March 25, 2003 (Toronto, Ontario) – The Spirit of Sport Foundation (SSF) officially announced the winners for the 30th Annual Canadian Sport Awards (CSA), presented by Investors Group at a gala event at the CBC headquarters in Toronto.
“The Spirit of Sport Foundation proudly congratulates the winners of the 30th Annual Canadian Sport Awards for their outstanding achievements in amateur sport,” said Victor Lachance, chairperson, The Spirit of Sport Foundation. “Recognizing these heroic athletes furthers our vision for a Canada that celebrates the positive values of sport — respect, honesty, fair play, discipline, commitment, and effort.”
The 30th Annual Canadian Sport Awards gala brought together more than 700 leaders from the sporting and corporate communities who represent the pinnacle of commitment and competition: Canadian amateur athletes, coaches, sport leaders and volunteers. Veteran sports broadcaster Ron MacLean hosted the ceremony, which will air on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 on CBC Television.
In addition to a new award trophy, called Triumph, by renowned Canadian sculptor, Lorne P. Winters, each winner also received a $1,000 cheque from presenting sponsor, Investors Group.
“Investors Group applauds the hard work and dedication of all of tonight's winners,” said Richard Irish, vice-president of corporate and community affairs, Investors Group. “The promotion of sporting excellence can have only positive results for our society, including the inspiration of physical and moral development for our youth.”
Among the winners tonight, Simon Ibell was honoured with the Spirit of Sport Story of the Year. This award recognizes 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 in 2002. Simon completed a 10-day, 300-kilometre bike ride the length of Vancouver Island to raise awareness for muchopolysacharridosis, or MPS, the rare genetic condition that affects him.
Catriona Le May Doan took home honours for Female Athlete of the Year, while Roland Green was awarded Male Athlete of the Year.
Awards for Male Team of the Year and Female Team of the Year went to each of Canada's Olympic Hockey Teams, respectively. The Pair of the Year Award went to David Pelletier and Jamie Salé.
“I am proud to offer my sincere praise on behalf of the Government of Canada and the entire sport community to the winners of the Annual Canadian Sport Awards,” said the Honourable Paul DeVillers, Secretary of State (Amateur Sport). “The passion and drive of tonight's winners is a source of inspiration for all Canadians.”
In November of each year, the Spirit of Sport Foundation sends out a call for nominations to the general public and the Canadian sporting community. This year the SSF received more than 100 nominations for the categories of Athletic Performance, Leadership, Corporate Excellence, and Spirit of Sport Story of the Year. More than 450 stories were received from grade 7 and 8 students across Canada for the Spirit of Sport Inspired Youth Award.
Upon receipt, the Selection Advisory Committee verified each of the nominations, which were then forwarded to the appropriate juries for their review, deliberations and independent analysis. Following the jury screening, KPMG LLP served as official scrutineer for the Awards.
Winners of the 30th Annual Canadian Sport AwardsATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AWARDS:
This year's winners in the Athletic Performance category for the 30th Annual Canadian Sport Awards, recognizing and celebrating outstanding athletic performance in 2002, are:
Male Athlete of the Year
Roland Green, Cycling – Mountain Bike
2002 Commonwealth Games and 2002 World Mountain Bike Champion. Hometown: Victoria, BC.
Female Athlete of the Year
Catriona Le May Doan, Speed Skating – Long Track
Gold medallist at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and 2002 World Sprint Champion. Hometown: Saskatoon, SK.
Junior Male Athlete of the Year
Alexandre Despatie, Diving
2002 FINA World Junior Champion in the Boys A 1m and 3m springboard, and 10m platform, and 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the Men's 1m and 3m springboard. Hometown: Laval, PQ.
Junior Female Athlete of the Year
Jennifer Spalding, Sailing
2002 ISAF World Youth and Canadian Youths Champion; named Canadian Yachting Association, 2002 Female Athlete of the Year. Hometown: Vancouver, BC.
Male Team of the Year
Canada's Olympic Hockey Team
Female Team of the Year
Canada's Olympic Hockey Team
Partners of the Year
David Pelletier and Jamie Salé – Figure Skating
Gold medallists at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Hometowns: Sayabec, Quebec and Red Deer, Alberta (respectively).
LEADERSHIP AWARDS:
The winners in the Leadership Awards category for the 30th Annual Canadian Annual Sport Awards, recognizing and celebrating an individual's outstanding contribution to the betterment of sport in 2002 are:
Athlete Leadership Award
Ian Bird, Field Hockey
Former member of Canada's National Field Hockey Team, Vice-president of Athletes CAN and current Chief Executive Officer of the ESTEEM Team Association. Hometown: Vancouver, BC.
Leadership in Sports Award
Jim Thompson (posthumous), Canadian Olympic Committee
Former President of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Volunteer Achievement Award
Dick Pound, IOC and Canadian Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee member and member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Olympic Committee. Hometown: Montreal, PQ.
Coach of the Year
Danièle Sauvageau, Hockey
Head coach of the Gold medal-winning Canadian women's hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Hometown: Montreal, PQ.
CORPORATE EXCELLENCE AWARDS:
The winners of the Corporate Excellence Awards for the 30th Annual Canadian Sport Awards, recognizing and celebrating corporations who provided outstanding support to Canadian sport in 2002 are:
Individual Athlete Support
Dairy Farmers of Canada
National Team Support
Tim Hortons
National Program Support
Dynamic Mutual Funds
SPIRIT OF SPORT STORY OF THE YEAR
The winner of the Spirit of Sport Story of the Year Award for the 30th Annual Canadian Annual Sport Awards, recognizing 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 in 2002, is:
Simon Ibell, Bike 4 MPS
Advocate for people with disabilities. Completed a 10-day, 300-kilometre ride the length of Vancouver Island to raise awareness for muchopolysacharridosis, or MPS, the rare genetic condition that affects him. Hometown: Vancouver Island.
SPIRIT OF SPORT INSPIRED YOUTH AWARD
The Spirit of Sport Inspired Youth Award for the 30th Annual Canadian Annual Sport Awards, is a joint initiative of the Spirit of Sport Foundation and the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) that invites Canadian grade 7 and 8 students to write a story on a Canadian athlete, event or experience that inspired them in the sporting values of edication, perseverance, fair play, respect for others, and a true love of sport. The winner is:
Fraser Drad, Stonewall Centennial School, Stonewall, Manitoba
Sponsors
The 30th Annual Canadian Sport Awards is presented by Investors Group, and supported by Official Partners, Sport Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), and the Official Broadcaster, CBC Sports; event Gold Sponsors: The Globe and Mail and Cheerios; Silver Sponsors: Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) and HBC; and Bronze Sponsors: Timex Canada, Air Canada, Holiday Inn On King, Algonquin Travel & MKI Conference Management. In addition, Canada NewsWire, Corpav Presentation Group, DotCom Your Event, and Mediaplus Advertising are Supplier Sponsors. KPMG LLP, also a Supplier Sponsor, served as the scrutineer for the Awards.
The Spirit of Sport Foundation
The Spirit of Sport Foundation (SSF) is a charitable organization committed to ensuring that sport makes a positive contribution to Canadian society, athletes, and the physical and moral development of Canada's youth. Powered by the SSF, the Canadian Sport Awards boasts a strong relationship with its modern day founding partners, which include Athletes CAN, Commonwealth Games Canada, the Canada Games Council, and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. For more information on the 30th Annual Canadian Sport Awards, visit the Spirit of Sport Foundation's web site at www.spiritofsport.ca or www.canadiansportawards.ca.