
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High School male Athlete Presented by: This award recognizes a male athlete who was enrolled in a secondary school in the province of BC and who competed in a sport or sports, team or individual, representing his school in the 2010-2011 school year.
Sunny Dhinsa
Wrestling Eighteen year-old Sunny Dhinsa holds the distinction of being the youngest Canadian to medal at the Commonwealth Championships, as well as the youngest Canadian to win a silver medal for wrestling at the Pan Am Games, but those aren’t the only highlights of note for Dhinsa in 2011. He also won his tenth Championship title at the national level, and earned a silver medal at the Hargobind International meet. Competing in his final year for WJ Mouat Secondary School, Dhinsa placed third in the BC High School Championships and now attends Simon Fraser University, where he is a member of their Clan wrestling program.
Adam Keenan
Athletics Adam Keenan of Lambrick Park Secondary School dominated the BC High School Track & Field Championships, winning the discus, hammer throw, and shot put events and breaking the 12 year provincial high school discus record by almost two metres. Keenan is the number one provincially ranked Junior in the hammer toss and discus and is the number one ranked Junior in Canada for the hammer. At the Canadian Junior Championships, Keenan finished third amongst 11 of Canada’s top discus throwers and first amongst 11 of Canada’s top hammer throwers. After winning the hammer event, he went on to compete at the 2011 Pan Am Junior Championships, where he placed third.
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Reiner Theil
Basketball, Football Reiner Theil holds a place in Vancouver College’s record books as the football player with the most points scored in his high school career, but football wasn’t his only high school sport. He lead his Fighting Irish Basketball Team to a second place finish at the 4A Provincial Basketball Championships, soon after helping the football team raise the banner as 4A Provincial Football Champions. As a Provincial All Star Football player and a First Team Provincial Championship All Star in Basketball, Theil was one of the most heavily recruited high school athletes in the province for both basketball and football programs. He now plays basketball for the University of Victoria.
College Athlete Presented by: This award recognizes an individual who competed in a sport or sports, team or individual, and who is representing a college, university/college, or institute in the province of BC in the 2010-2011
Li ( Melody ) Liang
Badminton Li (Melody) Liang achieved a personal best in 2011, going a perfect 19-0 for an unbeaten season. Playing for Douglas College, Liang won both her fifth consecutive BC College Athletic Association (BCCAA) title in Women’s Doubles, and her fifth consecutive Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA) National title in Women’s Doubles. One of the top three players nationally in her event, Liang set the collegiate record, going 95-0 over five years as a Women’s Doubles competitor.
William Quiring
Volleyball Even as a rookie, Will Quiring made a big impact on Columbia Bible College’s Men’s Volleyball team. The Bearcats became the first BC team to win a Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Volleyball Championship title since 1980 and Quiring was named the national tournament’s Most Valuable Player after leading the team with 19 kills in the final. His play also earned him an invite to try out for Canada’s national junior team. At the BC College Athletic Association (BCCAA) level, Quiring was named to the All-Rookie Team, and was a BCCAA Provincial Tournament All-Star.
Preston Tucker
Volleyball Preston Tucker dominated this year, racking up almost every award there is to win. Captain of the UBC Okanagan Men’s Volleyball team, Tucker was not only named National Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year by the Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA), but he was also named National Player of the Year across all sports. His other awards include CCAA National All-Canadian, CCAA National Tournament All-Star, BC College Athlete Association (BCCAA) Player of the Year, BCCAA First Team All-Star, BCCAA Tournament All-Star, BCCAA Athlete of the Week, and UBC Okanagan Student-Athlete of the Year. Tucker led his team to the best league record in the BCCAA.
Maëlle Ricker
BC Games Participant 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist Team KidSport Member
Help Maëlle help kids play kidsport.ca/bc
Adam and Kev Photography
Junior Female Presented by: This award recognizes extraordinary athletic performance by a Junior female athlete who is competing on a team or in an individual sport in BC.
