Sport BC celebrated the 58th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The event was hosted by CBC’s Scott Russell, recognizing the province’s best in amateur sport including athletes, coaches, teams, and officials for outstanding performances in their 2025 sport season.
“Congratulations to all the finalists of the 2025 Athlete of the Year Awards. This is the moment we celebrate your positive contribution to sport and community,” says Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “Your commitment inspires those around you and demonstrates the importance of sport in bringing people together to build a stronger, more inclusive future for everyone.”
“The 58th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards celebrated sport in BC at all levels. We were inspired by the sport stories of all our finalists, winners, and the organizations they represent”, shared Sport BC’s President and CEO, Rob Newman. “We are proud to bring the amateur sport community together and thank our guests, sponsors, and friends in sport. I would like to personally thank the Province of B.C. and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport for being the lead supporter of the event.”
Sport BC congratulates all the Athlete of the Year Awards’ Recipients:
I-SPARC Female Athlete of the Year: Shalaya Valenzuela – Rugby
I-SPARC Male Athlete of the Year: Fynn McCarthy – Volleyball
Female Athlete with a Disability: Elise Froese – Wheelchair Basketball
Female Coach of the Year: Hilary Stellingwerff – Cross Country
Male Coach of the Year: Carlo Basso – Soccer
Male Athlete with a Disability: Thomas Venos – Wheelchair Tennis
High School Female Athlete of the Year: Adrianna Buitelaar – Athletics
High School Male Athlete of the Year: Elijah Black
Junior Female Athlete of the Year: Elly Hoskin – Cycling – Mountain Bike
Junior Male Athlete of the Year: Praise Aniamaka – Athletics
Senior Male Athlete of the Year: Jackson Goldstone – Cycling – Mountain Bike (Downhill)
Youth Male Athlete of the Year: Lowan Le Bris – Judo
Youth Female Athlete of the Year: Lily Stroda – Athletics
Team of the Year: Duchess Park Sr Boys Volleyball
Masters Athlete of the Year: Shelly Stouffer – Golf, Nanoose Bay, BC
Official of the Year: Grace Barlow – Ice Hockey
Additional awards were presented including the Best of BC, Harry Jerome Comeback, Daryl Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award, Bobbie Steen, and two In Her Footsteps Honourees.
Best of BC – Vancouver Rise FC
Harry Jerome Comeback Award – Larissa Franklin – Softball
Daryl Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award: Terrie Moore – Multi-Sport/ SportAbility
BC Women and Sport Recognition Awards
In Her Footsteps…Celebrating BC Women in Sport
Cathy Astofooroff – Snowboard
Savanna Smith – Lacrosse
Bobbie Steen Legacy Foundation Award
Teagan Johnstone – Multi Sport
Thank you to our generous sponsors, your support made the 58th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards possible.
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
Athlete of the Year Awards Media Contact
Thursday, March 5, 2026 Allison Mailer
@SportBC Sport BC, VP Operations
#SportBC58thAOY [email protected]
778-839-8576
