Traditional Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples / Victoria, B.C. – In collaboration with the Province of British Columbia, the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is launching the nomination process for the 2022 Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport. The Premier’s Awards honours and uplifts Indigenous youth athletes who have achieved excellence in performance sport and are regarded for their leadership qualities both on and off the field of play.

Nominations are open to Indigenous youth (First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit) in B.C. who are 24 years of age and younger (born 1998 or later), are a permanent resident of B.C., participant in one or more sports (provincial/regional/traditional), enrolled in school or actively planning to pursue post-secondary education and who:

• Compete in performance sport
• Demonstrate strong leadership qualities
• Are committed to pursuing higher education
• Serve as community role models both on and off the field of play
• Are involved in cultural activities or show a desire to learn about their Indigenous ancestry

The Premier’s Awards are conducted regionally and provincially. A maximum of 36 athletes will be selected for the Regional Awards, with up to 6 athletes within each of I·SPARC’s regions: Northeast, Northwest, Interior, Fraser, Vancouver Coastal, Vancouver Island. Athletes selected for the Regional Awards will automatically serve as nominees for the Provincial Awards, with up to 10 Provincial Awards being given out.

A Regional Award Ceremony will be held early 2023 to honour the Regional Award recipients. A Provincial Award Ceremony will be held in the spring of 2023 to honour the Provincial Award recipients. Provincial Award recipients will have their profile placed on display at the BC Sports Hall of Fame and will receive a cash bursary.

The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, December 16, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. (PST).

The Regional Nomination form can be found at https://isparcbc.wufoo.com/forms/2022-premiers-awards-nomination-form-copy/

To find out more about the Premier’s Awards, visit www.isparc.ca/premiersawards.

About the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC)
The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is a provincial organization established with the purpose of improving the health outcomes of Indigenous peoples by supporting and encouraging physically active individuals, families, and communities. The programs and services delivered by I·SPARC are designed to build capacity and increase access to sport, recreation, and physical activity in First Nations communities, Métis Chartered Communities, Aboriginal Friendship Centres, schools, and other delivery agencies throughout British Columbia. For more information, please visit: www.isparc.ca.