CALGARY, AB — AthletesCAN proudly hosted the 48th Canadian Sport Awards on October 3, 2025, celebrating excellence, leadership, and inspiration across the Canadian sport community.
Held at WinSport in Calgary, Alberta, the event brought together athletes, partners, and sport leaders from across the country to honour outstanding performances and achievements from the past year. The evening featured seven award presentations recognizing the accomplishments of Canada’s top athletes, journalists and advocates.
- AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award: Diana Matheson, Soccer
- True Sport Award: Taylor de Boer, Volleyball
- #AthleteVoice Award – Rep of the Year: Jacqueline Simoneau, Artistic Swimming
- Bruce Kidd Leadership Award: Anastasia Bucsis, Speed Skating
- Athlete Support Award: CAN Fund
- Game Plan Champion Award: Steph Currie, CSIO, Alpine
- Randy Starkman Award for Leadership in Sports Journalism: Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
Hosted by Anastasia Bucsis of CBC Sports, the celebration was livestreamed nationally on CBC Sports platforms, allowing fans and supporters across Canada to join in commemorating those who continue to elevate Canadian sport.
The Canadian Sport Awards, first established in 1972, remain one of the country’s most prestigious athlete-driven recognitions, highlighting not only athletic excellence but also the values of integrity, inclusion, and leadership that define Canada’s sporting spirit.
Missed the live stream? Watch all the excitement and celebration on CBC:
2025 Nominees and Winners awarded at the 48th Canadian Sport Awards
AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award
Jeff Clarke, Soccer. Jeff is a former professional soccer player, has used his platform in soccer to create meaningful change. From leading youth development programs and promoting inclusion, to building facilities, supporting underprivileged athletes, and fostering social initiatives that break down barriers, his contributions have transformed communities and lives. Through his leadership and service, Jeff embodies the power of sport to drive positive social impact.
Patrice Dagenais, Wheelchair Rugby. Patrice is a 4x Paralympian and silver medalist. He has used his platform in wheelchair rugby to create lasting social impact, championing diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level of the sport. From leading national and club programs, multiple women’s development camps and coaching initiatives, that lead to the newly formed Women’s National Development Team, to inspiring others through school and rehabilitation visits, his work is transforming the landscape of wheelchair rugby in Canada. His leadership and vision exemplify how sport can drive positive change and empower the next generation of athletes.
Diana Matheson, Soccer. Diana is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist that has dedicated herself to advancing women’s soccer in Canada, co-founding Project 8 to create opportunities for female players nationwide. She is now spearheading the launch of the Northern Super League, Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, providing vital opportunities and visibility for women athletes. Her commitment to inclusion, equity, and growth makes her an inspiring role model for generations to come.
2025 AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award Winner: Diana Matheson
True Sport Award
Taylor de Boer, Volleyball. Taylor is a Team Canada volleyball player and NCAA Division One athlete, was diagnosed at 17 with a rare autoimmune disease and fought her way back to international competition. She shares her story to bring hope, visibility, and strength to those facing adversity—showing that no challenge can silence the love of sport or the power of resilience. On and off the court, Taylor is a leader, advocate, and an inspiring role model that embodies the True Sport values.
Eric Furtado-Rodrigues, Wheelchair Rugby. Eric is a 2x paralympian who discovered wheelchair rugby after a life-changing spinal cord injury in 2009. Now captain of Canada’s national team, he leads with perseverance, fairness, and respect, and makes everyone around him feel seen, heard, and valued. Beyond the court, Eric uses his voice to champion inclusion, advocates for athlete representation, and inspires others through his kindness, integrity, and love for sport.
Ruby Stevens, Para Swimming & Wheelchair Rugby. Ruby’s journey has been filled with challenges from Autism, Epilepsy, and a rare progressive neurological disorder, yet through Para Swimming, and Wheelchair Rugby she found joy, resilience, and international success—most notably representing Canada at the 2023 Para PanAm Games, where she won gold and set a record. Despite setbacks and uncertainty, Ruby’s determination, kindness, and unwavering spirit make her a true role model who embodies the very best of sport, fairness, and inclusion.
2025 True Sport Award Winner: Taylor de Boer
#AthleteVoice Award – Rep of the Year
Melanie Labelle, Wheelchair Rugby. Melanie is a trailblazer in wheelchair rugby, using her voice to champion inclusion, equity, and athlete representation at every level of sport. A national team member since 2019, she is spearheading the creation of Canada’s first women’s national development team and proudly helps elevate the Paralympic movement as an ambassador and advocate. Through her leadership roles with Wheelchair Rugby Canada and her advocacy worldwide, Melanie is shaping a more inclusive and athlete-centered future for sport.