Shirley Fu
Table Tennis As a 16 year-old, Shirley Fu has shown she is a table tennis player to watch. In 2011, Fu was the BC Junior Champion, BC Women’s Champion, Canadian Cadet & Junior Champion (U15 & U18), Canadian Cadet Double Champion, 2011 Canadian U21 Youth Champion, 2011 Canadian Junior Team Championship member, and 2011 Canadian Women Singles Champion. She is ranked number one nationally in both Junior and Senior competition.
Jisoo Keel
Golf Jisoo Keel is a member of the British Columbian Provincial Team, and the Canadian National Golf Team, ranking as Canada’s number five Canadian Amateur Woman – pretty good for a 16 year-old. In 2011, Keel won the CN Future Links championship, the Canadian Junior Girls Championship (Juvenile Division), Canadian Junior Girls InterProvincial Team Championship and was part of the team that took home gold at the Western Canada Summer Games. Ranked number one on the National Junior Girls Order of Merit, Keel advanced to a personal best Round 16 at the US Junior Girls’ Championships.
Emily Schmidt
Diving At just 13 years-old, Emily Schmidt is already diving on the national stage. She is the Provincial high score record holder for her age group on the 1m springboard and is the number one ranked Girls C (12-13 years) diver in Canada. Schmidt took home gold in all three events she competed in at the 2011 National Junior Diving Championships in Pointe Claire, QC, in a field of 28 other girls. Following those results, she achieved personal bests at the Pan American Junior Championships, finishing 9th, 8th, and 5th in the 1m, 3m, and tower events.
MaElle Ricker, Snowboardcross 2010 Sr. Female Athlete
Junior male Presented by: This award recognizes extraordinary athletic performance by a Junior male athlete who is competing on a team or in an individual sport in BC.
Kevin Kwon
Curtis Lazar
Filip Peliwo
Golf
Hockey
Tennis
At age 16, Kevin Kwon captured two National Championships, a gold medal at the Western Canada Summer Games and a North America Cup Qualifier title. During his 2011 season, Kwon’s 272 score at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship was the lowest all-time score posted by a Juvenile champion over 72 holes. He is also ranked number one on the BC Golf Junior Boys’ Order of Merit and number three on the National Junior Boys’ Order of Merit.
Ranked as one of the top five prospects in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Curtis Lazar led the first male high-performance team from BC to win a gold medal at the Canada Winter Games as the team’s captain. He broke two records at the Canada Winter Games – Steven Stamkos’s for most goals and Sidney Crosby’s record for most points. Lazar then made the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings team, playing a total of 44 games, and scoring ten goals and eight assists in the 2011 year. This young man is quickly working his way to the top of the hockey charts.
Currently ranked number one as both the Provincial and National U18 Junior, Filip Peliwo won the Under 18 Rogers Junior National Championship last April. In 2011, Peliwo established himself gaining a professional world ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour. Having competed in the international, junior and professional tennis tournaments, this North Vancouver native was against 142 other countries in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) circuit. He is also ranked number 84 on the World Junior Ranking.
Congratulations! Triple O’s would like to congratulate this year’s Junior Male Athlete of the Year as well as all the athletes nominated tonight.
www.tripleos.com
Senior Female Presented by: This award recognizes extraordinary athletic performance by a female athlete who is competing on a team or in an individual sport in BC.
Paula Findlay
Amanda Gerhart
Rebecca Marino
Triathlon
Wrestling
Tennis
In 2011, Paula Findlay had five wins in the World Championship Series Event which set the record for most wins in women’s triathlon history. Demonstrating that she can compete with the best in her division, Findlay came first at the World Championship Series in Sydney, Madrid and Kitzbuhel. Being ranked number one in the World by the International Triathlon Union from April to July, Findlay finished the year at number 6 after suffering a hip injury. Dedicated to her sport, Findlay will soon climb back up the ranks in no time, on the road to competing in the 2012 Olympics.
