Top Indigenous Athletes to Receive the Prestigious Tom Longboat Award
Ottawa, ON — The Aboriginal Sport Circle is pleased to announce the 2019 winners of the prestigious Tom Longboat Award. Cameron Gayleard is named the male Aboriginal athlete of the year and Lyric Atchison named female Aboriginal athlete of year.
The Tom Longboat Awards were established in 1951 to recognize Aboriginal athletes for their outstanding contributions to sport in Canada. The Awards provide a forum for acknowledging the growth and strength of the Aboriginal sport movement in Canada and its tremendous impact on sport development from community level participation to elite level competition.
Cameron Gayleard is a proud Métis from the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews, Manitoba. Cameron is currently a varsity athlete competing for Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg, MB. Cameron was previously the captain of the Selkirk Royals AAAA Varsity Boys Volleyball team as well as a bronze medalist in the Volleyball Manitoba’s Beach Provincials. “Having someone with the level of respect leadership, skills and admiration of his peers that Cameron has is unique these days,” said Jeff Scarcello, Royals club coach.
Lyric Atchison is a First Nation athlete from the Squamish Nation. Lyric is currently a starting line varsity rugby player for the University of British Columbia and played on Team Canada U20 Team at the 2019 Tri-Nations Cup.
“Lyric has true commitment to bettering herself and the others around her and sees sport as a vehicle to do so,” said Darcy Patterson of BC Rugby. “Lyric’s ambition to pursue higher level sport are also accompanied by her drive and dedication to excel academically.”
The two national recipients will be recognized as award winners at Canada’s Sports Hall of
Fame Induction Ceremony on October 23, 2019 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
“It is an honour for the Aboriginal Sport Circle to celebrate the achievements of Lyric Atchison and Cameron Gayleard through the National Tom Longboard Award” reflected Carey Calder, CEO Aboriginal Sport Circle. “This is a remarkable example of Indigenous participation in sport and provides both athletes with a tremendous opportunity to reflect positive role modeling throughout Turtle Island.”
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