McGuinty Government Salutes Excellence In Amateur Sport
TORONTO, April 24 /CNW/ -
NEWS
The best in Ontario amateur sport was celebrated with the province's
annual awards presented to 46 athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and
sponsors at the 2007 Ontario Sport Awards tonight in Toronto.
The Ontario Sport Awards are the highest honours the province provides to
recognize excellence. Award categories include athletes, coaches and teams of
the year as well as corporate citations and special achievement and lifetime
awards.
QUOTES
"The Ontario Sport Awards celebrates amateur sport and recognizes
dedication and commitment," said Margarett Best, Ontario's Minister of Health
Promotion. "The Ontario government applauds our athletes who are role models
for active, healthy living and the entire sport system for advancing
excellence in sport."
QUICK FACTS- The Ontario Sport Awards had its beginnings in an event held in 1965.
- Nominees are named by the province's 87 recognized sport
organizations. A selection committee of sports community
representatives identifies the recipients.
- The Sport Alliance of Ontario produces the Awards ceremonies attended
by more than 400 people.
- Previous recipients have included Jeff Buttle, Donovan Bailey, Lennox
Lewis, Silken Laumann.
LEARN MORE
The Ontario Sport Awards
(http://www.sportalliance.com/Content/Sport%20Awards.asp) recognizes
excellence in ten categories.
Disponible en français
ontario.ca/health-promotion-news
BACKGROUNDER
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RECIPIENTS OF 2007 ONTARIO SPORT AWARDSMale Athlete of the Year
------------------------
Steve Omischl, Freestyle Skiing (North Bay, Ontario)
Steve has an impressive list of 26 World Cup Championship Medals and is a
3 time Canadian Champion. He has a strong ambition to represent both the
province and country, and to capture the gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter
Games in Vancouver.
Female Athlete of the Year
--------------------------
Perdita Felicien, Track & Field (Ajax, Ontario)
Perdita started the year off by winning the 60mh indoor race in Boston,
following that up with a second place finish in Stockholm, and three days
later finishing 3rd in Paris. Perdita's great start led to her success in
2007.
Male Athlete of the Year with a Disability
------------------------------------------
Tim Ekert, Weightlifting (Windsor, Ontario)
A 4 time World Powerlifting Champion, and who is an advocate for disabled
athletes as he happens to be visually impaired, Tim is not only one of
the best blind powerlifters in the world but also competes and wins able
bodied competitions.
Female Athlete of the Year with a Disability
--------------------------------------------
Emily Boycott, Rhythmic Gymnastics (Acton, Ontario)
Emily has been a rhythmic gymnast with the Oakville Butterflies for the
last 7 years. Participating in all rhythmic disciplines she picks her own
music, and creates and designs her own routines around her strengths and
talents.
Male Coach of the Year
----------------------
Louis Mendonca, Field Hockey (Thornhill, Ontario)
His technical excellence combined with an ability to motivate and
communicate clearly, allows Louis to coach athletes to perform their
best, especially under pressure. Louis was named Canada's Men's National
Team Head Coach which will compete at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
Female Coach of the Year
------------------------
Lisa Patterson, OUA Nordic Skiing (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
As Head Coach of the Lakehead University Nordic Ski Team, Lisa has made
the University the place to both ski and study in Canadian Universities.
Lisa has also represented her country as she was the Head Coach for Team
Canada Nordic at the 2007 Torino Winter Universiade.
Team of the Year
----------------
Karen Cockburn (Toronto, Ontario) & Rosannagh MacLennan (King City,
Ontario), Gymnastics
Both Karen and Rosannagh are strong independently on the trampoline but
are unbeatable as a synchronized team. The impressive pair consistently
won the gold medal on the International circuit and capped the year with
a World Cup gold medal.
The Rolf Lund Jule Nisse Award
------------------------------
Brenda Willis, Volleyball (Kingston, Ontario)
Brenda has been active as a volunteer in the Ontario sport community for
over 30 years. She has an outstanding playground to podium commitment and
her volunteer hours would be calculated in the thousands. Brenda is a
mentor to many, a visionary, and a respected hard working leader.
Syl Apps Special Achievement Award Recipients
---------------------------------------------
Beth Ali, Field Hockey (Waterloo, Ontario)
Jennifer Birch-Jones, Squash (Ottawa, Ontario)
Zvonimir Celebija, Karate (Brampton, Ontario)
Tom Cook, Cross Country (North Bay, Ontario)
Mary Ann Cormack, Diving (Campbellville, Ontario)
James Dempsey, Wrestling (St. Thomas, Ontario)
Jim Dover, Rowing (Simcoe, Ontario)
Kristine Drakich, Volleyball (Toronto, Ontario)
Valerie Dunn, OFSAA (Cochrane, Ontario)
Peter Henderson, Equestrian (Pickering, Ontario)
Iris Heney, 5 Pin Bowling (Nepean, Ontario)
Alfred Huggins, Soccer (Bowmanville, Ontario)
Christopher Lowcock, Disc Sports (Toronto, Ontario)
John McCrae, Curling (Lindsay, Ontario)
Chris Mickle, Wheelchair Sports (London, Ontario)
Ken Miller, Hockey (North Bay, Ontario)
Mark Psutka, Figure Skating (Formosa, Ontario)
Harnek Singh Rai, Powerlifting (Brampton, Ontario)
Martin Sharpe, Cycling (Hamilton, Ontario)
Peter Stephenson, Badminton (Whitby, Ontario)
Dan Taylor, Swimming (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario)
Gary Tonelli, Baseball (Timmins, Ontario)
Albert Tschirhart, Track & Field (Guelph, Ontario)
Craig Weldon, Judo (Whitby, Ontario)
Gail Whittemore, Gymnastics (Toronto, Ontario)
Corporate Sport Citations Award Recipients
------------------------------------------
Best Western International (Curl Ontario)
Black Knight Canada Ltd. (Ontario Badminton Association)
Investors Group (Golf Association of Ontario)
National Hockey League Players Association (Hockey Development Centre for
Ontario)
National Marine Manufacturers Association Canada (Ontario Sailing)
Ontario University Athletics (OFSAA)
Pizza Pizza Ltd. (Ontario Disc Sports Association)
RSC Racquet Sports (Ontario Tennis Association)
Talisman Resort Village (Gymnastics Ontario)
Tippet-Richardson Limited (Sport Alliance of Ontario)
Tourism Sarnia Lambton (Paralympics Ontario)
Via Trailers (Ontario Equestrian Federation)
WHATA SPRINGS (Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers' Association)-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ontario.ca/health-promotion-news
Disponible en français
For further information: Rick Byun, Minister's Office, (416) 326-8497;
Julie Rosenberg, Communications, (416) 326-4833