Competing in international competitions in the 2011 year, Amanda Gerhart continues to strive to qualify for the Summer Olympics and wrestle for Canada at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Like most wrestlers, Gerhart battles through constant injuries but that did not stop her from achieving gold at the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara. This elite athlete also captured the number one spot at the 2011 Senior National Freestyle Championships in her category. As she heads into world-class competitions, her injuries do not get in the way of winning gold.
Starting her 2011 year as the number one Canadian Female Tennis Player, Rebecca Marino was able to hold the coveted title throughout the whole year. This Vancouver native is also ranked number one on both the BC Provincial Ranking and Canadian National Ranking. She peaked at number 38, jumping 63 spots from her original 101 ranking. This marks Marino’s first year on the WTA Tour, where she secured direct entry in all four Grand Slam Tournaments – Wimbledon, US Open, French Open and Australian Open.
Senior male Presented by: This award recognizes extraordinary athletic performance by a male athlete who is competing on a team or in an individual sport in BC.
Dylan Armstrong
Athletics This year was remarkable for Dylan Armstrong. Not only did he secure gold at the 2011 Pan American Games but he broke the current shot put record with an outstanding 21.30m. He consistently threw over 21 meters all season and won Canada’s first medal in throwing events at a World Championship. Being ranked number one in the World ahead of 156 other elite shot putters, Armstrong has the 2011 sole titles of the Canadian National Championship and IAAF Diamond League Winners —setting a new Canadian record which stood as the best throw of the season worldwide.
Ryan Cochrane
Swimming Victoria native and Olympian Ryan Cochrane received three Athlete of the Year awards in 2011 from Swim BC, Canada Western Universities Athletics Associations (CWUAA) and the Aquatic Federation of Canada. Swimming for both the University of Victoria and the Canadian National team, Cochrane constantly steals the number one spot in his competitions. He set numerous amounts of personal bests concurrently placing first in both the short course and long course at the University and Canadian levels.
Vasek Pospisil
Tennis There seems to be no slowing down for this Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) world ranked athlete. Vasek Pospisil holds the number one spot in the BC Provincial Ranking and number two in the Canadian National Ranking. Continually climbing the ATP rankings in 2011, Pospisil quickly jumped an outstanding 225 spots to land him on his personal best. He single-handily led Canada into the elite Davis Cup after securing both singles and doubles match wins over Eduador and Israel. Qualifying for the $3M Rogers Cup and losing a close match to Roger Federer, Pospisil is on his way to great success.
Congratulations TELUS congratulates this year’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year and all the athletes nominated tonight. telus.com/community © 2012 TELUS. 12_00044
University Presented by: This award recognizes an athlete enrolled in a recognized degree-granting university in the province of BC, and who competed in a recognized Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) sport or sports, team or individual, representing his or her school in the 2011-12 season.
Helen Crofts
Track and Field Representing Canada at the World Student Games, this SFU Clan member set two records in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Setting the records in the 800 meter event, Helen Crofts won both Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s (GNAC) and NAIA’s Indoor and Outdoor Champion titles. She was also named Athletics Canada’s University Athlete of the Year. Volunteering as a Clan undergrad assistant, she anchored the team that won the NAIA 4x800 meter relay. It’s not surprising that this athlete was named GNAC’s and NAIA’s Most Outstanding Performer at the 2011 Outdoor Championships.
Jacob Doerksen
Basketball A Trinity Western University (TWU) record holder, this Spartan set the record of most points in a game with 42. In the regular season, Jacob Doerksen averaged 37.25 minutes of game time in the playoff season — first in Canada West (CW). He also averaged 23.8 points per game (third in CW) and 10.3 rebounds (second in CW). Named a Canada West and CIS First Team All-Star and CIS National Champion All-Star, this athlete was also awarded Trinity Western’s Complete Champion Award — an award given to graduating athletes excelling in academics, athletics, leadership and personal and spiritual development.
