2013 Sport Recognition Award Winners

The Toronto Sport Recognition Awards are designed to put the spotlight on individuals and corporations whose efforts contribute to the growth of sport in Toronto. Each year the Toronto Sports Council recognizes a volunteer, a business and a journalist for recognition:

AWARD CATERGORIES: 

Volunteer Award The TSC Volunteer Award is presented to an individual (i.e. a sport club volunteer, administrator, official, manager or builder) who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer commitment to sport in the City of Toronto for five or more years. Volunteers with a contagious enthusiasm for sport – such as 2013 Volunteer of the year BRANT SNOW − are particularly valued. The heart and soul of the Goulding Park Hockey Association for more than 40 years, Brant Snow has dedicated much of his life to minor sports in his community. By volunteering as coach, convenor, manager,president and director, Brant has positively impacted thousands of young Torontonians. Snow's extensive volunteer resume also includes founding Goulding Park men's baseball and hockey leagues in the 1960s, and co-founding the Goulding Park Youth Baseball Association in the 1980s. Still involved in the day-to-day operation of these leagues, Brant Snow has also made countless and valuable contributions to the boards, committees, task forces, hearings, conferences and meetings without which community-based sport would not happen. The Toronto Sports Council is proud to present a 2013 Toronto Sports Recognition Award to Brant Snow.

Business Award The TSC Business Award is presented to a business or sponsor who has demonstrated outstanding support to amateur sport in the City if Toronto. Through its Team Up Foundation, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment's impact on grassroots sports over the past three years has been remarkable. Thanks to its donors, the Foundation has invested more than $4.5 million to refurbish 16 community sports facilities. Highlights include investing more than $1 million in nine GTA arenas, creating a basketball court at Variety Village that meets FIBA specifications, transforming the St. James Town basketball court into a welcoming gathering space, and improving soccer pitches at G. Ross Lord and Sorauren Parks. The MLSE Team Up Foundation has also granted more than $2.5 million to charitable partners committed to making sports more accessible. Highlights include supporting Right to Play's 'Youth to Youth' Toronto based in-school program and helping Special Olympics increase its number of school-based participants in the city to close to 8,000.The Toronto Sports Council is proud to present a 2013 Toronto Sports Recognition Award to the MLSE Team Up Foundation.

Media Award The TSC Media Award is presented to an individual (involved in any media platform) who has demonstrated excellence in reporting and coverage of amateur sport in the City of Toronto. By directing CTV cameras to community fields, rinks, gymnasiums and cricket pitches, Lance Brown proves his commitment to amateur sports goes much deeper than that of most assignment directors. By treating grassroots sports, athletes and volunteers with respect, Lance shows close to 1 million viewers every day that high school and amateur sports are important to the city. Since 1985 Lance Brown has shown that sports journalism at its highest level involves more than the coverage of professional teams. In addition to serving as sports anchor and sports director at CTV in Toronto, Lance is a member of the Knights of Columbus, an active member of Big Brothers North Durham, and spearheads an annual event building outdoor rinks for families in need. The Toronto Sports Council is proud to present a 2013 Toronto Sports Recognition Award to Lance Brown.

2012 Sport Recognition Award Winners

Our first group of recipients were celebrated at our March 3,2012 Toronto Sports Council Summit:

2012 Volunteer Award:

Volunteers are the engines that drive sport. Volunteer coaches, administrators, officials or
builders who have made outstanding contributions to a sport club over several years are
considered for this award. Volunteers with a contagious enthusiasm for sport – such as the 2012 Volunteer of the year ABDI MOHAMED − are particularly valued. Abdi Mohamed has not only improved the quality of life for youth in his Lawrence Heights Community, but also built his community through sport. A former member of the Somalia National Basketball Team, Mohamed emigrated from Somalia in 1991. Shortly after his arrival in Canada Mohamed created a basketball and soccer program to inspire and engage young Somalis. To this day he dedicates more than 40 hours each and every week to this program and to his Lawrence Heights Community. As the Founder of the East African Community Association of Lawrence Heights, Mohamed has served as a role model for the more than 1,000 Somali-Canadian youth who have participated in his recreational sport programs. Abdi Mohamed's use of sport to inspire youth and bring a community together deserves recognition. The Toronto Sports Council is proud to present a 2012 Toronto Sports Recognition Award to Abdi Mohamed.

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2012 Corporate Support Award:

When a corporation's commitment to sport goes beyond a monetary contribution, and mobilizes communities, the entire sports community benefits. CANADIAN TIRE JUMPSTART CHARITIES epitomizes this level of commitment, and provides support that reaches very local and very grassroots levels of our sporting community. All 21 Toronto Canadian Tire stores are great Canadian Tire Jumpstart supporters and help raise thousands of dollars every year to help more children in the city. Canadian Tire Jumpstart is dedicated to removing barriers so children can participate in organized sport and recreation. Local chapters work in partnership with other local non-profit organizations to discreetly identify kids with the greatest need in their community. Canadian Tire Jumpstart then covers registration, equipment and/or transportation costs to help them participate in a sport or recreational activity of their choice. Since the launch of Jumpstart in 2005, more than $370,000 annually has been allotted to Toronto's four Jumpstart Chapters. In Toronto, Jumpstart has helped over 26,850 kids with over $2.6 million. The Toronto Sports Council is proud to present a 2012 Toronto Sports Recognition Award to Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.

2012 Journalist Award:

We Are Saddened By the Passing of Randy Starkman - A True Friend of Amateur Sport

Passionate reporting helps move amateur sport from the back pages to the front pages, and from the cutting room floor to the 6:00 p.m. news. It also brings pride to amateur sports bodies and their participants. With thousands of athlete profiles, columns and Olympic blogs, The Toronto Star's RANDY STARKMAN did more to raise awareness of Toronto's amateur athletes and their sports than perhaps any other journalist. His passion for amateur sport was evident in his work for almost three decades. A two-time national newspaper award winner, he covered Team Canada at 12 Olympic Games, starting in 1984. The Toronto Sports Council presented a 2012 Toronto Sports Recognition Award to Randy Starkman March 3, 2012.