Rowing Canada Aviron – RCA celebrated the 37th Annual Excellence Awards at the RCA National Conference on January 27^th at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto. RCA recognized the exceptional rowing performances and exemplary individual contributions within the Canadian rowing community.

The 2017 Excellence Awards were presented in a variety of categories including Club Outstanding Achievement of the Year, Volunteer of Year, Umpire of the Year, Athlete(s) of the Year, Coach of the Year and other distinguished categories such as Lifetime Achievement and Long Service awards. Jim Minards from the St. Catharines Rowing Club was honoured with one of our longest service awards – 65 years of dedication to our sport.

Lifetime achievement awards were presented to Silvio Palumbi (CSSRA) and Volker Nolte (Western University), and Athlete of the Year awards were presented to Kieanna Stephens and Grace VandenBroek (U19), Trevor Jones (U23), Rebecca Zimmerman (Senior) and Andrew Todd (Para).

In honour of the 50^th anniversary of the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico city, RCA welcomed members of the 1968 Men’s eight and paid tribute to the entire 1968 Olympic rowing team.

Thank you to the RCA Awards Selection Committee for their efforts in selecting these outstanding 2017 award recipients.

Recipients of 2017 RCA Annual Excellence Awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award
Silvio Palumbi (CSSRA)
Volker Nolte (Western University)

Club Outstanding Achievement of the Year
Kenora Rowing Club (MB)

Volunteer of the Year
Ursula Larsson – Kenora Rowing Club (MB)

Umpire of the Year
Marie-Sophie Desaulniers (ON)

Coach of the Year
Andrea Miller (ON)

Tony Zasada Memorial Scholarship
Louise Munroe (ON)

Para Athlete of the Year
Andrew Todd (NS)

U19 Athlete of the Year
Kieanna Stephens (BC) and Grace VandenBroek (ON)

U23 Athlete of the Year
Trevor Jones (ON)

Senior Athlete of the Year
Rebecca Zimmerman (BC)

President’s Award
Peter Webster (NS)

Long Service Awards

Richard Galway	15
Tracey Newman	15
Aalbert Van Schothorst	15
Brian Williams	20
Carol Hermansen	20
Neil Duckworth	20
Hamar Foster	25
James Keogh	30
Bob Schenck	30
Scott Anderson	30
Dave Wright	30
Joe Barnsley	30
Steve Dmytrasz	30
David Millar	35
Will King	35
Doug Hamilton	40
Don Hornby	45
Brian Davis	45
Michael Murphy	50
Brian Thorne	50
Alan Roaf	55
St. Catharines Rowing Alumni Association	60
Jim Minards	65

Thank you to all the presenters and members of the rowing community who came to celebrate all the outstanding award recipients and contributors to rowing in Canada.