Jacqueline Simoneau, Artistic Swimming. Jacqueline is a two-time Olympian and world champion in artistic swimming, known for her tireless dedication to athlete advocacy, wellness, and ethical leadership. As a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission, an IOC Young Leader, and newly appointed to the World Aquatics Athletes’ Committee, she has elevated athlete voices and driven meaningful change in sport. From supporting athletes on the ground at major international events to leading vital conversations around integrity and mental health, Jacqueline continues to lead with empathy, courage, and vision.
Marielle Thompson, Alpine (Ski Cross). Marielle, is a two-time Olympic medallist in ski cross, Alpine Canada’s athlete rep and a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission. She exemplifies dedication to athlete advocacy. Despite a challenging season of injury and recovery, she has remained unwavering in her commitment to elevating athlete voices, while working tirelessly behind the scenes to create a better sport environment for her alpine teammates and fellow athletes. Her resilience and leadership continue to inspire those around her.
2025 #AthleteVoice Award – Rep of the Year Winner: Jacqueline Simoneau
Bruce Kidd Leadership Award
Anastasia Buscsis, Speed Skating. Anastasia is a 2x Winter Olympian in Speed Skating, she has become an inspiring leader, changemaker, advocate, and storyteller off the ice. Known for her courage and authenticity—having been the only openly gay athlete from North America at the Sochi 2014 Olympics—she now uses her platform at CBC Sports to create inclusive spaces where athletes can share their true experiences. Through her work, Anastasia continues to champion equity, inclusion, and the importance of showing up as your authentic self, inspiring athletes and Canadians alike, making sport a safer place for all.
Michaela Widmer, Skeleton. Micaela is a former skeleton national team athlete and is now the Skeleton Development Lead with Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton. She is a passionate and transformative leader dedicated to growing and reshaping skeleton in Canada. Through her work developing youth programs, increasing access for girls, and fostering a safe, inclusive, athlete-centered culture, she has inspired countless athletes to pursue their dreams. Her leadership, both nationally and internationally, reflects a deep commitment to holistic athlete development, lasting change, and the values of inclusion and excellence.
Dr. Erin Willson, Artistic Swimming. Erin is an Olympian in artistic swimming and a tireless advocate for athlete rights, widely recognized across the sport system for her work amplifying the athlete voice. Since retiring from competition, she has become a trailblazer in safe sport advocacy and research, earning a PhD from the University of Toronto, leading AthletesCAN as board member and past president, and using her expertise to help National Sport Organizations and Multisport Service Organizations, create safer, more inclusive, and athlete-centered environments across Canada.
2025 Bruce Kidd Leadership Award Winner: Anastasia Bucsis
Athlete Support Award
B2ten. B2ten has spent the past 20 years empowering Canadian athletes to reach their full Olympic potential by providing targeted, behind-the-scenes support that fills gaps in the underfunded amateur sport system. Led by former athlete and coach Dominick Gauthier and businessman JD Miller, the organization has strategically deployed tens of millions of dollars from private donors to enhance training, competition environments, and integrated support services. Their individualized, high-impact approach has helped countless athletes excel on the world stage, including recent investments in Speed Skating Canada’s high-performance programs for 2026 Winter Olympic hopefuls.
CAN Fund. The Canadian Athletes Now Fund, is a charitable organization that has supported Canadian athletes with direct funding for over 20 years. Spanning 11 Olympic and 11 Paralympic Games, CAN Fund provides $8,000 per athlete to help cover coaching, training, travel, equipment, and living expenses, empowering athletes to pursue their dreams without financial barriers. Through innovative fundraising initiatives, CAN Fund has raised over $50 million, giving Canadian donors the name of the athlete they support and helping those athletes achieve their full potential on the world stage.
Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. The Smith School of Business is partnered with the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee, the school welcomed a record number of Olympians and Paralympians into its graduate programs in the 2024/2025 season, offering tailored academic pathways, scholarships, and flexible learning environments that accommodate the unique demands of high-performance sport. By investing in athletes’ futures beyond competition, the Smith School of Business ensures Canadian athletes are supported in building meaningful careers alongside their sporting achievements.
2025 Athlete Support Award Winner: CAN Fund
Game Plan Champion Award
2025 Game Plan Champion Award Winner: Steph Currie
Randy Starkman Award for Leadership in Sports Journalism
2025 Randy Starkman Award for Leadership in Sports Journalism Winner: Donna Spencer
About AthletesCAN
AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is the only fully independent and most inclusive athlete organization in the country and the first organization of its kind in the world. As the voice of over 6,000 current and recently retired Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN membership spans 68 sports across the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan/Parapan American, and Commonwealth Games, and those currently funded by Sport Canada competing at Senior World Championships. AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture, through educational resources, support, training and professional development.
Follow the #AthleteVoice on social @AthletesCAN
For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Hopmans
Manager, Digital Marketing & Communications
AthletesCAN
613-526-4025 Ext. 224
[email protected]
