For Immediate Release – February 27, 2025 (Vancouver, BC)
BC Women & Sport is excited to recognize three deserving women that will be celebrated at the 57th Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Two women will be honoured with the prestigious In Her Footsteps . . . Celebrating BC Women in Sport recognition program and one recipient will receive the Bobbie Steen Legacy Foundation Award.
In Her Footsteps Honourees
The purpose of In Her Footsteps…Celebrating BC Women in Sport is to name and honour women who have made a significant contribution to sport in BC. The athletes, coaches, officials, builders, pioneers, teams, officials, and members of the media who have been selected for this honour have helped shape sport in BC. Their collective impact is felt across the BC sport sector and throughout the province. The honourees are celebrated at Sport BC’s Annual Athlete of the Year Awards and are featured at the In Her Footsteps . . . Celebrating BC Women In Sport Exhibit at the BC Sports Hall of Fame. The exhibit tells the stories of the honourees through interactive touch-screen components, artifacts, text, and photographs.
Katie Gordon
Katie made history as the first female firefighter for the City of Prince George in 2015, breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated profession and inspiring young women to pursue their ambitions in fields they might have once though unattainable.
Katie’s commitment to creating pathways for women extends into her love for sports as well, where she has been a powerful advocate for change in northern rugby. When faced with the absence of a women’s rugby team in Prince George, Katie revived the sport and inspired numerous women to join.
Katie co-founded the 1697’s rugby team, fostering a supportive environment for athletes to engage in sport. Katie did not stop there, and in 2024, she founded the Aurora Wolves Rugby Union, building a pathway for over 100 youth players across the north in its inaugural year.
Katie has dedicated countless hours in schools, local clubs, and on boards advocating for the future of female athletes and leaders in northern communities, to make sure they are seen, heard, and have access to empowering programs. Katie exemplifies what it means to lead by example, inspiring young women to break barriers, pursue their passions, and achieve their goals.
Mary Morice
Mary has been a dedicated GymBC member and an active contributor to the gymnastics community for over 35 years. Her primary role as a Recreational Coach has spanned multiple clubs across the province, and she has served as the Gymnastics for All Chair on the GymBC Board of Directors. Additionally, Mary has been instrumental as a GymBC Learning Facilitator, delivering National Coaching Certification Programs that shape the next generation of gymnastics coaches in British Columbia.
Throughout her career, Mary has championed recreational gymnastics opportunities, working with participants of all ages and abilities. Her passion for inclusive programming is evident through her long-time support for Interclub and Gymnaestrada, both of which offer gymnastics experiences for all. She is currently volunteering her time to support the 2025 Western Gymnaestrada.
Mary has proven to be a leader in the community by facilitating coaching courses throughout the province, and her contributions to program development. She completed the first draft of the BC Assisting and Guiding Clinic for Foundations coaches, set to be piloted in December 2024, and has contributed to the development of Interclub Program guidelines. As a Learning Facilitator for Kids Can Move, Mary has worked to bring physical literacy programs to young athletes across the province, inspiring children to lead active lives through gymnastics.
In 2021, Mary published a children’s book, Molly Loves to Move, which introduces kids to gymnastics in a fun and educational way. This book is used by parents and clubs alike to inspire children to discover their physical abilities through movement.
Bobbie Steen Legacy Foundation Award Recipient
Katie Miyazaki
Katie has focused much of her career on breaking down barriers and creating opportunities specifically for girls and women in traditionally male-dominated sports, such as football. In her role at Football Canada as Manager of Athlete Development, Katie led the creation and organization of Canada’s first-ever Women & Girls Football Conference. Katie has also been an active member of Football Canada’s Women’s Development Committee, where she drives initiatives designed to build equitable access to football at all levels, particularly for girls and women.
Beyond football, Katie’s contributions include work with INclusion INcorporated, where she has served as a panelist and co-moderator on workshops related to Safe Sport and Diversity and Inclusion. Her commitment to making sports spaces safer and more inclusive extends to projects with organizations such as BC Wheelchair Basketball Society, where she has developed programming to attract more girls and women to wheelchair basketball. Her experience coaching at the 2016 Rio Paralympics with the Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team further highlights her dedication to elevating female athletes in adaptive sports. Katie’s work with the Costa Rica Paralympic Committee to establish a women’s wheelchair basketball program exemplifies her international efforts to bring sport opportunities to women globally.
Katie’s career exemplifies a sustained, innovative approach to advancing gender equity in sport. Her future plans in sport promise to build on this legacy, continuing to open doors for girls and women and ensuring that their presence and voices are integral to the future of physical activity, sport, and recreation.
“The Athlete of the Year Awards is a celebration of sport in our province, and we are looking forward to showcasing a wide variety of stories during the event. Our In Her Footsteps Honourees and Bobbie Steen Legacy Foundation Award Recipients, are exceptional choices to be recognized by BC Women & Sport,” shares Sport BC’s President and CEO, Rob Newman. “We look forward to learning more about their important gender equity work and celebrating their collective accomplishments at the 57th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards on March 6, 2025.”
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About BC Women & Sport
BC Women & Sport (formally ProMotion Plus) believes in gender equity in British Columbia sport. BC Women & Sport has been committed to increasing opportunities for girls and women in physical activity and sport since 1990, supporting female athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and administrators reach their potential. Under the umbrella of Sport BC, BC Women & Sport is strengthening its impact by delivering expertise in gender equity and recognition to Sport BC members and the community at large. We are doing this through our communication activities, education initiatives, and specialty programs.
About Bobbie Steen Legacy Foundation
The Bobbie Steen Legacy Foundation Award is a $2000 grant, awarded to an emerging female leader in BC whose dedication to the women and girls of BC parallels that of Bobbie Steen and the Foundation. The Bobbie Steen Legacy Foundation has been created to provide financial support to charitable activities dedicated to advancing gender equity in physical activity and
sport and/or the community betterment resulting from female involvement in physical activity and sport. Over 30 young women have been awarded this prestigious grant.
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 BC Women & Sport along with our services Sport BC Insurance, and Payroll and Group Benefits; Sport BC supports our sixty plus member organizations. Keep up to date @SportBC
