When Sport BC put out a call for more nominations for the community’s sports hero award, Greater Trail answered unequivocally.
As of Jan. 26, Sport BC had received just two nominations from local groups and individuals, so the organization extended the deadline to Feb. 3.
The Greater Trail community rallied behind their deserving colleagues and put forth a number of names that satisfied the requirements.
“Sport BC was very impressed with the number of nominations they have received for the Community sport heroes award,” said local event organizer Ann Damude.
Rather than stick with its limit of six per community, Sport BC announced they will honour an unprecedented 10 dedicated Greater Trail residents for the hometown heroes award.
The Community Sport Hero Awards, presented by Teck, honours outstanding sport volunteers in communities across British Columbia. The awards recognize coaches, officials, mentors and administrators who have dedicated themselves to grow and develop amateur sport at the community level.
“The Community Sport Hero Awards are a celebration of volunteers who have contributed eight or more years to sport,” said Carey Summerfelt, event manager of Sport BC.
“Sport is crucial to the development of strong, healthy communities, and community volunteers, like the ten scheduled to be honoured, are essential to that success.”
Many will recognize the following names that have become almost synonymous with their respective sport due to countless hours of service.
This year, honourees selected by their peers include: Ken Koshey, Hockey, Clifford Tyson, Curling, Fred Bushell, Skiing, Kathryn Johnston, Figure Skating, Barry Zanier, Premier’s Sport Awards, Nicole Lord, Special Olympics, Tom Gawryletz, Hockey, Ryan Kuhn, Biking, Ray Nelson, Rugby, and Keith Smyth, BC Games.
Biographies of the individuals will be included in the Times in the week leading up to the award ceremony at the Best Western Terra Nova on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m.
The event is free admission to all residents but people should RSVP by emailing carey.summerfelt@sportbc.com