January 31, 2004 – Forty-nine athletes from seven sports and 11 coaches from five sports shared the limelight before a sold out crowd at the second annual PacificSport Victoria “Celebration of Sport” today. The George Heller Award for Athletic Excellence recognized international podium achievements by PacificSport Victoria's athletes who won medals at the 2003 World Championships or the 2003 Pan American Games. This year, several rowers were recognized for winning at both events. In rugby, award winners were recognized for achieving their first international cap while playing for the Pacific Pride, the Young Canada National Men's Team, based at the PacificSport National Rugby Centre.
The inaugural Shields Award for Coaching Excellence, in recognition of basketball coaches Ken and Kathy Shields, recognized the achievements of PacificSport coaches who worked with Canadian athletes to help them achieve their goals.
“This year's award recipients have not only achieved excellence on the world stage, but they have become part of the fabric of Victoria and weÃre proud to have them as part of our community,” said Roger Skillings, President and CEO of PacificSport Victoria.”More PacificSport athletes reached an international podium this year which tells me that what PacificSport Victoria is doing with its sport partners is working.”
The PacificSport Canadian Sport Centre Victoria consists of six national training centres (athletics, cycling, rowing, rugby, swimming, triathlon), and nine regional training centres (badminton, canoe-kayak, curling, cycling, diving, field hockey, swimming, synchronized swimming, tennis). The centre is one of eight Canadian Sport Centres, including Atlantic, Calgary, MontrÈal, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Vancouver.
The PacificSport Group consists of national centres in Victoria and Vancouver, a province-wide sport development centre in Whistler and seven regional centres located in the Fraser Valley, Interior, Okanagan, Northern BC, Vancouver Island, Vancouver and Victoria.
2004 George Heller Awards for Athletic Excellence2003 Pan American Games Medallists
Bruce Deacon
Ravi Kahlon
Sean Sepulis
Stacey Norwood
Marilyn Taylor
Neil Armour
Iain Brambell
Kevin Burt
Chris Davidson
Geoff Hodgson
David Kay
Mike Lewis
Mike Simonson
Dallas Smith
Iain Brambell
Chris Davidson
Mike Lewis
Mike Simonson
Gen Meredith
Fiona Milne
Gen Meredith
Fiona Milne
2003 World Championships
Kevin Burt
Geoff Hodgson
Brian Price
David Calder
Kyle Hamilton
Andrew Hoskins
Adam Kreek
Kevin Light
Jeff Powell
Brian Price
Ben Rutledge
Joe Stankevicius
Karen Clark
Jacqui Cook
Rachel Dunnett
Darcy Marquardt
Roslyn McLeod
Andreanne Morin
Sarah Pape
Pauline Van Roessel
Buffy Williams
Cameron Baerg
Tom Herschmiller