November 09, 2015 (Milton, ON) – The 16th annual OCA Celebration gala was held on Saturday, Nov. 7 in the Grande Room at the Grand Chalet in Milton, ON as close to 200 people gathered to share a glass and celebrate the annual awards that were presented honouring many of the province’s talented riders.

Legendary Curt Harnett, of international track cycling and Pan Am Chef de Mission fame, was the keynote speaker and he was joined at his table by a number of 2015 Pan Am Games riders including Monique Sullivan, Ed Veal, Joe Veloce, Sean Mackinnon, Adam Jamieson, Evan Carey and Mischa Partridge. Also in attendance was Jacques Landry, Cycling Canada High Performance Director – Head Coach.

Brendan Arnold, OCA HP Head Coach, was MC for the evening once again and entertained the packed banquet hall as usual while guests and delegates enjoyed a fabulous sit-down dinner as proud parents and fans applauded the award winners.

Along with raffles for many prizes that were donated there was a silent auction was held for a limited edition Cycling Canada 2015 Pan Am Games framed jersey signed by many of the medal winning track team including Sullivan, Hugo Barrette and all of the Ontario track representatives.

The OCA announced a total of $1,629 was raised for the Kevin Watson Fund to support youth cycling initiatives in the province; $620 from raffle tickets sales and the silent auction for the Pan Am Games jersey raised $1,009.

2015 Annual OCA Cycling Celebration – Award Winners

2015 Road Male Athlete of the Year
– Benjamin Perry

2015 Road Female Athlete of the Year
– Shelley Gautier

2015 Road Organizer of the Year
– Cycle Waterloo

2015 Road Contributor of the Year
– Midweek Cycling Club

2015 MTB-XC Male Athlete of the Year
– Derek Zandstra

2015 MTB-XC Female Athlete of the Year
– Emily Batty

2015 MTB Organizer of the Year
– Superfly Racing

2015 MTB Contributor of the Year
– Peter and Rebecca Meier

2015 Tim DaSilva BMX Athlete of the Year
– Amelia Walsh

2015 Track Athlete of the Year
– Joseph Veloce

2015 MTB-DH Athlete of the Year
– Kristen Courtney

2015 Cyclocross Athlete of the Year
– Quinton Disera

2015 OCA President’s Award
– Paris to Ancaster