Recognition of Excellence

Sport role models are extremely important to our communities, and especially to our youth. Canada has produced a long line of Aboriginal sport heroes, from Tom Longboat at the turn of the century, to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ George Armstrong in the sixties, and more recently Alwyn Morris, Ted Nolan and Angela Chalmers. To recognize the ongoing commitment and outstanding achievements of amateur Aboriginal athletes, the ASC has re-established the prestigious Tom Longboat Award, which recognizes the year’s top male and female Aboriginal athletes at both the regional and national levels. Likewise, certified Aboriginal coaches are being recognized for their commitment to the development of Aboriginal athletes through the newly established National Aboriginal Coaching Awards. The ASC has also started a new program entitled the High Performance Aboriginal Athlete Support Fund, which is designed to help elite Aboriginal athletes reach their full potential and compete in their sport at the highest level possible.