BC residents get say in selecting provinces top athlete
By Contributor
The BC Sport Sector is encouraging all British Columbians to have their say in who should be named BC’s top athlete in 2012 by casting an online vote at SportBC.com.
Of six exceptional finalists, the athlete who receives the highest number of votes will be honoured with the “Best of BC” award for his or her achievements at the 47th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards.
“B.C. athletes dazzled on the world stage in 2012 and I know that British Columbians will have a tough time narrowing it down to one winner,” said Bill Bennett, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
“The spectacular performances of these six athletes last year were nothing short of extraordinary, and I congratulate all of them on their successes.
Their achievements have, no doubt, inspired a new generation of athletes, and are strong evidence that our sport sector is working.”
Voters will be asked to choose the athlete they feel best represented BC, nationally or internationally, in either a professional or amateur sport from the following shortlist of finalists:
- Christine Sinclair (Burnaby, BC) – Soccer, Olympic Medalist
- Mario Gutierrez (Vancouver, BC) – Jockey, 2012 Preakness Stakes Trophy
- Ryan Cochrane (Victoria, BC) – Swimming, Olympic Medalist
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Burnaby, BC) – Hockey, Captain of the World Junior Hockey Team
- Ryder Hesjedal (Victoria, BC) – Cycling, 2012 Giro d’Italia Champion
- Willie Mitchell (Port McNeill, BC) – Hockey, 2012 Stanley Cup Champion
“2012 was an outstanding year for BC athletes, as evident by the calibre of candidates put forward for this award,” said Rob Newman, President and CEO at Sport BC.
“These six athletes are powerhouses, not only as competitors in their respective sports but also in their representation of our province on the world stage.”
The online vote, along with the athlete profiles, can be found at SportBC.com/bestofbc.
Voting closes on February 26, 2013 and the people’s choice for the Best of BC recipient will be revealed the following day.
Previous winners of the Best of BC Award include Lauren Woolstencroft (Para Alpine Ski, 2010), Justin Morneau (Baseball, 2008) and Steve Nash (Basketball, 2005 & 2006).
The Athlete of the Year Awards is Canada’s longest running sport recognition event celebrating BC’s finest athletes.
The Athlete of the Year Awards, founded by Sport BC, is the longest standing sport recognition event in the country.
Awards in 17 different categories are given each year to athletes, coaches and officials on their performance and contribution to sport in the province. The awards play a valuable role in nurturing athletic success and recognizing some of BC’s growing talents.
For a list of previous award winners and additional information on the 47th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards, please visit SportBC.com.
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