Sport Volunteer Awards
For additional information
We are proud to be celebrating our 34th year of the Sport Volunteer Awards, to honour volunteers who give their time and energy to sports in Hamilton. You can view a list of the main categories lower on this page.
An appreciation dinner is being planned at Liuna Station Banquet Hall (360 James St N, Hamilton) to celebrate the contributions of nominees and award winners. Stay tuned for more details.
Submit a Nomination
To nominate coaches, officials and administrative volunteers, fill out the nomination form by Friday August 16, 2024.
Sport Volunteer Awards
The main categories for the Sport Volunteer Awards are:
The Distinguished Volunteer Award is for individuals who have contributed significantly to sport in the Hamilton community. Recipients are only eligible to receive this award once.
This award is presented to the nominee that best exemplifies these criteria:
- Has contributed in a voluntary capacity to sport in the Hamilton Community
- Demonstrates initiative, leadership, and commitment to sport in Hamilton
- Assists in the development of their sport and best practices within their volunteer role
The United Trophy Outstanding Volunteer Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment as a volunteer in amateur sport and goes the extra mile to provide a safe and encouraging environment for sport development.
This award is presented to the nominee that best exemplifies these criteria:
- Currently volunteering in sport within the City of Hamilton
- Has contributed to Hamilton sport in a volunteer capacity for more than 10 years
- Providing quality sport opportunities within the City of Hamilton and engages the Canada Sport for Life principles (e.g. physical literacy)
- Has had an impact on sport beyond their community or local sport association
The future of our community lies in the hands of our youth. The youth who receives this award has displayed integrity and pride while volunteering within the City of Hamilton. This award is presented to the nominee that best exemplifies these criteria.
This award is presented to the nominee that best exemplifies these criteria:
- Must be a youth volunteering within the City of Hamilton
- Involved in coaching, officiating, administering, or organizing sport
- Has accumulated over 100 volunteer hours
- Positive role model and represents the Hamilton Community with integrity and pride
Dr. Ray Johnson was an integral part of the Hamilton community. He dedicated many years to sport as a coach and a builder. He advocated for those in need and provided opportunities for many residents in the City of Hamilton. A selfless man who gave so much to the community.
This award is presented to the nominee that best exemplifies these criteria:
- Currently volunteering as a coach within the City of Hamilton
- Demonstrated successes as a coach within their sport
- Provides mentorship to players within their sport and is highly dedicated to their local sport organization
- Shows a personal commitment to ongoing development and training and demonstrates leadership qualities on and off the playing surface
Rapid Ray Lewis was a Canadian track and field star in the 1930’s, born and raised in Hamilton. He was an Order of Canada recipient in 2001 and passed away in 2003. Ray was a role model and mentor to many students and young athletes throughout his life in sport and his teachings in the Hamilton school system.
This award is presented to the nominee that best exemplifies these criteria:
- Personally excelled in sport at the national and/or international level
- Has made a significant contribution to the Hamilton community
- Is a current volunteer that enhances quality sport opportunities in Hamilton
- Demonstrates special leadership qualities that inspire and encourage others
Beginning as a basketball referee at McMaster University, Ron Foxcroft went on to an impressive career as the NCAA’s only Canadian basketball referee and officiated international basketball games in more than 30 countries, including the gold medal basketball game in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. He was the only Canadian appointee to the National Association of Sports Officials board in the USA. Ron is known as much for his affection for sport and his entrepreneurial success as he is for his own athletic achievements and his desire to help youth.
This award is presented to the nominee that best exemplifies these criteria:
- Current official (e.g. referee, umpire, judge etc.) within the City of Hamilton
- Goes above and beyond to represent the principles of fair play
- Has played a key role in the development of officiating through the mentorship of officials within their sport
- Shows a personal commitment to ongoing development and training and demonstrates leadership qualities on and off the playing surface
Dr. Gene Sutton was dedicated to quality amateur sport in the City of Hamilton. As a child and youth advocate, she believed in a holistic approach focusing on providing safe, healthy, and fun environments contributing to the development and growth of the whole child. The Dr. Gene Sutton Club Excellence Award was established in 2010 by the City of Hamilton’s Public Health Services. It was designed to recognize local sport organizations/clubs that are implementing best practices in the delivery of quality child and youth programming to promote healthy living.
This award is presented to the nominee that best exemplifies these criteria:
- Excelled in increasing physical activity among their participants and encouraging healthy eating behaviours
- Fostering a state of wellbeing in which every participant realizes their potential, develops tools to cope with the normal stresses of life, and is able to make a contribution to their community
- Ensuring Hamilton children and youth have opportunities to participate in and live a healthy and active lifestyle
The Hamilton Hero Banner is certainly one of the most prestigious recognitions of the evening as it represents someone, who over time has been an outstanding athlete, major contributor or builder to sport in the City Of Hamilton. These special individuals have put Hamilton on the sport map across the country.
