Finalists Announced for 37th Canadian Sport Awards

Canada's Top Sporting Honours in 2009 to be awarded March 3 in Toronto

OTTAWA , Feb. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - The True Sport Foundation (TSF) today announced the finalists for the 37th Canadian Sport Awards (CSA), the ultimate recognition event for excellence in Canadian sport. The awards promote sporting excellence across Canada and is a tribute to the hard work, dedication and victories of our country's finest athletes.

"The annual Canadian Sport Awards is the ideal time to honour our amateur athletes," says Victor Lachance , Executive Director of the True Sport Foundation. "It will be a great way to cap off the thrill of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and get revved up for the Paralympic Games."

The Canadian Sport Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario in Toronto . A limited number of tickets to the awards/press conference are available. Tickets will be awarded on a first serve basis by contacting the Program Director Robin Turnbull at [email protected]. Passes for accredited media can be requested through Christine Mulkins at [email protected].

"We are honoured to provide the venue for such an important event as the Canadian Sport Awards. As a leader in providing high performance programming and services to our amateur athletes, it is exciting for the CSC Ontario to host this elite group of athletes," says Debbie Low , President, CEO, CSC Ontario.

3rd Annual True Sport Road Trip: Athletes Visit Toronto Students

The morning of the Canadian Sport Awards, nominees and recipients will visit Grenoble Public School in Toronto where these role models will engage with students, sharing success stories and challenges and advancing the True Sport benefits of values-driven sport in Canada .

Grenoble P.S. is a dynamic, community-based school in the Flemingdon Park area and is committed to the principles of academic excellence, safety, equity, partnerships, and collaboration. The staff serve approximately 700 students - J.K. to Grade 5. Approximately 93% of the students and/or their parents have immigrated to Canada and there are more than seventy-three different languages represented at the school.

"The staff and students of Grenoble Public School are excited about the opportunity to meet our Canadian Athletes and hear their message about fair play in sports," says Ted Goldring, School Principal.

Media are welcome to accompany athletes on the school visit between 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Event details to follow.

2009 Canadian Sport Awards Finalists

The Athletic Performance Awards recognize outstanding athletic performance. Finalists include:

    
    Male Athlete of the Year:
        Jasey Jay Anderson - Snowboarding
        Charles Hamelin - Speed Skating
        John Kucera - Alpine Skiing

    Female Athlete of the Year:
        Christine Nesbitt - Speed Skating
        Annamay Pierse - Swimming
        Sherraine Schalm - Fencing

    Junior Athlete of the Year:
        Aaron Brown - Athletics
        Marianne St-Gelais - Speed Skating
        Kurtis Wenzel - Biathlon

    Team of the Year:
        Men's Hockey - IIHF
        Para Curling - Wheelchair Mixed Team
        Women's Water Polo (WC)

    Partners of the Year:
        M Eights (M8+)
(VanKnotsenburg/Laidlaw/Csima/O'Farrell/Bergen/Gibson/DunawayHoward/Byrnes)
        Para Nordic Ski (B. McKeever/R. McKeever)
        Women's SSK - Speed Skating (Groves/Nesbitt/Schlusser)
    

The Leadership Awards recognize and celebrate an individual's outstanding contribution to the betterment of sport. Finalists include:

    
    Leadership in Sport Award:
        Christine Hampshire
        Robert Jackson
        Jack Poole

    Athlete Leadership Award:
        Pete Andrews
        Sylvie Frechette
        Adam Kreek

    Volunteer Achievement:
        Slava Corn
        Maureen Orchard
        Carole Thomas
    

The Corporate Excellence Award recognizes and celebrates a corporation who provides outstanding support to Canadian sport. Finalists include:

    
        Intact
        Pfizer Canada
        Shaw Cable
    

The Spirit of Sport Story of the Year category recognizes and celebrates Canadian heroes. Finalists include:

    
        Soldier On (SO) program - Canadian Forces Personnel & Family Services
        Duff Gibson
        Woodstock Thunder
    

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 were for performances or contributions from January 1, 2009 through to December 31, 2009 .

About CSC Ontario

The Canadian Sport Centre Ontario (CSC Ontario) is a multi-sport organization that supports elite sport development and performance in Ontario through long-term partnerships with Provincial and National Sport Organizations. These relationships enable the CSC Ontario to deliver holistic programs and sport science services to high performance coaches and athletes that enhance their ability to achieve international success.

About the Canadian Sport Awards

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 award 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.

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, [phone], [email protected]; Victor Lachance, Executive Director, True Sport Foundation, [phone], [email protected]