October 18, 2004 OTTAWA - At a ceremony Saturday earlier , the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA) honoured honour ed athletes, coaches, teams and officials at the 16th Annual CF Sports Awards Ceremony. The gala event boats boasts a record number of 10 corporate sponsors, including: Presenting Sponsor SISIP Financial Services; Gold Sponsors The Royal Canadian Legion, 3M Canada, Labatt Breweries of Canada, Hertz Canada Limited and CANJET Airlines; Silver Sponsors BMO Financial Group and Moores Clothing For Men; and Bronze Sponsors, Xerox Canada and Dracks Military Plaques. Many of the evening's award-winners compete d in military and civilian regional, provincial, national and international competitions. The honourees were included: Team of the Year: The 22 Wing North Bay Men's Volleyball Team may not have looked like a national contender on paper. Yet, for the first time in three years, 22 Wing participated in the Ontario Regional Championship defeating the defending National Champions. They went on to defeat CFB Winnipeg 3-0 to become CF National Volleyball Champions for the first time in base history. Male Athlete of the Year: Ranked first at the CF National level in Greco-Roman Wrestling and 13th in the world in his weight-class, Sapper Charles Mitchell was invited to attend the Team Canada Olympic Qualifier for the 2004 Olympics. Although not selected this year, Spr Mitchell is considered to be a frontrunner for the 2008 team. Female Athlete of the Year: Leading Seaman Hayley John, the first woman to successfully complete the yearlong Clearance Diver course, represented Canada at the 3rd Military World Games in Catania, Italy, as a member of the CISM Lifesaving Team. LS John won an unprecedented five medals, including Canada's first ever gold, making her the top medal winner of the competition. Official of the Year: Land Force Command Warrant Officer François Demers officiated more than 100 soccer games in 2003, among them the Senior Canadian Championship semi-finals, the Elite Provincial Soccer League senior women finals and the CF Regional Championship finals. WO Demers' dedication goes beyond the field as he sits on the Quebec Region Board of Officials and is also the region's Director of Level 3 referee courses. The Canadian Forces National Sports Program, organized by CFPSA, promotes fitness and good health as a part of the CF's mandate of operational readiness. The program allows participants to raise their level of physical fitness while developing esprit de corps , team cohesion, pride and self-esteem through team and individual sports. For a complete list of winners, visit www.cfpsa.com . Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) Financial Services and the Royal Canadian Legion are proud sponsors of the Canadian Forces Sports Awards Ceremony. -30- Contact: Kristina Davis, Media Relations Co-ordinator, CFPSA (613) 996-6204, davis.Kristina@cfpsa.com BIOGRAPHIES Team of the Year: Never tell the players of 22 Wing North Bay Men's Volleyball Team the odds. Lacking any current CISM players and sporting an average age of 30, the 22 Wing Men's Volleyball Team did not look like a national contender on paper. Yet, for the first time in three years, 22 Wing participated in the Ontario Regional Championship and other teams quickly took notice. Finding itself in 2nd place after round-robin play, the team defeated the defending National Champions in the semi-finals and went on to take the Regional Title. The dedicated and determined players of the 22 Wing had but one goal on their minds: National gold. Losing only once in round robin play, the team went on to defeat CFB Winnipeg 3-0 to become CF National Volleyball Champions for the first time in base history. Male Athlete of the Year: Land Force Command Sapper Charles Mitchell's dedication to the sport of Greco-Roman Wrestling is as secure as the holds he places on his opponents. Ranked first at the CF National level and 13th in the world in his weight-class, Spr Mitchell was invited to attend the Team Canada Olympic Qualifier for the 2004 Olympics. Although not selected this year, Spr Mitchell is considered to be a frontrunner for the 2008 team, in spite of his relative youth and inexperience on the international stage. Spr Mitchell has consistently balanced his CF duties with his commitment to both his sport and his team. Both his opponents and teammates feel his sense of teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership far beyond the confines of the wrestling circle. Female Athlete of the Year: Leading Seaman Hayley John's accomplishments both as an athlete and CF member are truly groundbreaking. The first woman to successfully complete the yearlong Clearance Diver course, LS John rejoined the CISM Team representing Canada at the 3rd Military World Games in Catania, Italy, as a member of the CISM Lifesaving Team. Not only did she qualify for the team in little less than a month following her graduation from the CD course, but she was also identified as the CF's top lifesaver. At the 3rd WMG, LS John won an unprecedented five medals, including Canada's first ever gold, making her the top medal winner of the competition. Official of the Year: Land Force Command Warrant Officer François Demers spends a lot of time on the soccer field. He officiated more than 100 games in 2003, among them the Senior Canadian Championship semi-finals, the Elite Provincial Soccer League senior women finals and the CF Regional Championship finals. WO Demers' dedication goes beyond the field as he sits on the Quebec Region Board of Officials and is also the region's Director of Level 3 referee courses. Seeking perfection through internships, courses and evaluations, he completed the Level 1 referee course in 2003 and three annual evaluations required by the FIFA. WO Demers's professionalism, keen eye and impartiality are greatly valued by his community and CF Quebec Region soccer program. Civilian Coach of the Year: Bryan Pearce's drive for success is so strong, one sport cannot contain it; he needs three. Not content with coaching the 8 Wing/CFB Trenton Men's Broomball Team to its silver medal performance at the CF National Men's Broomball Championship, Mr. Pearce also led the 8 Wing/CFB Trenton Ball Hockey Team to a silver medal at the CF National Championship. A consummate sportsman whose love of sport, limitless knowledge of the games and dedication to his teams helped recruit new and talented players to these two sports, Mr. Pearce is also actively involved in coaching within his community. Coaching a girl's ice hockey team to a Provincial title, Mr. Pearce was also the coach of an Atom House Hockey team in the Trenton Minor Hockey program. Female Coach of the Year: Broomball has no secrets for Master Corporal Sylvie Lapalme. She led the Women's Broomball Team to the gold medal at the CF National Broomball Championship and to a 7th position finish at the Canadian Championship. A competitive spirit, combined with sports attitude and enthusiasm define her leadership and coaching style. It is with dedication that MCpl Lapalme shares her experience and knowledge of broomball and motivates her team to reach out and grasp higher grounds and dreams. Whether she is coaching, playing or organizing sporting events, she influences participants to adopt qualities such as team spirit and fairplay, thereby bringing out the best of everyone. With her great coaching skills, MCpl Lapalme is a key element of the CFB Valcartier women's military sports program. Male Coach of the Year: Master Corporal Paul Murphy's infectious passion for sport is a source of inspiration for all those around him. Behind the bench for Team Atlantic, the Atlantic Region CF Women's Hockey Team, MCpl Murphy managed in just three short years to turn a group of young athletes into an undefeated team of national champions. MCpl Murphy was also at the helm of the 14 Wing Greenwood Women's Hockey Program, seeing one of the two teams under his guidance finish 3rd in the league. The Chief Instructor for the on-ice portion of 14 Wing Greenwood's annual PSP Hockey School, MCpl Murphy was also the NCCP Coach Mentor for all 46 coaches of the East Kings Minor Hockey Association.
