Photo Credit Melody Charlie
(Standing) Wally Samuel, Vancouver Island Regional Co-Lead, Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council, Paul Wyse Seward, Snuneymuxw Councillor, Janice Johnson, First Nations Health Authority Rep, Michael Dumont, Regional Director, Métis Nation BC, Gordon Hogg, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Sport, Leonard Krog, MLA, Nanaimo, Don McRae, MLA, Comox Valley, Rick Brant, Executive Director, Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council
(Seated) 2016 Premier’s Awards for Aboriginal Youth Excellence in Sport, Vancouver Island Regional Recipients: Anthony Henry, Danielle Dawson, Brandon Schellenberger, Jasmine Hunt, Jessica Strandlund, Crosby Stewart, Mayben Crabbe Photo credit Melody Charlie
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vancouver Island Honours Recipients of the 2016 Premier’s Awards for Aboriginal Youth Excellence in Sport
Eight Outstanding Aboriginal Athletes Receive Prestigious Award
Nanaimo, B.C. (November 22, 2016) – The 2016 Premier’s Awards for Aboriginal Youth Excellence in Sport were presented this evening to eight outstanding Aboriginal youth athletes from British Columbia’s Vancouver Island region. The awards were presented by Gordon Hogg, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Sport, during a formal celebration held at the Snuneymuxw Recreation and Wellness Centre. The Vancouver Island region is the fifth of the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council’s six regions to honour Aboriginal athletes through this prestigious province-wide awards program.
The Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council, in collaboration with the Province of British Columbia, launched the regional nomination process in September 2016, receiving more than 130 nominations from across the province for Aboriginal athletes under 25 years of age who have achieved excellence in performance sport, are regarded for their leadership qualities, are committed to higher education, and are recognized as community role models both on and off the field of play.
A total of 47 recipients were chosen within the Partners Council’s six regions – Northeast, Northwest, Interior, Fraser, Vancouver Coastal, and Vancouver Island.
The 2016 Premier’s Awards for Aboriginal Youth Excellence in Sport – Vancouver Island Regional Recipients
- Anthony Henry, age 15, Judo, Métis Nation BC
- Danielle Dawson, age 19, Soccer, Dzawada’enuxw First Nation
- Brandon Schellenberger, age 18, Rugby, Namgis First Nation
- Jasmine Hunt, age 18, Soccer, Quatsino First Nation
- Benjamin Tozer, age 18, Badminton, Métis Nation BC
- Jessica Strandlund, age 15, Softball, Volleyball, Métis Nation BC
- Crosby Stewart, age 22, Rugby, Gitanmaax Band
- Mayben Crabbe, age 17, Wrestling, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation
“Congratulations to the Vancouver Island recipients of the Premier’s Awards for Aboriginal Youth Excellence in Sport,” said Gordon Hogg, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Sport to the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. “These young athletes have trained hard and given back to their communities, demonstrating that they truly deserve this honour. Their achievements are a tribute to the proud Aboriginal heritage in our province.”
“We are inspired by the incredible achievements of these amazing young athletes,” said Wally Samuel, Co-Lead for the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council’s Vancouver Island Region. “Tonight we honour eight role models who are true champions both on and off the field of play. They are each making a difference on their teams, within their families and communities. Congratulations Vancouver Island recipients!”
These Regional recipients automatically serve as nominees for the Provincial Awards. A total of 12 Provincial Awards (six male and six female) will be selected in January. Provincial recipients will be presented with their award at Gathering our Voices National Aboriginal Youth Conference in Kelowna March 21 – 24, 2017.
On November 29, the Interior region will host a formal celebration to honour their 2016 Regional Premier’s Awards recipients.
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About the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council
The Partners Council is a consortium of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, the First Nations Health Authority, and the Métis Nation BC. As the stewards of BC’s Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Strategy, the Partners Council works with First Nations, Aboriginal communities and other sport and physical activity stakeholders to deliver community-based programs designed to promote active lifestyles and support the desire for transformative change in the health and well-being of Aboriginal communities, families and individuals across BC. For more information, please visit: www.aboriginalsportbc.ca.
Media Contact
Felicia Greekas
Manager, Premier’s Awards and Communications
(250) 388-5522 ext. 226
fgreekas@bcaafc.com