Shanice Marcelle
Volleyball Part of the ensemble that competed in UBC’s fourth consecutive Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship, Thunderbird Shanice Marcelle was named the Most Valuable Player of the CIS national championship tournament. Nominated for a Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG) award, presented annually to the CIS Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Marcelle plays with great strength and was recognized as the top female university athlete in Canada West. The recognition signifies that this team captain was among the top four wof 5000 competitors.
Lauren Woolstencroft, Para-Alpine Skiing
2006, 2010 ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY 2010 Best of BC
Official Presented by: This award recognizes an official who has been responsible for officiating sport events at any level of athletic competition in 2011.
Jim Mitchell
Terry Mosdell
Wayne van Osterhout
Wrestling
Lacrosse
Rowing
Since he began officiating 36 years ago, Jim Mitchell has become a world traveller, attending World Cups, Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games and more. Mitchell started refereeing in 1975 at local high school matches, which soon took him to national competitions and then later to the international level. With his outstanding achievements, Mitchell has already been previously nominated for the Official of the Year category and has received the Sport BC’s Presidents’ Awards, for outstanding volunteerism.
Ranked as one of the top box and field lacrosse officials in British Columbia and Canada, Terry Mosdell has officiated games from high schools to National Championships. This Level 5 lacrosse official is also nominated to represent BC and Canada as a field lacrosse official at the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) 2012 Under 19 Men’s World Field lacrosse Championships in Finland. Mosdell was also recognized with BC Lacrosse Association’s top honour, the Tom Gordon Plaque, as one of three individuals who have contributed most to the sport in the past year.
Contributing to the sport of rowing for over 50 years, Wayne van Osterhout began his journey as an athlete, then a coach and later as an umpire for the last 37 years. Umpiring at all the provincial, national and international levels, the countless hours as a volunteer umpire cannot be matched by any other in the sport. Van Osterhout’s dedication to the sport shines as he still plans to umpire through his retirement at the provincial level. His efforts and mentorship have improved the quality of umpires in the province and country.
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2012
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Daryl thompson Award Presented by: This award recognizes an individual who has contributed his or her time in an extraordinary way to sport over a long period of time and/or has made a major contribution to amateur sport in British Columbia.
Kathy Newman, Wheelchair Sports Kathy Newman, Executive Director of BC Wheelchair Sports Association (BCWSA) has dedicated over 30 years of her life to the development of wheelchair sports at the provincial, national and international levels. With her dedication and passion for the sport, she has removed barriers to sport participation for people with disabilities across the province. Newman was instrumental in the founding of the Bridging the Gap program, which introduces people with disabilities to wheelchair sports and helps to ensure their continued participation. Since its inception, the program has spread across the country and has recruited several Paralympians, including Sarah Hunter and Daryl Neighbour. On an international level, Newman was the co-chair of the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships Society. The event hosted over 12,000 spectators, over 22,000 web viewers, generated over $40,000 in ticket sales and set records for media attendance, ticket sales, attendance and merchandise sales. She is also the Chair of the Competitions Committee for the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation and serves on the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Board of Directors. For her outstanding contributions to wheelchair sports, Newman has received several awards. She was named to the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity’s (CAAWS) Women of Influence list in 2006 and was also awarded the “In Her Footsteps” award, which recognizes extraordinary contributions by women to the BC sport sector. As an advocate for wheelchair sports, Newman works with corporate and government sectors to generate funding opportunities, create awareness and impact policy. Through her influence, the BC Gaming Commission agreed to alter eligibility regulations surrounding gaming proceeds so that athletes with a disability would receive greater support. Newman was selected by Sport BC’s Board of Directors as the winner of the prestigious award amongst six finalists from BC communities representing several sports.
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Team Presented by: This award recognizes an amateur team competing in a Sport BC sanctioned league in the province of BC during 2011.
