TORONTO – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is proud to announce the national campaign launch for the upcoming 45th Canadian Sport Awards (CSAs).
Beginning today and throughout the month of December, AthletesCAN will reveal the finalists in six award categories, 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.
Kicking off the campaign is the People’s Choice Award for Most Trending Moment of the Year, which will see 10 finalists vying for the title via online voting in partnership with CBC Sports.
The People’s Choice Award will be followed by the AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award, the True Sport Award, #AthleteVoice Award: Rep of the Year, the Bruce Kidd Leadership Award and the revived Randy Starkman Award for Leadership in Sports Journalism.
The campaign will culminate in a virtual awards broadcast on Wednesday, Dec. 21, live on AthletesCAN’s digital channels.

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
Speed Skating – Long Track
In her Olympic debut, Isabelle Weideman captured Canada’s first medal at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, with a bronze in the 3000m. She would later add a silver in the 5000m and a gold in the team pursuit. With a medal of each colour, Weidemann was named Closing Ceremony flag-bearer.
Swimming
The 15-year-old sensation was the most-decorated Canadian at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games winning six medals – two gold (200m and 400m individual medley), three silver (400m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays), and one bronze (4x100m freestyle relay). McIntosh set four records in the process, including a pair of World Junior marks and a new Commonwealth Games record in the 400m medley.
FIFA World Cup Qualification
Canada emphatically defeated Jamaica 4-0 on Mar. 27 at BMO Field in Toronto, qualifying for the men’s FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986. The victory cemented Canada’s place in the tournament, finishing in top spot with an 8-2-4 record in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying.
2022 Commonwealth Games
Debuting at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the 3×3 basketball competition saw all four of Canada’s teams medal, with both the women’s able-bodied and wheelchair squads capturing gold, while the men’s wheelchair team earned silver and the men’s able-bodied team taking home bronze.
then meet Olympic role models
Inspired by Team Canada’s performances in Beijing, a group of five children built their own bobsled out of snow outside Olympian Cody Sorensen’s childhood Ottawa home. Then they got to meet their hero himself, after Sorensen and teammate Mike Evelyn surprised them
Para Nordic Skiing
On a trek through the woods, para nordic skiers Christina Picton and Collin Cameron tested their skills to get past a fallen tree. Ask yourself – would you leapfrog or would you limbo?
2022 Winter Olympics
Canada dominated the women’s hockey tournament at Beijing 2022 en route to reclaiming the gold medal. Sarah Nurse set the single tournament scoring record with 18 points, while the team found the the back of the net 57 times in seven games to break their own goal-scoring record en route to the title.
Para Nordic Skiing
At his sixth and final Paralympics in Beijing, Brian McKeever struck gold in all three of his events, including the 20km classic, 1.5 km sprint and 12.5 km free for the visually impaired.
Artist paints veteran wheelchair curler
A talented artist with a physical disability, Samantha Woj painted portraits of athletes throughout the Beijing Games using sporting equipment, including wheelchair curler and Opening Ceremony co-flagbearer Ina Forrest.
Beach Volleyball
Melissa Humana-Paredes and Sarah Pavan took home their second consecutive Commonwealth Games title in Birmingham, successfully defending their title to remain the only gold medalists in the event’s history since its 2018 debut. The duo went a perfect 7-0, defeating Australia in three sets in the final.