Traditional Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples / Victoria B.C. (April 1, 2025) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC) proudly announced the inaugural recipients of its Athletes of the Year awards during Sport BC’s 57th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards on March 6, 2025.
Presented in partnership with Sport BC, these awards celebrate the province’s most outstanding Indigenous athletes, highlighting their excellence in sport and dedication to their communities. This initiative represents a deepening collaboration between I·SPARC and Sport BC, reinforcing their shared commitment to reconciliation through sport.
I·SPARC’s 2024 Female Athlete of the Year was awarded to Justina Di Stasio, a distinguished wrestler with the Canadian National Team. In 2024, she realized her long-held dream of representing Canada at the Paris Summer Olympics in Women’s Freestyle Wrestling. She also secured a bronze medal at the 2023 Pan American Wrestling Championships in Argentina. A member of the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba, Justina grew up in Burnaby, B.C. She is an alumna of Simon Fraser University, where she earned her Education Degree while competing with the women’s wrestling team.
Eli McLaughlin was named I·SPARC’s 2024 Male Athlete of the Year following an outstanding year in lacrosse. His achievements include winning a bronze medal with the Haudenosaunee Nationals at the 2024 World Box Lacrosse Championships and capturing the 2024 Mann Cup Senior ‘A’ Nationals with the Six Nations Chiefs. These accolades add to his impressive career, now in his ninth season with the Colorado Mammoth in the National Lacrosse League. Eli grew up playing lacrosse in Delta and is a non-reservation member of the Heiltsuk Nation, located on the central coast of British Columbia.
“This inaugural recognition of our Athletes of the Year marks a significant milestone for I·SPARC and our ongoing efforts to recognize the accomplishments of elite Indigenous athletes from British Columbia,” said Rick Brant, I·SPARC CEO. “We are incredibly proud to celebrate Justina and Eli, whose achievements on the national and international stage inspire the next generation of Indigenous athletes. Their successes are the result of extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and belief in their abilities – the very attributes that these awards are meant to honour.”
Of the addition to the Athlete of the Year Awards, Rob Newman, Sport BC President & CEO shares, “Sport BC has been celebrating the exceptional athletes, coaches, teams, and volunteers in BC sport for decades, it only makes sense to also celebrate the top Indigenous athletes. We are proud to work with our friends at I·SPARC to integrate the awards and thank them for trusting us with this opportunity. Sport BC is committed to enhancing reconciliation through sport, and we believe this is a true reflection to this commitment. We congratulate Justina and Eli and look forward to this being the start of our long tradition.”
To commemorate this historic moment, members of I·SPARC’s Board of Directors, including President Corinne McKay and Vice-President Curt Smecher, attended the ceremony to personally present the awards to Justina and Eli. In addition, Sport BC has developed a special video highlighting the accomplishments of the honorees, which can be viewed on Sport BC’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@sportbc6165).
I·SPARC looks forward to continuing its partnership with Sport BC to recognize and celebrate the province’s most elite Indigenous athletes for years to come.
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About the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council
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
About Sport BC and the Athlete of the Year Awards
Sport BC believes in the power of sport and is committed to building stronger communities through positive sport experiences. Our goal is to enhance and support sport participation in British Columbia ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Sport BC leads provincial recognition in sport with its signature events the Athlete of the Year Awards, the Presidents’ Awards, and the Community Sport Hero Awards. Through our KidSport BC, BC Amateur Sport Fund, and BC Women & Sport programs, along with our services Sport BC Insurance, and Payroll and Group Benefits; Sport BC supports our seventy plus member organizations. Keep up to date @SportBC
Media Contact:
Brock Freeman
Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity, & Recreation Council (I·SPARC)
Senior Manager, Communications
250-856-0859
bfreeman@isparc.ca