This award is presented to the nominee that best exemplifies these criteria:
- Presented to an individual(s) that have been involved in either amateur or professional sport.
- Representing Hamilton at various levels: Provincially, Nationally or Internationally
- Has demonstrated outstanding level of achievement in their sport
- Has demonstrated pride in and acknowledgement of their Hamilton roots
- Has been able to inspire others in the community to reach their sport potential
Major Sport Volunteer Awards
Ray Lewis Athletic Excellence and Community Service Award
Steve Maga, Bishop Tonnos Secondary School
Dr. Gene Sutton Club Excellence Award
Fit Active Beautiful Foundation
Ron Foxcroft Fair Play Award
Paul Johnson, Hamilton Board of Approved Basketball Officials
Dr. Ray Johnson Coaches Award
Joe Valvasori, Hamilton Sparta Soccer Club
United Trophy Outstanding VolunteerAward
Bill Robertson, Hamilton Olde Sports Slo-Pitch Association
Youth Sport Volunteer Award
Eryn Reader, Hamilton Olympic Club
Hero Banner Recipient
Glen Sonmor
Distinguished Sport Volunteer Awards
- Akbar Haidary, Afghan Sports Federation of Canada
- Alan Ellis, West Wentworth Interlock Soccer League
- Brian Pavlic, St Martin of Tours Catholic Elementary
- Bob Waite, 91st Highlanders Athletic Association
- Chris Kusmirski, Steel City Patriots Football Club
- Debbie Martin, Glanford Curling Club
- Gina Fitzsimmons, Rosedale Youth Softball
- Ian Boyter, Hamilton Hawks Girls Hockey
- Jennie Rennie, Stoney Creek Athletics
- Laura O'Neill, Stoney Creek Girls Hockey
- Mark Simpson, Hamilton Bay Sailing Club
- Michael Smith, Hamilton Olympic Club
- Omair Lone, Hamilton Muslim Basketball Association
- Paul Kennah, Hamilton Sparta Soccer Club
- Paul Robertson, Flamborough Fire Basketball
- Rene Juraschka, Flamborough Dundas Soccer Club
- Rick Bakshi, Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School
- Sheri Barberstock, Gourley Park Youth Baseball
- Tammy Barberstock, Gourley Park Youth Baseball
- Tauri Caputo, Hamilton Smash Volleyball Club
- Tim Bowen, Ancaster Avalanche Gils Hockey Association
- Tom Carney, Hamilton Olde Sports Slo-Pitch Association
- Tony Carden, Lawfield Minor Hockey Association
Major Sport Volunteer Awards
Ray Lewis Community Service Award
Dan Edwards, Hamilton Basketball Association
Dr. Gene Sutton Club Excellence Award
Rosedale Community Council - Youth Softball
Ron Foxcroft Fair Play Award
Art Hughes, East Hamilton Soccer Club
Dr. Ray Johnson Coach of the Year Award
David Del Conte, Hamilton Victoria Curling Club
United Trophy Volunteer of the Year Award
Glenn Ostrosser, CANUSA
Youth Volunteer Award
Faisal Noor Mohamed, Neighbourhood Hoops
Hero Banner Recipient
Murray Oliver
Kimberly Ribble-Orr
Distinguished Sport Volunteer Awards
Pearson-Dunn Insurance Inc. Distinguished Volunteer Awards
- Gary Brown, Stoney Creek Girls Hockey
- John Carnahan, Hamilton Olde Sports Slo-Pitch Association
- Norm Cumming, Ancaster Avalanche Girls Hockey
- David Del Conte, Hamilton Victoria Curling Club
- Kristina Dodd, Dundas Minor Hockey Association
- Dan Edwards, Hamilton Basketball Association
- Ivan Gojmerac, Hamilton Croatia
- Robert Hampson, Hamilton Olde Sports Slo-Pitch Association
- Stacey Holditch, Hamilton Lacrosse
- Art Hughes, East Hamilton Soccer Club
- Krystyna Lazar, Flamboro Skating Club
- Ron Little, Mount Hamilton Youth Soccer Club
- Dr. Balal Lone, Hamilton Muslim Basketball Association
- Tom Montgomery, 91st Highlanders Athletic Association
- Glenn Ostrosser, CANUSA
- Julie Perri, Hamilton Sparta Soccer Club
- Marcia Rennie, Stoney Creek Athletics
- Marc Robertson, Rosedale Community Council - Youth Softball
