fbpx
Login

Canadian Sport Awards

AthletesCAN logo / Logo d'AthlètesCAN

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.

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. 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.”

Dasha Peregoudova, former President of AthletesCAN

Award Categories & History

Canadian Sport Award winners / Gagnants des Prix sportifs canadiens

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

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. The award’s legacy now also includes the history of the Inclusion: Obliterating Barriers Award.

Specific Criteria:

  1. This award can be presented to an individual only once in their lifetime.
  2. This award must be presented to a current or retired national team athlete.
YEARNAMESPORTAWARD
2023Phyllis EllisField HockeyAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
2022Shaquille Murray-LawrenceBobsleighAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
2021Mandy BujoldBoxingAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
2020Hayley WickenheiserHockeyAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
 QuinnSoccerInclusion
2019Evan DunfeeAthleticsAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
 Michael LinklaterBasketballInclusion
2018Mark TewksburySwimmingAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
 Billy Bridges / Sami Jo SmallHockeyInclusion
2017Brad SpenceAlpine SkiingAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
2016Chandra CrawfordNordic SkiingAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
2015Jane (Rumball) ThorntonRowingAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
2014Kyle ShewfeltGymnasticsAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
2013Kyle MillerLacrosseAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
2012Philippe BeaudryFencingAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
2011Jennifer HeilFreestyle SkiingAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
2010Clara HughesSpeed Skating / CyclingAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
2009Adam KreekRowingAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
 Andrew HaleySwimmingAthletesCAN Social Responsibility
 Scott Fraser-DauphineeBasketballAthletesCAN 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.

Specific Criteria:

  1. This award can be presented to an individual only once in their lifetime.
  2. This award must be presented to a Canadian citizen.
True Sport Award Winner / Prix Sport Pur
YEAR NAME SPORT
2023 Michael Woods Cycling
2022 Molly Carlson High Diving
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 – 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:

  1. 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.
  2. The nominator must be involved in the rep’s respective organization as an athlete, administrator, volunteer, or director.

#AthleteVoice Award Winner / Prix #VoixDesAthlètes

YEARNAMESPORT
2023Canadian Soccer Players AssociationSoccer
2022Cynthia AppiahBobsleigh
2021Karen PaquinRugby
2020Celina TothDiving
2019Beckie ScottCross-Country Skiing / WADA Athlete Council
2018Inaki GomezAthletics

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..

Specific Criteria:

  1. 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.
  2. Eligible sport leaders must represent a national organization working for the betterment of Canadian sport.
  3. Eligible organizations include those that operate at a national or provincial level and whose mandate includes the betterment of Canadian sport.
  4. This award can be presented to an individual only once in their lifetime for individual recipients.
  5. 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.
Canadian Sport Award Winner Jane Roos / Lauréat Prix sportifs canadiens Jane Roos
YEAR NAME SPORT AWARD
2023 Jane Roos Canadian Athletes Now Fund Bruce Kidd
2022 Seyi Smith Bobsleigh & Athletics Bruce Kidd
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: Most Trending Moment of the Year

Created in 2020, the Most Trending 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.

The Santiago 2023 Women's Goalball Team receives their trophy for the AthletesCAN Most Trending Moment Presented by Respect Group
YEAR NAME SPORT
2023 Santiago 2023 Women’s Goalball Team Goalball
2022 3×3 Basketball 2022 Commonwealth Games
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

Randy Starkman Award for Leadership in Sports Journalism

The Randy Starkman Award for Leadership in Sports Journalism was initially created in 2012, following the sudden passing of its namesake just a few months prior, who served as a long-time Toronto Star amateur sports reporter and advocate. The award recognizes the extraordinary career and unparalleled contributions of the late Randy Starkman in telling the stories of Canadian athletes and sport for over 30 years from an athletes’ perspective. This award will serve as an ongoing recognition of his legacy and will be a call to action to inspire current and future Canadian sports journalists to strive for the kind of sports journalism that he demonstrated throughout his career.

Specific Criteria:

  1. This award must be presented to a Canadian journalist or current and/or retired athlete (whose sport qualifies for AthletesCAN membership) pursuing a career in journalism.
  2. Eligible candidates are permitted to win the award more than once in their lifetime.
  3. Eligible candidates must be well-respected within the industry and sport, maintaining integrity and humility within their work and throughout their career.
  4. The eligible work must cover the stories of Canadian athletes who represent sports under the qualification of AthletesCAN membership.
YEARNAMEMedia Outlet
2023Sean Fitz-GeraldNational Post/The Canadian Press/Toronto Star/The Athletic
2022Lori EwingThe Canadian Press
2012Randy Starkman (accepted by Thomas Hall, Canoe/Kayak)Toronto Star

For all other former CSA categories, click here.