2016 CANADIAN COMMONWEALTH SPORT AWARD WINNERS!

Commonwealth Games Canada Celebrates Exceptional Contributions

OTTAWA – Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is proud to announce the 2016 Canadian Commonwealth Sport Award Winners. These organizations and individuals are recognized for their exceptional contributions to CGC’s programs and operations, as well as having helped promote the organization both nationally and internationally.

The Award categories and recipients are:

Award of Merit – Margie Schuett (Calgary, AB)

This Award of Merit is presented to an individual who has made distinguished, lasting and valuable contributions to furthering the aims and objectives of the Commonwealth sport movement in Canada and/or abroad. Margie Schuett has had a long and successful career in the fashion industry, and an equally long career as a sport volunteer. She has held numerous positions with CGC such as Vice-President, Board Member, Mission Team Member, Chef de Mission, and chaired a number of CGC Committees. She has also provided assistance to other Commonwealth Games Associations in a myriad of ways, such as conducting workshops and providing Games clothing for athletes. Video Link: https://youtu.be/eL787K62KuI

SportWORKS Award – Jennifer Brown (Shoal Hr, NL) & Ryan Pelley (Whitby, ON)

The SportWORKS Award recognizes the exceptional contributions of SportWORKS Officers who have made a significant contribution to sport development or development through sport and have used their SportWORKS experience to positively influence Canada’s sport system.

Jennifer Brown’s placement was at the Botswana National Olympic Committee, where she played multiple roles in order to help build capacity within the organization. Her work centered around Games Team preparation (Gaborone African Youth Games, Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, Glasgow Commonwealth Games), marketing programs and the Botswana Long Term Athlete Development implementation. As part of delivering on these projects, she worked on sport alignment, staff mentoring, coach education and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Video Link: https://youtu.be/WaXiwY8WWVc

Ryan Pelley was based on the island of St Helena, where he worked on a number of projects that will have both short and long term effects on the community. Among many of his accomplishments: teaching island youth about the importance of sport, organizing international opportunities for high performance athletes, assisting at St Helena Youth Sports Day and the development of a National Sport Strategy for the government of St Helena. Video Link: https://youtu.be/5YYIfN2xl2g

Outstanding Partner Award – PCL Constructors Canada Inc.

This Award serves to recognize the extraordinary support provided to CGC/CGFC by a valued, external organization. Without that support, CGC/CGFC could not meet its goals. PCL Constructors Canada Inc., a group of independent construction companies, is the recipient of this inaugural award. A supporter of CGC since 2002, the company has raised more than $2.2 million to help defray the costs of Canadian athletes participating at the Commonwealth Games. "We're proud to be involved in helping our Canadian athletes realize their full potential," said Rob Holmberg, President of PCL Constructors Canada Inc. "These athletes truly exemplify our core values - excellence, leadership, passion, respect, and dedication - which is why supporting them is a very important part of our community investment." Video Link: https://youtu.be/Lcw03d_9kSc

The 2016 Commonwealth Sport Awards were presented during the Commonwealth Games Federations’s 2016 Inaugural Commonwealth Sport Summit, held in Edmonton, Alberta on October 6, 2016.

"Our organization is so proud of the individuals and organization who have been selected as recipients of the 2016 Commonwealth Sport Awards", said Richard Powers, President of Commonwealth Games Canada. "Commonwealth Games Canada could not do its work, both nationally and internationally, without the support of dedicated volunteers, SportWORKS Officers and our corporate partners. Congratulations to Margie Schuett, Jennifer Brown, Ryan Pelley and PCL on today’s announcement – thanks to them we are able to build a better Commonwealth through sport."

Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool. CGC builds a better Commonwealth through sport.

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For further information:

Commonwealth Games Canada

Brian MacPherson

Chief Executive Officer

613.244.6868 x226

brian@commonwealthgames.ca

ABOUT COMMONWEALTH GAMES CANADA Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool. Visit www.commonwealthgames.ca for information.

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