Gala honours top amateurs

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Manitoba’s brightest amateur sports stars were shining in the spotlight on Wednesday as the annual Sport for Life Awards were presented during a gala evening at the Fairmont hotel.

Winners were announced in the categories of junior male and female athletes of the year, official of the year, Manitoba Lotteries male and female coaches of the year, Great-West Life volunteer and youth volunteers of the year, Calm Air junior team of the year and the male and female Tom Longboat Award winners.

"Sport Manitoba is thrilled to recognize the achievements of Manitobans in amateur sport," Jeff Hnatiuk, president and CEO of Sport Manitoba, said in a statement. "It’s important that the tireless efforts of our athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers are acknowledged, as their commitment is the reason Manitobans have been able to and will continue to establish themselves in amateur sport worldwide."

Football player Kurt Goodrich of West St. Paul was named the junior male athlete of the year. Receiver Goodrich co-led the Winnipeg High School Football League in touchdowns. He helped his West Kildonan Wolverines to an undefeated record in the Currie Division.

Swimmer Chantal Vanlandegham of Winnipeg was selected as the junior female athlete of the year as she had a record-breaking season in 2009 and was Manitoba’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremonies of the 2009 Canada Summer Games. She is also Swim Manitoba’s outstanding female youth swimmer of the year.

The Tom Longboat Awards were presented to Brigette Lacquette and Josh Ahmo. Lacquette was a key member of Canada’s national women’s under-18 hockey team that won silver at last year’s world championship and was a member of the Westman Wildcats who won the first-ever national midget hockey championship. She has committed to the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s hockey team this fall.

Ahmo is a 6-2, 270-pound offensive lineman who played last season for the WHSFL’s Vincent Massey Trojans and was a member of Manitoba’s under-17 team that competed nationally at the Football Canada Cup.

The Calm Air junior team of the year was Manitoba’s women’s volleyball team, which won gold at the 2009 Canada Summer Games.

The Great-West Life volunteer of the year award went to Peter Wight of Winnipeg who is a longtime coach in tenpin bowling and has worked with visually impaired athletes in a local tenpin bowling league. He is also the second vice-president of the Manitoba Tenpin Bowling Federation.

The Great-West Life youth volunteer of the year award was presented to Casey Stafford of Stonewall who is a dedicated volunteer in high school athletics. An exemplary student-athlete at Stonewall Collegiate, she competes in volleyball, track, badminton and soccer, and has used her leadership skills to help organize school events and fundraisers.

David Petursson of Winnipeg, a veteran curling official, was named recipient of the official of the year award as he was the head official at six elite curling championships in 2009 and 2010, including the world women’s curling championships in March.

The Manitoba Lotteries male coach of the year was presented to junior curling coach Rob Meakin of Winnipeg who helped guide his daughter Breanne’s junior team to a provincial title this season.

The Manitoba Lotteries female coach of the year went to synchronized swimming coach Khadija Cutcher of Winnipeg as the former competitive synchronized swimmer coaches the provincial team and is a role model for young synchro athletes.

In other Sport Manitoba news, the grand opening of Phase I of the new Sport for Life Centre will be held today at 11:30 a.m. at 145 Pacific Ave. The centre is home to the provincial sport governing bodies.

Premier Greg Selinger and Olympic gold medallist Jennifer Botterill of Canada’s national women’s hockey team will headline the list of dignitaries who will kick off the grand opening.

During the opening ceremonies, the Order of the Buffalo Hunt will be presented to local swimmer Jaring Timmerman, who is 100 years old and set world records over the last year in the 50- and 100-metre backstroke and freestyle events. The Order of the Buffalo Hunt is a provincial award that honours achievement in sports and other public endeavours.

Tours of the Sport for Life Centre will be offered at 12:30 p.m.

The building’s next phase, which is yet to be completed, will feature the construction of an adjacent 29,000-square-foot fieldhouse that will contain a training centre, second-floor running track and third-floor multi-purpose room.

— Staff