Province recognizes Aboriginal youth athletes

On Monday evening Premier Christy Clark gave out awards to six men and six women whose athletic accomplishments were as extraordinary as their commitment to their community and future aspirations.

The Premier’s Awards for Aboriginal Youth Excellence in Sport were presented during the Gathering Our Voices conference in Victoria. Twelve recipients crossed the stage in front of 2,000 of their peers at the national youth summit, to accept the inaugural awards for outstanding achievements by Aboriginal youth athletes throughout the province.

More than 75 nominations were put forward recognizing those who excelled in performance sport, displayed strong leadership qualities, were committed to higher education, and served as community role models both on and off the field of play. The awards were developed in partnership with the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation & Physical Activity Partners Council, which is made up of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, First Nations Health Authority and Metis BC Nation.

To help grow the spirit of encouraging Aboriginal athletes, in subsequent years, those training and competing in performance sport will be invited to apply for regional awards. From these regional recipients, individuals will be chosen through the Provincial award process.

Quotes:

Premier Christy Clark –

“These awards recognize the best and brightest young Aboriginal athletes in our province, who have been achieving excellence both on and off the field, rink, or court. B.C. has a long and proud tradition of producing world-class athletes, and I hope these awards will inspire many more young Aboriginal athletes for generations to come.”

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development –

“These 12 recipients possess the remarkable combination of athletic excellence, strong leadership skills and commitment to one’s community that speaks to the strength of their character. I wish each one of you continued success with your future both on the field of play and in the classroom.”

Gordon Hogg, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Sport –

“These young athletes continue a proud tradition of excellence established by many generations of aboriginal sport heroes. We acknowledge them for the significant contributions they have made towards further strengthening sport excellence within their culture. They can take great pride in their accomplishments; they are role models that unite and strengthen their communities.”

Rick Brant, director of Aboriginal Sport, Recreation & Physical Activity Partners Council –

“These inaugural awards recognize the outstanding achievements of Aboriginal youth who compete in high performance sport. Their performance on the field of play, commitment to community, and pursuit of excellence are an inspiration to us all.”

Learn More:

See backgrounder below for names of recipients.

To learn more about the Aboriginal Sport Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council: http://aboriginalsportbc.ca/

To view the unveiling of the Premier’s Award for Aboriginal Youth Excellence in Sport, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/ministries/community-sport-and-cultural-development