Sport BC Announces 56th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards’ Finalists

Media Advisory – January 18, 2024 – (Vancouver, BC)

Sport BC announces the finalists to be celebrated at the upcoming 56^th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards taking place on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The event, to be hosted by CBC’s Scott Russell, recognizes the province’s best in amateur sport including athletes, coaches, teams, and officials for outstanding performances in their sport in the 2023 season.  Each finalist was nominated by their Provincial or Multi-Sport Organization, High School, College, or University. The Selection Committee, led by long-serving Chair Bernie Pascall, included a diverse group of highly experienced British Columbia sport leaders and media members.

An additional six awards will be presented at the ceremony including the Best of BC, KidSport BC Community Champion, Harry Jerome Comeback, Daryl Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award and In Her Footsteps Honourees and the Bobbie Steen Legacy Foundation Award recipient.

“The Athlete of the Year Awards is a true celebration of sport in our province. The finalists listed below will be honoured at the event and represent exceptional efforts and accomplishments in 2023. We congratulate our finalists and the organizations they represent”, shares Sport BC’s President and CEO, Rob Newman. “We look forward to celebrating as a sector together on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The finalists represent 24 sports from communities all throughout BC demonstrating the collective strength of our province’s sport sector.”

Athlete with a Disability
Yuka Chokyu (Vancouver, BC) – Badminton

Bo Hedges (Wonowon, BC) – Wheelchair Basketball

Mel Pemble (Victoria, BC) – Para Cycling (Track)

Female Coach of the Year
Jane Gumley (Victoria, BC) – Rowing (UVIC)

Sarah Hunter (Surrey, BC) – Wheelchair Tennis

Keri Moffat (Richmond, BC) – Golf

Male Coach of the Year
Dylan Armstrong (Kamloops, BC) – Athletics

Victor Gantsevich (Richmond, BC) – Fencing

Graham Thomas (Calgary, AB) – Ice Hockey (UBC)

High School Female Athlete of the Year
Amelia Kristen (Vancouver, BC) – Athletics (Crofton House)

Keira Pemberton (Langley, BC) – Basketball (Walnut Grove)

Eva Ruse (North Vancouver, BC) – Basketball and Volleyball (Mulgrave)

High School Male Athlete of the Year
Mark Johnson (Vernon, BC) – Football (Vernon Secondary)

Yemane Mulugeta (Surrey, BC) – Athletics (L.A. Matheson)

Nash Semeniuk (Kelowna, BC) – Basketball and Volleyball (Kelowna Secondary)

Junior Female Athlete of the Year
Lauren Kim (Surrey, BC) – Golf

Emmy Lan (Comox, BC) – Cycling

Chloe Primerano (North Vancouver, BC) – Ice Hockey

Junior Male Athlete of the Year
Nicholas Bennett (Parksville, BC) – Para Swimming

Gavin Dodd (Kamloops, BC) – Gymnastics

Tyson Philpot (Delta, BC) – Football

Senior Female Athlete of the Year
Gabby Flynn (Burnaby, BC) – Gymnastics

Megan Kinna (Maple Ridge, BC) – Lacrosse

Camryn Rogers (Richmond, BC) – Athletics

Senior Male Athlete of the Year
Jack Crawford – Alpine Skiing

Dylan French (Richmond, BC) – Fencing

Ethan Katzberg (Nanaimo, BC) – Athletics

Post Secondary Athlete of the Year
Theo Benedet (North Vancouver, BC) – Football (UBC)

Rowan Hamilton (Chilliwack, BC) – Athletics (UBC)

Michael Henman (Victoria, BC) – Soccer (UNBC)

Team of the Year
BC Female U18 Hockey

TWU Spartans Men’s Volleyball

UVIC Vikes Women’s Field Hockey

Master Athlete of the Year
Betty Brussel (New Westminster, BC) – Swimming

Malindi Elmore (Kelowna, BC) – Athletics

Melanie McQuaid (Victoria, BC) – Triathlon

Official of the Year
Shanda Assmus (Vancouver, BC) – Rugby

Melanie Stewart (Port Coquitlam, BC) – Ringette

Trevor Walmsley (Vancouver, BC) – Karate

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About Sport BC

Sport BC believes in the power of sport and is committed to building stronger communities through positive sport experiences. Our goal is to enhance and support sport participation in British Columbia ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Through our KidSport BC, BC Amateur Sport Fund, and ProMOTION Plus along with our services Sport BC Insurance, and Payroll and Group Benefits; Sport BC supports our seventy plus member organizations. Keep up to date @SportBC

 

Media Contact                                                 Athlete of the Year Awards

Allison Mailer                                                  Thursday, March 7, 2024

Sport BC, VP Operations                               Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

allison.mailer@sportbc.com                        #SportBC56thAOY

778-839-8576                                                   https://sportbc.com