Ottawa Sports Awards – The Ottawa Sports Awards is proud to announce the 2017 recipients of Lifetime Achievement Awards in coaching, officiating, and volunteering, as well as the winner of the Mayor’s Cup award for outstanding contribution to local sport. The honourees will be celebrated in person at the 2017 Ottawa Sports Awards Dinner, January 31, 2018 at Algonquin College on Woodroffe Avenue.

Brian Kilrea Lifetime Achievement Award, Coaching: Earle Morris

Arriving in Ottawa in 1983, Earle Morris has made an indelible mark on the curling culture across Canada while maintaining a strong connection to the Ottawa community. Morris coached Rachel Homan’s Ottawa Curling Club foursome to two Canadian women’s titles and a pair of world championship medals and was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame last year. In addition to his house-hold name national championship and international teams, Morris has ensured that the recreational level youth and adult curlers are welcomed and supported. He was an influential figure in the development of Curling Canada’s adult learn-to-curl program and invented The Stabilizer, a device which has increased the accessibility of the sport he loves.

Lifetime Achievement Award, Technical Official: George Findley

Born and raised in Ottawa, George Findley has earned many accolades over his distinguished 45 years of umpiring fast pitch. A Master Instructor and Evaluator and a past president and co-founder of the Eastern Ontario Umpires Association, Findley has umpired Canadian, North-American, and World Championships. Reaching the heights of umpiring on the field and serving as an important mentor to many in the fast pitch community, Findley can also be found on the basketball courts as an official in the winter time.

Lifetime Achievement Award, Sports Volunteer: Cathy Skinner

For over 35 years Cathy Skinner has welcomed skaters at the Goulbourn Skating Club in CanSkate and AdultSkate programs. With this award she is being recognized for her volunteer work with Special Olympics Ontario. In 2017 Skinner celebrated two of her Special Olympic skaters winning gold at the Special Olympics World Winter Games, adding to three gold and three silver that were won in 2013 when Skinner travelled with Team Canada to World Winter Games in South Korea. The impressive results stand alongside the true community of skaters that she has fostered, making a life-long impact in the lives of Ottawa families.

Mayor’s Cup: Bob Wilson

Alongside a 37-year career in education, Bob Wilson stands out as a prominent contributor to his community through his extensive and varied volunteer work across the sport, municipal, and non-profit spectrums. Holding multiple positions at sporting special events in Ottawa such as the Canadian Special Olympics 2000, and FIFA U20 in 2008, Wilson’s involvement has extended well beyond the baseball community which he has proudly served for many years. He has also worked with The Ontario Trillium Foundation to ensure funding for local sports. The Nepean resident was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Tickets for the Ottawa Sports Awards Dinner go on sale December 15 at https://ottawasportsawards.ca/

The Ottawa Sports Awards is the largest and most inclusive amateur sport recognition event in Canada will mark its 65th anniversary this year. Winners of the 65 individual sport awards, team recognition awards, and the Athlete, Coach, and Team of the Year awards will be announced in December and January. Nominations remain open for these awards until December 15 and can be submitted at https://ottawasportsawards.ca/nomination-form/

For more information, please contact:

Jen Elliott

Ottawa Sports Awards Board Member

613-608-4574

ottawasportsawardsmedia@gmail.com