Surrey United Women’s Soccer Team Eight time Provincial Champions Surrey United took home the gold not only at the CSA National Championships but also at the Metro Women’s League Championships with a one-hundred percent win record. This ensemble is ranked first both provincially and nationally as they receive medals at all National Championships. The Premier Division in the Metro Women’s league is home to eight different teams dominated by Surrey United and it looks promising they will maintain this coveted spot in 2012.
UBC Women’s Volleyball Team
TWU Men’s Volleyball Team
In 2011, the UBC Women’s Volleyball team brought home their fourth consecutive Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship. These Thunderbirds proved to be the best university team across the nation, securing the number one spot in all Canadian university women’s volleyball. Qualifying for the national championships for the 16th time in 17 seasons, the team is without question a force with which to be reckoned. They will be looking for their fifth consecutive CIS championship win next season.
Defending Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) champions, the Trinity Western University (TWU) Men’s Volleyball team won the program’s second CIS national title. In the 2011 year, the Spartans represented North America at the World Club Championship in Qatar. This makes them the first-ever Canadian university to ever play at the Club Championship. Having defeated the top three teams in the championship, the Spartans will definitely be looking to keep their title in the 2012 year.
Justin Morneau, Baseball
2006, 2008 Best of BC
Community champion Presented by: Thie Community Champion award recognizes an athlete who has made extraordinary contributions both on and off the field and has inspired others to get involved in sport and do the same.
Mike Janyk Mike Janyk is an alpine skier from Whistler, BC who has appeared for the Canadian team in the slalom event at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympic Games. As part of his continued commitment to KidSport BC, Janyk was a Team KidSport Participant in the Ritchie Bros. Corporate Kids Challenge in 2011, helping raise $530,000 for the children’s charity, which will allow close to 2700 kids play a season of sport. He also created a YouTube video, challenging other Olympians to participate in the Ritchie Bros. Corporate Kids Challenge. In 2011, as a Team KidSport Athlete, Janyk also attended the annual KidSport BC Golf Tournament, where KidSport’s new partnership with Westminster Savings allows over 800 children to play a season of sport. Aside from volunteering his time with KidSport, Janyk also contributes to the development of young ski racers with the Mike and Manny ski camp. The camp provides 12 up-andcoming young ski racers with the opportunity to train with Janyk and fellow Olympic ski racer, Manuel Osborne-Paradis. The Mike and Manny ski camp covers all expenses for the young athletes and provides the experience of a lifetime for BC’s next ski racing generation.
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Master Athlete Presented by:
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This award recognizes an athlete competing in a Masters division as defined by his or her sport, taking part on a team or individual sport in the province of BC.
Christa Bortignon
Margaret Hudson
Stephanie Kieffer
Athletics
Badminton
Triathlon
In 2011, Christa Bortignon set and broke 23 Canadian records in 13 events, both indoor and outdoor. She is ranked first in 13 events nationally and first in the triple jump internationally. In the 70-74 age group, Bortignon won one gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the World Masters Athletics Championships, seven Indoor Canadian Championships, five BC Championships and eight BC Senior Games Championships.
In the 70-74 age group, Margaret Hudson is ranked number one in 65+ Women’s and Mixed Doubles and number one in the 70+ Mixed Doubles. Playing in both the provincial and national level, she is usually seeded number one or two in both Canada and the United States. Although she was injured at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Senior Championships, this sharp shuttlecock shooter still won a silver medal in 70+ Women’s Doubles.
In 2011, it was Stephanie Kieffer’s goal to obtain provincial, national and world champion titles – and she did. With no formal training, this racer became the BC Provincial Champion, Canadian National Champion and Women’s World Champion in the 45-49 age division. Kieffer qualified for the Vancouver Regional Training Centre, which indicates a high level of accomplishment in the sport. It was her goal to win those titles in 2011, and it’s clearly her goal to hold on to them in the 2012 year.
