Two Vancouver athletes were among six in the region this week honoured in the 2019 Premier鈥檚 Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport.
The awards were handed out Monday night in a formal celebration at the Musqueam Community Centre in Vancouver. The Indigenous Sport and Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I路SPARC) handed out the awards to a total of 36 athletes in six regions 鈥� Fraser, Interior, Northeast, Northwest, Vancouver Coastal and Vancouver Island.
鈥淐ongratulations to each of the 36 talented athletes selected as regional award recipients this year,鈥� Lisa Beare, minister of tourism, arts and culture, said in a press release. 鈥淵our extraordinary achievements in sport and school and as community leaders are an inspiration to everyone in B.C. I wish you the very best as you continue to strive for greatness in athletics and beyond.鈥�
The Vancouver Coastal region winners include:
- Kieran McKay, 19, lacrosse, Michel Band (Vancouver)
- Madison Fowler, 17, softball, soccer, ultimate, Xaxli鈥檖 First Nation (New Westminster)
- Jaiden Terry, 16, lacrosse, Tsal鈥檃lh First Nation (Vancouver)
- Shana George, 16, soccer, 麻豆社国产Nation (West Vancouver)
- Michael Billy Jr., 19, dugout canoe, 麻豆社国产Nation (North Vancouver)
- Kayla Munro, 17, hockey, softball, M茅tis (North Vancouver)
鈥淥ur region has gathered to recognize six incredible youth leaders,鈥� said Courtenay Gibson, Vancouver Coastal regional leader for I路SPARC. 鈥淭onight, we honour not only their athletic achievements, but their character, spirit and leadership and look forward to their continued success and dedication to their communities and the sports they love.鈥�
The regional award recipients automatically serve as nominees for the provincial awards, which are selected in early 2020. Ten provincial recipients will be awarded at the Gathering Our Voices opening ceremony in Kamloops on March 16 and will go on display in at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.
