WINNIPEG – At the 2020 Rowing Canada Aviron Annual Conference, taking place January 23 – 26, 2020, Janine Stephens, two-time Olympian and Silver Olympic Medalist, was awarded the President’s Award for 2019 for her commitment to the sport of rowing and dedication to her athletes in Manitoba.
Carol Purcer, President of Rowing Canada Aviron, awarded Janine with this prestigious award and noted that, “When I first met Janine her energy and enthusiasm knocked me over but what was even more impressive was her knowledge of rowing locally, provincially and nationally.”
Janine is a mentor, recruiter, developer of both athletes and young women and a role model to all of the young women she works with. A lifelong learner and self-motivator, combined with her selflessness, integrity and enthusiasm for the sport of rowing, she is a “bright light for the future (of rowing) as she grows enthusiastic athletes and future coaches,” Purcer says.
“It was such a surprise and a wonderful honour to receive the Rowing Canada Aviron President’s Award for 2019. Rowing has been such a big part of my life for the past 20 years and I love being able to shape the next generation of athletes, through coaching. The growth of the sport has improved in the past few years, and I hope that will continue, especially as the 2021 Canada Games are fast approaching,” says Stephens.
On the heels of this exciting award and announcement, Janine, along with the Manitoba Rowing Association and the Winnipeg Rowing Club, will be hosting the 2020 Indoor Rowing Championships on Sunday, February 9, at 9am at the Winnipeg Rowing Club, located at 20 Lyndale Drive. This is an open event to all those wanting to race or to try rowing for the first time.
To interview Stephens, or for more information about the 2020 Indoor Rowing Championships, please contact Andrea Katz at 204.770.2203 or via email at andrea@fitcommunications.ca
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Janine Stephens (L) with Carol Purcer (R) accepting the Rowing Canada Aviron President’s Award. Photo Credit: Rowing Canada Aviron /
Matthew Murnaghan.