Don Hay, Hockey
1995 Coach of the Year
Harry Jerome Comeback Presented by: The Harry Jerome Comeback Award goes to a BC amateur athlete who competed in an individual or team sport and has demonstrated outstanding performance after having suffered an unusual setback in the past year. The award is in remembrance of Henry (“Harry”) Jerome (September 30, 1940 – December 7, 1982), a Canadian Olympic, Commonwealth and Pan-American Games hero. Jerome was an active advocate for young people’s participation in sport. The Harry Jerome Comeback Award recipient is selected by a committee of media and sport representatives from around the province.
Brittany Rogers
Gymnastics
Leading up to the Pacific Rim Championships in Australia in April 2010, Brittany Rogers was among Canada’s best female artistic gymnasts. She had captured national titles in the Novice, Junior and Senior categories, was only the fifth Canadian woman to reach an event final at a world championship (2009), and was headed towards achieving her goal of the 2012 Olympics. Then, while competing for Team Canada at Pacific Rim, she fell on her beam dismount and broke her ankle. The break proved to be serious, requiring an entire year and surgery to heal properly and for her to return to gymnastics. For many gymnasts, this would have been the end of their careers. Perhaps more so than any other sport, success in gymnastics requires continual repetition and practice to maintain skills and form. To lose an entire year of training, especially for an international gymnast, is devastating. However, Brittany showed incredible mental and physical strength to endure months of uncertainty and a determination to return to the world stage. In May 2011, she completed the comeback, which many had doubted, by competing at the Canadian Gymnastics Championships where she finished fourth with only a few weeks of training. Then in November, exactly one year after her surgery, Brittany competed at the Osijek Challenger Cup World Cup in Croatia where she was the only gymnast to qualify for all four event finals. She capped off this amazing comeback with a silver medal on vault! Next on her agenda - London 2012!
Celebrating a Century of Life in B.C. Join us for special content all year in print and online.
YEARS STRONG
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Carol Huynh, Wrestling
2008 SR. FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Best of BC
Presented by:
The Best of BC award recognizes a professional and/or amateur BC athlete for his or her extraordinary athletic performance at a national or international level. The Selection Committee chooses the nominees and the Best of BC Award recipient was determined in advance by a public online vote. Andrew Harris, Football Beginning as the Lions’ backup running back in the 2011 year, Andrew Harris soon became the starting running back midseason. He finished with a total of 853 yards and 8 touchdowns with 11 starts. During the playoffs, Harris was named the Canadian player of the week for his performance in the Lions’ win over the Edmonton Eskimos in the Western Division Final. In the Grey Cup game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he scored a touchdown, rushing for 65 yards over 10 carries, and was named the 99th Grey Cup’s Most Outstanding Canadian as a result. Christine Sinclair, Soccer Burnaby native Christine Sinclair is currently a forward for the Western New York Flash and the captain of the Canadian National Team. In the 2011 World Cup, she broke her nose in a match and came back to score a highlight goal. Sinclair also participated at the XVI Pan American Games in Guadalajara, where she was Canada’s flag bearer. In the championship match, she scored the equalizer to send the final to extra time, where Canada won gold after a 4-3 win. As Canada’s all-time leading caps and goal scorer, she is the reigning Canada Soccer Player of the Year. Dylan Armstrong, Athletics Dylan Armstrong is a five-time Canadian national champion in shot put, who currently trains with Olympic gold medalist, Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk. He achieved Canada’s first athletics gold medal at the XVI Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico in October 2011, when his 21.30 meter throw established a new Pan American Games record. After a very successful year, the Kamloops native claimed the IAAF Diamond League title and set a new Canadian record of 22.21 meters — the best throw of the season worldwide. Mark Recchi, Hockey At the age of 43, Kamloops native Mark Recchi became the oldest player to score a goal in a Stanley Cup Final, doing so in Game 2 of the 2011 Finals against the Vancouver Canucks. Leading the team in scoring, Recchi helped the Bruins win their first Stanley Cup since 1972 and hoisted his third with as many teams. After 22 years in the NHL, Recchi announced his retirement in the post-game celebration following the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup victory. He finished his career fourth all-time in games played and 12th all-time in points.
