Nominations are now open for a new awards program celebrating the athletic achievements of aboriginal youth.
The Premier’s Award for Aboriginal Youth Excellence in Sport has been developed by the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Parters Council and the Province of British Columbia.
Nominees will be scored on athletic achievement, leadership skills, commitment to higher education and for their recognition as community role models on and off the field of play.
The awards are part of Premier Christy Clark’s announcement earlier this year committing to establishing a program to honour and celebrate the achievements of aboriginal youth in sport.
“To young people, sports are powerful, giving meaning in confusing or even difficult times,” Clark said in a release highlighting the program.
“One of the ways we can embrace reconciliation is by recognizing and celebrating aboriginal achievement in sports.”
Athletes will be honoured at the 2016 Gathering Our Voices Conference in March in Victoria. There will be 12 awards given — six male and six female — and recipients will also be asked to attend a special high-skill performance workshop to further their athletic and leadership abilities.
Nomination forms and more information can be found here.