- Annamaria Trabucco, Arcelormittal Dofasco Grassroots Soccer Program
- Marguerite Utter, West Wentworth Interlock Soccer League
- Dave Walker, Hamilton Veterans Dart League
- Marian Wiskar, Hamilton Skating Club
Major Sport Volunteer Awards
Ray Lewis Community Service Award
Kathy Levy, Knot A Breast
Dr. Gene Sutton Club Excellence
Hamilton Hornets, Hamilton Hornets
Ron Foxcroft Fair Play Award
Paul Leslie, Hamilton Aquatic Club
Dr. Ray Johnson Coach of the Year Award
Scott Hendry, Hamilton Hornets
United Trophy Volunteer of the Year
Dave Edgcumbe, Hamilton Sparta
Youth Volunteer Awards
Megan MacLean, Ancaster Girls Hockey
Sara Marcelli, Ancaster Girls Hockey
Hero Banner
Ryan Ellis
Sheila Dezeeuw
Distinguished Sport Volunteer Awards
Pearson-Dunn Insurance Inc. Distinguished Volunteer Awards
- Anthony Odoardi, Mt. Hamilton Youth Soccer
- Barry Simmons, Gage Park Softball
- Brian Beauvais, Hamilton Muslim Basketball
- Frank Perin, Hamilton Croatia
- Gord Vignault, 91st Highlanders
- Jeremy Russell, Ancaster Soccer
- Karl Quade, Ancaster Girls Hockey
- Kathy Levy, Knot A Breast
- Lisa Ciancone, Transway Basketball
- Mike McDonald, Stoney Creek Minor Hockey
- Misty Thaler, Central City Soccer
- Paul Leslie, Hamilton Aquatic Club
- Pauline Smith, Hamilton Olympic Club
- Rhonda DeCoste, Rosedale Community Council Youth Softball
- Rick Henry, Flamborough Dundas Soccer Club
- Ron Lacroix, HOSSPA
- Sam MacBeath, Steel City Patriots Football
- Sandra Valvasori, Hamilton Sparta
- Scott Hendry, Hamilton Hornets
- Sue Zdero, Hamilton Serbian Youth Soccer
- Sultana Simpson, Hamilton Girls Hockey
- Tom Edwards, Hamilton Hornets
- Troy Thompson, Flamborough Dundas Soccer Club
- Vanessa Sarjeant, Stoney Creek Athletics
- Wolfgang Ruschpler, Hamilton Veterans Dart League
Major Sport Volunteer Awards
Hamilton Hero Banner
William “Billy” Sherring
Ray Lewis Community Service Award
Chelsey Nash, United Family Martial Arts
Dr. Gene Sutton Club Excellence
Blessed Sacrament Yellow Jackets Basketball Club
Ron Foxcroft Fair Play Award
George Popovic, MJ League / Hamilton & District Soccer Association
Dr. Ray Johnson Coach of the Year Award
John Di Benedetto, Hamilton Wrestling Club
United Trophy Volunteer of the Year
Dave Glover, CANUSA Games
John Wade, CANUSA Games
Distinguished Sport Volunteer Awards
City of Hamilton Distinguished Youth Awards
- Kyle Burley, East Mountain Baseball
- Whitney Sarjeant, Stoney Creek Athletics
Pearson-Dunn Insurance Inc. Distinguished Volunteer Awards
- Dave Burton, Ontario Thunderbirds
- Randy Chapple, Gourley Park Community Association
- Heidi Davidson, Hamilton Olympic Club
- Ron Decoste, Rosedale Community Council Softball
- John Di Benedetto, Hamilton Wrestling Club
- Angelo Dicesare, Hamilton Olympic Club/CANUSA
- Monika Dicesare, Hamilton Olympic Club/CANUSA
- John Gibson, Hamilton & District Soccer Association
- Dave Glover, CANUSA Games
- Vincas Gudinskas, CYO Basketball
- Guido Kelly, West Mountain Baseball Association
- Nadia Mcintyre, Saltfleet Stoney Creek Soccer
- Sean Mcphee, Hwcdsb/Bishop Tonnos Junior Football
- Mary Melfi, East Hamilton Soccer Club
- Peter Oddi, Hamilton Sparta Soccer Club
- Marline Sarjeant, Stoney Creek Athletics
- Nancy Simmons, Gage Park Softball Association
- John Spice, Steel City Patriots Football
- Paula Swick, Special Olympics Hamilton
- Maureen Truman, Hamilton Ladies Slow Pitch
- Theresa Vickery, Scott Park Baseball & Hockey
- Daryl Villeneuve, Lawfield Minor Hockey & Hamilton Council
- Cristina Volpini, Saltfleet Stoney Creek Soccer
- John Wade, CANUSA Games
- Lewis Walker, Steel City Patriots Football
- Barry Wallace, Flamborough Minor Hockey Association
- Tim Wilson, Hamilton Wildcats Aussie Rules Football