
The Canadian Sport Awards were established 49 years ago in 1972 by modern day co-founders True Sport, Canadian Centre for Ethics and Sport, Canada Games Council, Commonwealth Sport Canada, and AthletesCAN to recognize and showcase excellence in Canadian sport. Since then, the CSA evolved over time to become the premier recognition event for national sporting excellence. After the 40th anniversary, the awards experienced a five-year hiatus. In 2017, AthletesCAN successfully acquired the rights to revive this staple event to once again bring together members of the sport community to honour the spirit, drive, and commitment of Canada’s international level athletes, coaches, volunteers, and sport leaders.
Past recipients include including Canadian sport icons Donovan Bailey, Chantal Petitclerc, Hayley Wickenheiser, Mark Tewksbury, Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir, Simon Whitfield, and Catriona Le May Doan, among many others.
“As part of our mandate, AthletesCAN is excited to celebrate and acknowledge the impact of the achievements our athletes and sport leaders have on society. Their contribution deserves national and formal acknowledgement”, says Dasha Peregoudova, former President of AthletesCAN. “This act of appreciation is integral to recognizing that the role our athletes play is centrally important to the Canadian collective on and off the field of play. The Canadian Sport Awards will once again provide that platform to share the stories of greatness, determination, selflessness, and persistence in the face of grueling obstacles that sport can create. We hope that the rest of Canada will join us in celebrating our love for the power of sport.”
Award Categories
AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award
This 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. This award recognizes the significant contributions of an athlete leader in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, community, volunteer and/or social change initiatives.
Specific Criteria:
- This award can be presented to an individual only once in their lifetime.
- This award must be presented to a current or retired national team athlete.
True Sport Award
The True Sport Award recognizes an inspirational Canadian citizen who exemplifies true sport values of fairness, excellence, inclusion, and fun in a meaningful way. Through the pursuit of sporting excellence this Canadian hero showcases dedication, perseverance, sportsmanship, respect for others, and a true love of sport.
Specific Criteria:
- This award can be presented to an individual only once in their lifetime.
- This award must be presented to a Canadian citizen.
#AthleteVoice Award – Rep of the Year
The #AthleteVoice Award – Rep of the Year recognizes the significant contributions of an athlete representative within their national sport organization, multi-sport organization or international sport organization. The athlete representation movement is only as good as the athletes chosen by their teammates to effect positive change. This award highlights the initiative, courage, and leadership of these individuals.
Specific Criteria:
- This award must be presented to a current or retired national team athlete who was an official athlete representative, Athletes’ Council/Commission member, and/or Athlete Director within a national, international, or multi-sport organization within the Qualifying Period.
- The nominator must be involved in the rep’s respective organization as an athlete, administrator, volunteer, or director.
Bruce Kidd Leadership Award
The Bruce Kidd Leadership Award is presented annually to a retired national team athlete, sport leader, or organization, who has provided meaningful contributions to the betterment of sport as a leader, advocate, change agent, or builder. This award highlights the ground breaking work that contributed to the betterment of sport through inspirational leadership, innovative practices, and/or positive influence on the Canadian sport sector. The Bruce Kidd Leadership Award is named in honour of 1968 Canadian Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. Bruce Kidd, who has made enormous contributions to Canada’s sporting community as an athlete, advocate, author, historian, and academic.
Specific Criteria:
- This award must be presented to a retired national team athlete, sport leader who represents a national sport organization, or an organization at the national or provincial level.
- Eligible sport leaders must represent a national organization working for the betterment of Canadian sport.
- Eligible organizations include those that operate at a national or provincial level and whose mandate includes the betterment of Canadian sport.
- This award can be presented to an individual only once in their lifetime for individual recipients.
- This award can be presented to an organization more than once provided the contributions noted within subsequent nominations differ from those in any previous win.
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 Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN ensures an athlete centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture.
About the Canadian Sport Awards
The Canadian Sport Awards were established 49 years ago in 1972 by modern day co-founders True Sport, Canadian Centre for Ethics and Sport, Canada Games Council, Commonwealth Sport Canada, and AthletesCAN to recognize and showcase excellence in Canadian sport. Since then, the CSA evolved over time to become the premier recognition event for national sporting excellence. After the 40th anniversary, the awards experienced a five-year hiatus. In 2017, AthletesCAN successfully acquired the rights to revive this staple event to once again bring together members of the sport community to honour the spirit, drive, and commitment of Canada’s international level athletes, coaches, volunteers, and sport leaders. Past recipients include including Canadian sport icons Donovan Bailey, Chantal Petitclerc, Hayley Wickenheiser, Mark Tewksbury, Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir, Simon Whitfield, and Catriona Le May Doan, among many others.
History




The Canadian Sport Awards were established in 1972 by modern day co-founders True Sport, Canadian Centre for Ethics and Sport, Canada Games Council, Commonwealth Sport Canada, and AthletesCAN to recognize and showcase excellence in Canadian sport. Since then, the CSA evolved over time to become the premier recognition event for national sporting excellence. After the 40th anniversary, the awards experienced a five-year hiatus. In 2017, AthletesCAN successfully acquired the rights to revive this staple event to once again bring together members of the sport community to honour the spirit, drive, and commitment of Canada’s international level athletes, coaches, volunteers, and sport leaders.
Over nearly 50 years of history, the Canadian Sport Awards have recognized various former categories in performance, leadership and corporate excellence.
As the completion of our archives remains a work in progress, if you have a correction or an addition, please email: Alan Hudes, Manager, Communications and Sport Partnerships (ahudes@athletescan.ca).
