Sport BC Honours PBC President at Awards Ceremony

Sport BC celebrated the 55th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards on Thursday, March 9, 2023. 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 sport in either 2021 or 2022 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. 

“This was our first in-person event since 2019 and the 55th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards was a true celebration of sport in our province, the recipients represent an exceptional 2021 and 2022 in BC sport and we are inspired by the sport stories of all of our finalists, the category winners, and the organizations they represent”, shares Sport BC’s President and CEO, Rob Newman. “We are proud to bring the amateur sport community together and thank you guests, sponsors, and friends in sport.” 

Sport BC congratulated all the Athlete of the Year Awards’ Recipients and the President's Awards which included PIckleball BC's President Walter Knecht. Walter stated "I was honoured to receive one of Sport BC's President's Awards March 9, 2023 [recipients outlined in attached PDF] held in conjunction with their 55th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards Ceremony. I was nominated by my peers in recognition of my efforts to promote and organize pickleball here in B.C. and at the National level as well. I was one of 55 recipients this year." The President's Awards Ceremony took place in the hour preceding the Sport BC Athlete of the Year Ceremony.

The Athlete of the Year Ceremony ("AOY") was a gala event. Five hundred guests in a Juno Awards style ceremony affair. The Presidents' Awards recipients were piped in by the Vancouver Police Pipe & Drum Band and then shown to their assigned seats at one of fifty banquet tables." The AOY award presentations, was complete with short video presentations of all finalists (usually 5) in each of about 20 categories, one category at a time. Winners were announced, a presentation was made and thank you words were spoken. Several of the recipients were not able to attend but prearranged thank you videos were shown.

The AOY concept has been designed to showcase the growth of sports in BC, and the results of many British Columbians who are achieving their goals in a multitude of sports, at all ages! It was very impressive and moving to see how far and to what levels of success many amateur sport programs in BC have achieved. 

A supporting set of statistics was offered in support of the B.C. success stories. The Province of B.C. accounts for 14% of our national population. Looking at the last 2 sets of Olympic competitions including the Para Olympics (that is 4 sets of games), B.C. residents and others with strong B.C. connections accounted for more than 50% of the medals nationwide. The Government of B.C. through a variety of agencies and programs is very supportive of both all recreational sport at all levels, and is very supportive in the highly  competitive arena as well! 
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This AOY ceremony and awards made that statement in spades!

PS: Please see all the award winners on our new Virtual Trophy Page here...

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