2024 RCA Excellence Awards

2024 RCA Excellence Awards Winners Announced

Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) is proud to announce the recipients of the 44th RCA Excellence Awards. These awards celebrate outstanding contributions and achievements within the Canadian rowing community over the past year. 
 
Among these distinguished recipients is Nancy Russell, named Volunteer of the Year for her transformative leadership and tireless dedication to Rowing PEI. As President, she has fostered inclusivity through initiatives like the “Women on Water” and “Newcomer on Water” programs, expanded rowing tourism, and elevated the Red Island Regatta to new heights, leaving a lasting impact on the club and community. 
 
The Umpire of the Year is Mélanie Bryce, whose dedication and passion for rowing have shaped her journey from athlete to World Rowing-certified international umpire. Mélanie’s commitment to ensuring athlete safety and fair competition, along with her encouragement of others to pursue umpiring, has made her an invaluable leader and inspiration within the rowing community. 
  
Fraser Valley Youth Rowing Society (FLYRS) Head Coach Nadine Mross has been selected as Coach of the Year due to her unwavering commitment, positivity, and passion for developing well-rounded athletes. Over her 16 years with FLYRS, Nadine has guided athletes to success at provincial and national levels while fostering personal growth, resilience, and teamwork. 
 
Scott Anderson is the 2024 recipient of the Jack Nicholson Bursary for his long-standing commitment to coaching, including his roles with the St. Catharines Rowing Club, Brock University, and the NextGen coaching team at the National Training Centre. 
 
Ottawa Rowing Club (ORC) has been chosen as the recipient of the Club – Outstanding Achievement of the Year award for its exceptional accomplishments in 2024. By restructuring its Junior Program to align with Long-Term Athlete Development principles, expanding adult and Special Olympics programming, and excelling at regattas like Défis du Canal, ORC demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and inclusivity, making a significant impact at all levels of rowing.  
 
Bill Schenk and Dr. Sandra Kirby are the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement award. Bill is honoured with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of dedication to improving rowing facilities, supporting athletes, and securing world-class events, including the 1999 World Rowing Championships in St. Catharines. Dr. Kirby is awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for her groundbreaking work as an Olympic athlete, scholar, educator, and advocate, dedicating her career to eliminating sexual harassment, abuse, and violence in sport, while championing equity and inclusion for athletes worldwide. 
 
Paralympian Jacob Wassermann has been selected for the Para Athlete of the Year award, with the Senior Athlete/Crew of the Year award going to Paris Olympics Canadian Women’s Eight (names listed HERE). Giancarlo DiPompeo and Aidan Hembruff have been awarded the U23 Athlete of the Year and Lucas Maroney and Elizabeth Najjar have been named Junior Athletes of the Year. Rounding out the athlete awards, the Tony Zasada Memorial award winners are Anna Currie and Giancarlo DiPompeo. 
 
RCA is also proud to recognize the National and NextGen Canadian rowers who stood proudly on the podium this past year, representing Canada on the international stage. Also being honored today are the dedicated volunteers receiving Long Service Awards, ranging from 15 to 60 years, for their unwavering commitment to rowing in Canada. View the International Achievement Award and Long Service recipients HERE.
 
The 2024 President’s Award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the rowing community. This year’s recipients are Doug Diet, Judy Sutcliffe, and Susan Kitchen. Doug is honoured for his initiative as the President of LaSalle Rowing Club, showing outstanding vision and leadership in growing rowing and fostering diverse engagement in his community, helping to establish a successful pathway for high school athletes into post-secondary rowing.  
 
Judy is celebrated for her outstanding contributions to umpiring at local, provincial, and national levels, exemplifying excellence. She has elevated the professionalism of umpiring across Canada, serving as Chair of RCA’s Umpire Committee and playing a crucial role in the development of umpire education and diversity initiatives. 
 
Susan is acknowledged for her impactful work in advancing and promoting indoor rowing at both national and international levels, including her leadership in organizing the Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships and successfully bidding for and hosting the 2023 World Indoor Rowing Championships.  
 
Together, their dedication and efforts continue to make a lasting impact on the sport of rowing in Canada. Congratulations to all the award winners! 

FULL LIST OF RCA EXCELLENCE AWARDS WINNERS

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