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.
The award’s legacy now also includes the history of the Inclusion: Obliterating Barriers Award.
YEAR | NAME | SPORT | AWARD |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Mandy Bujold | Boxing | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
2020 | Hayley Wickenheiser | Hockey | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
Quinn | Soccer | Inclusion | |
2019 | Evan Dunfee | Athletics | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
Michael Linklater | Basketball | Inclusion | |
2018 | Mark Tewksbury | Swimming | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
Billy Bridges / Sami Jo Small | Hockey | Inclusion | |
2017 | Brad Spence | Alpine Skiing | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
2016 | Chandra Crawford | Nordic Skiing | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
2015 | Jane (Rumball) Thornton | Rowing | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
2014 | Kyle Shewfelt | Gymnastics | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
2013 | Kyle Miller | Lacrosse | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
2012 | Philippe Beaudry | Fencing | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
2011 | Jennifer Heil | Freestyle Skiing | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
2010 | Clara Hughes | Speed Skating / Cycling | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
2009 | Adam Kreek | Rowing | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
Andrew Haley | Swimming | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility | |
Scott Fraser-Dauphinee | Basketball | AthletesCAN Social Responsibility |
True Sport Award
The True Sport Award recognizes an inspirational Canadian citizen who exemplifies true sport values of fairness, excellence, inclusion, and fun in a meaningful way. Through the pursuit of sporting excellence this Canadian hero showcases dedication, perseverance, sportsmanship, respect for others, and a true love of sport.
YEAR | NAME | SPORT |
---|---|---|
2021 | Evan Dunfee | Athletics |
2020 | Laurent Duvernay-Tardif | Football |
2019 | Christine Sinclair | Soccer |
2018 | Jill Officer | Curling |
#AthleteVoice Award: Rep of the Year
The #AthleteVoice Award recognizes the significant contributions of an athlete representative within their national sport organization, multi-sport organization or international sport organization. The athlete representation movement is only as good as the athletes chosen by their teammates to effect positive change. This award highlights the initiative, courage, and leadership of these individuals.
YEAR | NAME | SPORT |
---|---|---|
2021 | Karen Paquin | Rugby |
2020 | Celina Toth | Diving |
2019 | Beckie Scott | Cross-Country Skiing / WADA Athlete Council |
2018 | Inaki Gomez | Athletics |
Bruce Kidd Leadership Award
The Bruce Kidd Leadership Award is presented annually to a retired national team athlete, sport leader, or organization, who has provided meaningful contributions to the betterment of sport as a leader, advocate, change agent, or builder. This award highlights the ground breaking work that contributed to the betterment of sport through inspirational leadership, innovative practices, and/or positive influence on the Canadian sport sector.
The award is named in honour of 1968 Canadian Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. Bruce Kidd, who has made enormous contributions to Canada’s sporting community as an athlete, advocate, author, historian, and academic. The award’s legacy now also includes the history of both the AthletesCAN Leadership Award and the Leadership in Sport Award.
YEAR | NAME | SPORT | AWARD |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Jennifer Heil | Freestyle Skiing | Bruce Kidd |
2020 | Marnie McBean | Rowing | Bruce Kidd |
Jean Laroche | Para Athletics (Coach) | Leadership in Sport | |
2019 | Stephanie Dixon | Para Swimming | Bruce Kidd |
Michael Slipchuk | Skate Canada | Leadership in Sport | |
2018 | Chandra Crawford | Cross-Country Skiing | Bruce Kidd |
Michele O’Keefe | Canada Basketball | Leadership in Sport | |
2017 | Claire Carver-Dias | Artistic Swimming | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2016 | Chantal Petitclerc | Para Athletics | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2015 | Curt Harnett | Cycling | AhletesCAN Leadership |
2014 | Todd Nicholson | Para Hockey | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2013 | Chairmaine Crooks | Athletics | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2012 | Mark Tewksbury | Swimming | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2011 | Michael Smith | Wrestling | AthletesCAN Leadership |
Tom Quinn | N/A | Leadership in Sport | |
2010 | Nathalie Lambert | Speed Skating | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2009 | Sami Jo Small | Hockey | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2008 | Iain Brambell | Rowing | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2007 | Bobby Milroy | Badminton | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2006 | Beckie Scott | Cross-Country Skiing | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2005 | Lori Johnstone | Racquetball | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2005 | Lilo Ljubisic | Athletetice | AthletesCAN Leadership |
2005 | Mark Lowry | COC | Leadership in Sport |
1998 | Greg Edelow | Wrestling | Bruce Kidd |
1997 | Jean-Pierre Cantin | Judo | Bruce Kidd |
1996 | Curt Harnett | Cycling | Bruce Kidd |
1995 | Charmaine Crooks | Athletics | Bruce Kidd |
People’s Choice Award
Created in 2020, the Most Viral Moment Award honours a current or retired national team athlete who has captured the
virtual world by storm. This award highlights the magic that lives within sport to inspire and motivate all Canadians
through innovative use of a digital platform, captivating athletic performance, or who’s digital actions have been a force
for good
In 2018 and 2019, the award recognized the Performance of the Year.
YEAR | NAME | SPORT |
---|---|---|
2021 | Women’s Soccer Team | Olympic Gold Medal |
2020 | Danielle Kisser | Para Swimming – DIY Pool |
2019 | Bianca Andreescu | Tennis |
2018 | Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir | Figure Skating |
For all other former CSA categories, click here.