NEWS: Ontario’s Top Athletes To Be Honoured: Backgrounder
April 25, 2008
RECIPIENTS OF 2007 ONTARIO SPORT AWARDS
Male Athlete of the Year
Steve Omischl, Freestyle Skiing (North Bay, Ontario)
Steve has an impressive list of 26 World Cup Championship Medals and is a 3 time Canadian Champion. He has a strong ambition to represent both the province and country, and to capture the gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
Female Athlete of the Year
Perdita Felicien, Track & Field (Ajax, Ontario)
Perdita started the year off by winning the 60mh indoor race in Boston, following that up with a second place finish in Stockholm, and three days later finishing 3rd in Paris. Perdita’s great start led to her success in 2007.
Male Athlete of the Year with a Disability
Tim Ekert, Weightlifting (Windsor, Ontario)
A 4 time World Powerlifting Champion, and who is an advocate for disabled athletes as he happens to be visually impaired, Tim is not only one of the best blind powerlifters in the world but also competes and wins able bodied competitions.
Female Athlete of the Year with a Disability
Emily Boycott, Rhythmic Gymnastics (Acton, Ontario)
Emily has been a rhythmic gymnast with the Oakville Butterflies for the last 7 years. Participating in all rhythmic disciplines she picks her own music, and creates and designs her own routines around her strengths and talents.
Male Coach of the Year
Louis Mendonca, Field Hockey (Thornhill, Ontario)
His technical excellence combined with an ability to motivate and communicate clearly, allows Louis to coach athletes to perform their best, especially under pressure. Louis was named Canada’s Men’s National Team Head Coach which will compete at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
Female Coach of the Year
Lisa Patterson, OUA Nordic Skiing (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
As Head Coach of the Lakehead University Nordic Ski Team, Lisa has made the University the place to both ski and study in Canadian Universities. Lisa has also represented her country as she was the Head Coach for Team Canada Nordic at the 2007 Torino Winter Universiade.
Team of the Year
Karen Cockburn (Toronto, Ontario) & Rosannagh MacLennan (King City, Ontario), Gymnastics
Both Karen and Rosannagh are strong independently on the trampoline but are unbeatable as a synchronized team. The impressive pair consistently won the gold medal on the International circuit and capped the year with a World Cup gold medal.
The Rolf Lund Jule Nisse Award
Brenda Willis, Volleyball (Kingston, Ontario)
Brenda has been active as a volunteer in the Ontario sport community for over 30 years. She has an outstanding playground to podium commitment and her volunteer hours would be calculated in the thousands. Brenda is a mentor to many, a visionary, and a respected hard working leader.
Syl Apps Special Achievement Award Recipients
Beth Ali, Field Hockey (Waterloo, Ontario)
Jennifer Birch-Jones, Squash (Ottawa, Ontario)
Zvonimir Celebija, Karate (Brampton, Ontario)
Tom Cook, Cross Country (North Bay, Ontario)
Mary Ann Cormack, Diving (Campbellville, Ontario)
James Dempsey, Wrestling (St. Thomas, Ontario)
Jim Dover, Rowing (Simcoe, Ontario)
Kristine Drakich, Volleyball (Toronto, Ontario)
Valerie Dunn, OFSAA (Cochrane, Ontario)
Peter Henderson, Equestrian (Pickering, Ontario)
Iris Heney, 5 Pin Bowling (Nepean, Ontario)
Alfred Huggins, Soccer (Bowmanville, Ontario)
Christopher Lowcock, Disc Sports (Toronto, Ontario)
John McCrae, Curling (Lindsay, Ontario)
Chris Mickle, Wheelchair Sports (London, Ontario)
Ken Miller, Hockey (North Bay, Ontario)
Mark Psutka, Figure Skating (Formosa, Ontario)
Harnek Singh Rai, Powerlifting (Brampton, Ontario)
Martin Sharpe, Cycling (Hamilton, Ontario)
Peter Stephenson, Badminton (Whitby, Ontario)
Dan Taylor, Swimming (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario)
Gary Tonelli, Baseball (Timmins, Ontario)
Albert Tschirhart, Track & Field (Guelph, Ontario)
Craig Weldon, Judo (Whitby, Ontario)
Gail Whittemore, Gymnastics (Toronto, Ontario)
Corporate Sport Citations Award Recipients
Best Western International (Curl Ontario)
Black Knight Canada Ltd. (Ontario Badminton Association)
Investors Group (Golf Association of Ontario)
National Hockey League Players Association (Hockey Development Centre for Ontario)
National Marine Manufacturers Association Canada (Ontario Sailing)
Ontario University Athletics (OFSAA)
Pizza Pizza Ltd. (Ontario Disc Sports Association)
RSC Racquet Sports (Ontario Tennis Association)
Talisman Resort Village (Gymnastics Ontario)
Tippet-Richardson Limited (Sport Alliance of Ontario)
Tourism Sarnia Lambton (Paralympics Ontario)
Via Trailers (Ontario Equestrian Federation)
WHATA SPRINGS (Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association)
News Release:
Rick Byun, Minister’s Office, 416-326-8497
Julie Rosenberg, Communications, 416-326-4833