Paul McCallum, Football
At BC Place this year, Paul McCallum set the record, with 30, for the most all-time consecutive field goals made in the CFL, breaking the previous mark of 28 held by Dave Ridgway. Playing as a placekicker and punter for the BC Lions, he holds CFL records for the longest field goal made at 62 yards and highest field goal kicking accuracy in a single season at 94.34%. McCallum is the oldest player in the CFL, having played 19 seasons over the course of his career. Best of BC History The first Canadian named National League MVP, seven-time Gold Glove champ Larry Walker was the first winner of Sport BC’s Best of BC award in 1992. Others who have claimed the Best of BC award since then include Joe Sakic, Greg Moore, Lui Passaglia, Lori Bowden and Steve Nash. To view past Athlete of the Year award winners in various categories dating back to 1966, visit www.sportbc.com/aoy.
Presidents awards The Presidents’ Awards honour and celebrate the spirit of volunteerism by giving member organizations an opportunity to acknowledge and thank an individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to their sport.
Jack Rogers Badminton BC Dan Miscisco Basketball BC Rick Hume BC Alpine Ski Association Dan Taylor BC Amateur Baseball Association Linda Price BC Archery Association Judy Armstrong BC Amateur Athletics Association Cherie Lu BC Blind Sports and Receration Association Jill Komlos BC Diving Nona Shorey BC Fencing Association Fernando Correia BC Games Society Richard Lyle British Columbia Golf Anne Deitch BC Amateur Hockey Association Terry Mosdell BC Lacrosse Association Melinda Moorhouse BC Ringette Association Wayne Moorhouse BC Ringette Association David Sutcliffe BC Sailing Association Flynn Seddon BC Snowboard Association Laurie Robertson BC Soccer Association Ariadne Holness BC Speed Skating de Hiller Association Joanie McMaster BC Sports Hall of Fame Neil Wuolle BC Summer Swimming Association
Chang Poh BC Table Tennis Association John Stockdale BC Water Polo Association MaryAnn DeCorby BC Wrestling Association Leslie Cliffe Canadian Sport Centre Pacific Jeff Morgan CanoeKayak BC Eric Broom Coaches Association of BC Joyce Kuzyk Curl BC John Appleby Disabled Skiers Association of BC Tammy McComb Field Hockey BC Brent Fairweather Football BC Penny Erickson Gymnastics BC Steven Dubas Horse Council of BC Ron Kuramoto Judo BC James Johnson Karate BC Diana Chan ProMOTION Plus Janine Chan Rowing BC Gail Weber Skate Canada BC/YT Section Margaret McLeod SportAbility Cerebral Palsy Sports Association of BC Paul Marley Squash BC Doug Rawson Tennis BC Tracey Shelley Triathlon BC Joe Moreira Volleyball BC
Nancy Greene, Alpine Skiing 1967, 1968 SR. ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Thank you Just as every athlete has a team of people helping them achieve success, so too does this show. Our immense thanks to the following individuals for giving of their creativity, time and passion to bring you this show tonight:
Producers - Viktoria Langton and Gary Durban Caller of the Show – Kat Brooking Presenter Coordinator - Jean Forrest Assistants – Fannie Smith and Liane Langton Stage Manager – Jay Williams Stage Assistant Manager – Minh Ly Quach Visual Production Company - Don Barnard Audio/Visuals - AV Strategies Photography – Shutterdreams Hair and Make Up - Avantgarde’s Artistic Team Model Gowns – After Five Fashions, Oakridge. Voice of God – Doc Harris River Rock Resort – Gary Olsen and all of the wonderful staff. A Special Thank you to all our Sport Performers and Lily Mizuno Thank you to all our wonderful and hardworking volunteers
Denny Morrison, Speed Skating 2010 Community Champion
www.sportbc.com