Call for Nominations for the 38th Canadian Sport Awards

    
                        Deadline Monday, September 20

             Canada's Top 2010 Sporting Honours to take place at
            Hillcrest High School in Ottawa on November 19, 2010.
    

OTTAWA, July 27 /CNW Telbec/ - The True Sport Foundation today announced its call for nominations for the 38th Canadian Sport Awards (CSA). Canada's definitive recognition event for sport will award excellence, athletics, commitment and leadership in sport related to accomplishments between January - September 30, 2010. The nomination period begins today and closes on Monday, September 20, 2010.

Finalists for each CSA award will be announced on October 12, 2010. Winners will be announced on November 19, 2010 at Hillcrest High School and acknowledged during the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif in the evening at the Westin Hotel, Ottawa.

Official nomination forms can be downloaded from www.canadiansportawards.ca for:

    
    -   Junior Athlete of the Year
    -   Corporate Excellence Award
    -   Leadership in Sport Award
    -   Volunteer Achievement Award
    -   Athlete Leadership Award
    -   (the popular) Spirit of Sport Story of the Year
    

The Athlete Performance Awards (Male/Female, Team and Partners of the Year) will be seeded by the Top 8 results published by Sport Canada.

This year, True Sport Foundation is partnering with Coaching Association of Canada to create a program of recognition for athletes, coaches and volunteers in amateur sport. Traditionally held in the springtime, Canadian Sport Awards will now take place in November to coincide with the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif where leaders in coaching are recognized. The long-term vision of the partnership between True Sport and the Coaching Association of Canada is Canada Sport Week - a new program currently being developed by a group of organizations wishing to raise awareness about what sport offers to Canadian society. The intention is to have a week-long celebration of sport that engages Canadians from across the country.

"This will be a special year to recognize our athletes, coaches and businesses supporting sport as we partner with our colleagues at the Coaching Association of Canada to culminate this recognition in the same week of the sport year," said Victor Lachance, Executive Director of the True Sport Foundation. "Building on the momentum of our Olympic and Paralympics experience, it is our goal to partner with many sport organizations across the country and build a unique celebration which honours Canadian athletes and sport at all levels of engagement."

"We encourage Canadian sport organizations, media and the general public to nominate their sporting heroes for their passion, achievement and contribution to Canadian sport in 2010," said Mr. Lachance.

Established in 1972, the Canadian Sport Awards brings together leaders from the sporting and corporate communities who represent the pinnacle of commitment and competition: Canadian amateur athletes, coaches, sport leaders and volunteers. The annual event promotes sporting excellence across Canada, and reminds Canadians how sport lifts the human spirit. It is a tribute to the hard work, the dedication and the victories of our country's finest athletes.

Nomination Eligibility

Any Canadian citizen can nominate an individual, team or corporation for the Canadian Sport Awards. Individuals and corporations can also self-nominate. Eligible entries are for performances or contributions from January 1, 2010 through to September 30, 2010.

Submissions must be received at the True Sport Foundation no later than 5:00 p.m. E.S.T., Monday, September 20, 2010. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Completed ORIGINAL submissions should be sent to:

    
    True Sport Foundation
    CSA Selection Advisory Committee
    350-955 Green Valley Crescent
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2C 3V4
    

37TH CANADIAN SPORT AWARDS (Categories and Winners in 2009):

The Canadian Sport Award categories are listed below, followed by a list of athletes, teams and corporations honoured in 2009:

The Athletic Performance Awards recognize outstanding athletic performance. Winners included:

    
    Male Athlete of the Year: Jasey-Jay Anderson, Snowboarding
    Female Athlete of the Year: Christine Nesbitt, Speed Skating
    Junior Athlete of the Year: Marianne St-Gelais, Speed Skating
    Team of the Year: Para Curling (mixed team)
    Partners of the Year: Women SSK (Groves, Nesbitt, Schussler)
    

The Leadership Awards recognize and celebrate an individual's outstanding contribution to the betterment of sport. 2009 winners included:

    
    Leadership in Sport Award: Jack Poole (awarded posthumously)
    Volunteer Achievement: Maureen Orchard
    Athlete Leadership Award: Adam Kreek
    

The Corporate Excellence Award recognizes and celebrates a corporation who provides outstanding support to Canadian sport. The 2009 winner was: Intact Insurance

The Spirit of Sport Story of the Year category recognizes and celebrates Canadian heroes who, in the pursuit of sporting excellence, have demonstrated values such as fairness, inclusion, perseverance, sportsmanship, respect for others, and a true love of sport.

The 2009 winner was: Solider On (SO) program

About the True Sport Foundation

The True Sport Foundation is a charitable organization committed to ensuring that sport makes a positive contribution to Canadian society. Managed by the Foundation, the Canadian Sport Awards boasts a strong relationship with its modern day founding partners, which include Athletes CAN, the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada, the Canada Games and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. For more information about the Canadian Sport Awards, please visit www.canadiansportawards.ca.

For complete nomination rules and guidelines, and more information about the Canadian Sport Awards, please visit www.canadiansportawards.ca.

For further information: Robin Turnbull, Canadian Sport Awards, Program Director, 416.604.0310, [email protected]; Victor Lachance, Executive Director, True Sport Foundation, 613.521.3340 x 3224, [email protected]