Speed Skating Canada – Ottawa, June 18, 2015 – Speed Skating Canada is pleased to announce its 2016 annual award winners which were unveiled Saturday, June 18, at its Awards Reception held in Ottawa, Ontario, during its Annual General Meeting.

The recipients were elected based on nominations put forth by Speed Skating Canada’s members and committees. 

Among them, long time speed skating coach Ernie Overland from Kitchener, ON, has been inducted into Speed Skating Canada’s Hall of Fame as a Builder.

Ernie Overland, father of Olympic medalists Kevin (Crockett) and Amanda as well as Olympian Cindy, has been actively coaching in Ontario since 1982. He also contributed to Derrick Campbell, gold medalist in the men’s relay at the 1998 Olympic Games, Mike Ireland and Richard Shoebridge’s Olympic Dream. While being a mentor across the country, he also developed and delivered speed skating specific programs for coaches at the Special Olympic World Games. Ernie Overland is the first inductee into Speed Skating Canada’s Hall of Fame since 2006.

Speed Skating Canada’s Hall of Fame
Ernie Overland (Kitchener, ON) – Builder

Athletes of the Year – Long Track
Jeremy Wotherspoon Male Athlete of the Year Award
Ted-Jan Bloemen (Calgary, ON)

Catriona Le May Doan Female Athlete of the Year Award
Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa, ON)

Rising Star Athlete of the Year Award 
Ben Donnelly (Oshawa, ON)

Athletes of the Year – Short Track
Marc Gagnon Male Athlete of the Year Award
Charles Hamelin (Sainte-Julie, QC)

Female Athlete of the Year
Marianne St-Gelais (Saint-Félicien, QC)

Guy Daignault Rising Star Athlete of the Year Award
Sasha Fathoullin (Calgary, AB)

Coach of the Year Award
Gregor Jelonek (Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, QC)
(Presented to any SSC coach who has demonstrated meaningful, long term involvement with a club, regional, branch, or national association as a coach as evidenced by the achievements outlined in the nomination form.)

Honour Roll
Ted-Jan Bloemen (Calgary, ON)
10,000m World Record

Ben Donnelly (Oshawa, ON)
2016 Overall, 1000m and 5000m World Junior Champion

Charles Hamelin (Sainte-Julie, QC)
2016 1000m World Champion

Marianne St-Gelais (Saint-Félicien, QC)
2016 1500m World Champion

2015-2016 500m Overall World Cup Champion

Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa, ON)
2016 Mass Start World Champion

Charle Cournoyer (Boucherville, QC), Pascal Dion (Montréal, Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles borough, QC), Patrick Duffy (Oakville, ON), Sasha Fathoullin (Calgary, AB), Samuel Girard (Ferland-et-Boilleau, QC), Charles Hamelin (Sainte-Julie, QC), François Hamelin (Sainte-Julie, QC)
2015-2016 Men’s Relay Overall World Cup Champion

(Presented to any speed skater or speed skating team who wins a gold, silver or bronze medal at a Winter Olympic Games, wins a senior or junior world championship title, wins an overall World Cup title, or holds an officially recognized Olympic, senior or junior world record; such athlete will automatically be recorded on the honour roll of the Speed Skating Canada Hall of Fame. The same person or team can be recorded several times for different achievements.)

John Hurdis Outstanding Volunteer Award
David Reith (Kamloops, B.C.)
(Presented to a Speed Skating Canada member(s) whose outstanding service as a volunteer has resulted in a significant contribution to the advancement of speed skating at the national and/or international level.)

Jean R. Dupré Administrator of the Year Award
Lorna Holbech (Abbotsford, B.C.)
(Presented to an administrator who has made an outstanding contribution to the sport of speed skating in Canada.)

René Marleau Official of the Year Award 
Mario Hardy (Daveluyville, QC)
(Presented to any Speed Skating Canada official who has demonstrated meaningful, long term involvement with a club, region, branch, or the national association.)

Guy-Marcoux Officials Mentor Award 
Ted Houghton (Abbotsford, B.C.)
(Presented to an individual who has made contributions to the sport of speed skating in the development of officials, and who demonstrates excellence in mentoring, has been outstanding in supporting, encouraging, and promoting the professional and personal development of speed skating officials.)

Gagné Family Award
Cole Family (Fredericton, N.B.)
(Roger, Sue, Brian, Graham, Chris and Matthew Cole)

(Presented to a family who has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the sport of speed skating in Canada.)

Jean R. Dupré Administrator of the Year – Certificates of Merit
Gilles Bergevin (Montréal, Sud-Ouest borough, QC)

Trevor Corey (Fredericton, N.B.)

(Presented to an administrator who has made a significant contribution to the sport of speed skating in Canada.)

Coaches Awards of Excellence
Verna Kergan (Moose Jaw, SK)
Michael Murray (Dundas, ON)
David Simard (Saguenay, QC)

(Presented to those who have made contributions to the sport of speed skating in the role of a coach. The award is not given based on the achievement of athletes, but on the demonstrated ability to assist in the development of athletes and the sport, including grassroots to high performance coaches. Any Speed Skating Canada volunteer who has demonstrated meaningful involvement with a club, regional, branch, or national association as a coach as evidenced by the outline in the nomination form.)

Officials Award of Excellence
Rocky Lamontagne (Ottawa, ON)
Yvon Tremblay (Laval, QC)

(Presented to an individual who has made contributions to the sport of speed skating in the role of an official. The award is given based on the demonstrated ability to assist in the development of officials in the sport, including grassroots to high performance officials.)

Peter Williamson Memorial Trust Fund Bursaries
Alex Boisvert-Lacroix (Sherbrooke, QC)
Patrick Duffy (Oakville, ON)
Richard MacLennan (Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
Valérie Maltais (Saguenay, La Baie borough, QC)

(Bursaries given to athletes who best combine athletic and scholastic achievement; have the ability to communicate well with coaches and fellow skaters; and show elements of leadership and are positive role models for other athletes.)

Canadian Championships Shields 
Doreen Ryan Shields: Long Track
Québec

Pat Underhill Shield: Short Track
Québec

(Presented to the best provincial/territorial teams in long track and short track speed skating, combining all the Canadian championships.)

Additional details regarding Speed Skating Canada’s Awards are available at www.speedskating.ca.

About Speed Skating Canada
Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, the association is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial branches representing more than 14,000 individual members, and counting. SSC believes that sport is an apprenticeship for life and prizes respect for others, integrity, excellence of effort, as well as a safe, healthy environment. SSC recognizes and values its outstanding volunteers who give freely of their time and expertise. It also celebrates the 63 Olympic medals won by Canadian athletes since 1932, as well as the coaches, officials and other dedicated individuals who helped them on their journey.

SSC is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values including our premium sponsors Intact Insurance, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, City of Montreal, Calgary Olympic Oval and WinSport Canada.

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For information:
Patrick Godbout
Communications & Media Relations Manager
Speed Skating Canada
Email: pgodbout@speedskating.ca 
Phone: 514 213-9897
Website: www.speedskating.ca  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC

Kerry Dankers
Long Track Program and Communications Coordinator
Speed Skating Canada
Email: kdankers@speedskating.ca
Phone: 403-589-8960
Website: www.speedskating.ca  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC