Throughout the month of December, AthletesCAN will reveal the finalists in six award categories for the 45th Canadian Sport Awards continuing to focus on trailblazers, athlete-centred accomplishments and initiatives – with the ultimate goal to unite, amplify and celebrate the leadership and voices of our members.
The campaign will culminate in a virtual awards broadcast on Wednesday, Dec. 21, live on AthletesCAN’s digital channels.
AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award
The AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award honours a current or retired national team athlete who used their platform to make a positive impact in their sport or community at the local, national, or international level.
It recognizes the significant contributions of an athlete leader in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, community, volunteer and/or social change initiatives.
Pamphinette Buisa, Rugby
Buisa is a leading member of Rugby Canada’s BIPOC Working Group and utilizes her platform to amplify voices and challenge systems of oppression through advocacy work with an organization known as Decolonize Together
Shaquille Murray-Lawrence, Bobsleigh
A former CFL running back, Murray-Lawrence spoke out about the racism and Olympic qualification inequities he faced following the team selection for the Beijing 2022 Games. Despite posting better results over a two-year period than his white competitor who had fewer recorded races, Murray-Lawrence was denied a a full-time spot on the team, settling for an alternate position. His calls of maltreatment joined a growing voice of athletes within the sport seeking cultural change and a more athlete-centred approach.
Taylor Ruck, Swimming
Following her initial success from 2016-18, Ruck shared her story of her two-year battle with an eating disorder that limited her participation and success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. After opening up about her situation, Taylor began her road to recovery, eventually leading her to qualify for this year’s World Championships where she won three relay medals.