Olympians and CBC Sports Broadcasters Perdita Felicien and Alex Despatie to Co-Host 41st Canadian Sport Awards
AthletesCAN – Black-Tie Event To Be Held in Ottawa on September 20, 2018
OTTAWA (August 28, 2018) – AthletesCAN is proud to announce Olympians and CBC Sports broadcasters Perdita Felicien and Alex Despatie as Co-hosts of the 41st Canadian Sport Awards, a black-tie event honouring the incredible performances and contributions of Canada’s top athletes and sport leaders. Olympian and World Champion hurdler Felicien has covered the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 for CBC Sports, as well as the 2018 NACAC Track & Field Championships, Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games and the IAAF World Championships. Despatie, a two-time Olympic Games silver medallist and three-time World Champion in diving, has also become a familiar face in the Canadian broadcast community, including his role as co-host of CBC’s Olympic Games Morning at PyeongChang 2018.
The Canadian Sport Awards, an iconic awards show first established 45 years ago, showcase excellence in Canadian sport and were considered Canada’s premier event for national sport achievement and leadership recognition. Last hosted in 2012 by the True Sport Foundation, AthletesCAN plans to breathe new life into the event with industry-leading media partner, CBC Sports.
“As part of our mandate, AthletesCAN is excited to celebrate and acknowledge the impact of the achievements our athletes and sport leaders have on society”, said Dasha Peregoudova, President of AthletesCAN. “The Canadian Sport Awards will once again provide that platform to share the stories of greatness, resolve, selflessness, and persistence in the face of grueling obstacles that sport can create. We hope that the rest of Canada will join us in celebrating our love for the power of sport.”
“The determination, resilience and the dedication of our elite athletes is inspiring,” said the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport. “With these awards we celebrate their outstanding accomplishments and hard work. Our government is proud to support our country’s athletes as they strive for excellence.”
Hosts Felicien and Despatie will be joined by Scott Russell, the Canadian Screen Award- and Gemini Award-winning broadcaster, acclaimed author and host of CBC Sports’ Road to the Olympic Games. Russell is set to pay tribute to the People’s Choice Award: Performance of the Year and make a special presentation featuring Olympic Games Champion Simon Whitfield with 25 of Canada’s top athletes during the show.
“Canada’s athletes are among the country’s most revered citizens,” Russell said. “They should be considered as national treasures. In many respects their achievements and the values they represent serve to remind us of the limitless human potential which exists in every part of Canadian society.”
Two-time Olympic Games sprinter and CBC Sports broadcaster Anson Henry will round out the team, hosting a behind-the-scenes look into the evening via Facebook Live, featuring real-time interviews with award winners, sport heroes, musical guests and more.
The Canadian Sport Awards will bring together members of the sport, media and corporate communities to honour nominees in the following categories:
SPORT PERFORMANCE
Male & Female Athletes of the Year; Partners of the Year; and Team of the Year
INFLUENCERS
The Bruce Kidd Leadership Award; the AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award; the Inclusion Award – Obliterating Barriers; the #AthleteVoice Award – Athlete Rep of the Year; the Leadership in Sport Award; and the True Sport Award
CORPORATE EXCELLENCE
Individual Support Award; National Team Support Award; and National Initiative Support Award
Canadian sports fans are encouraged to vote for the People’s Choice Award: Performance of the Year, by visiting https://www.cbc.ca/sports/performance-year-canadian-sport-1.4801007 and choosing from the selected extraordinary moments of the past year. Voting closes at 6:30 p.m. on September 20 and the winner will be announced during the ceremony.
The 2018 Canadian Sport Awards will be hosted in Ottawa on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at the Brookstreet Hotel. Tickets are on sale now. To reserve your seat, visit https://athletescan.com/en/canadian-sport-awards-ticket-portal.
Stay tuned to our social media channels for more updates.
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About AthletesCAN
As the voice of Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture.
To learn more about the 2018 Canadian Sport Awards, or for any other information related to AthletesCAN, please contact:
Ashley LaBrie
Executive Director
AthletesCAN
(613) 601-3413
alabrie@athletescan.com
www.athletescan.com