Provincial Awards
Each year Special Olympics NL recognizes its incredible athletes, coaches, and volunteers who exemplify the spirit and essence of the movement at the Special Olympics NL Awards Night.
Athletes of the Year
- Presented annually to two of Special Olympics NL's most outstanding athletes.
Team of the Year
- Presented annually to Special Olympics NL's most outstanding team.
Gina Blundon Award
- Presented annually to the Special Olympics NL athlete who exemplifies the spirit of Special Olympics regardless of their success in competitions. This athlete shows HEART, COMMITMENT, DEDICATION and LEADERSHIP in all that they do.
Coaches of the Year
- Presented annually to two of Special Olympics NL's most outstanding coaches.
Rising Star Coach of the Year
- Presented annually to Special Olympics NL's most outstanding rising star who as a new coach has had a tremendous impact on Special Olympics sport programs.
Volunteer of the Year
- Presented annually to Special Olympics NL's most outstanding grassroots volunteer.
The Evan Ash Builder Award
- Presented annually to Special Olympics NL's most impactful volunteer in memory of Past SONL Board Chair Evan Ash.
Presidents Award
- Presented annually to a leader who is dedicated to planning, organizing, and operating sport programs, fundraiser and/or competitions.
Previous Years Award Recipients
Athletes of the Year
| year | name | club |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 - 2009 |
Bradley Hurley Sandra Smith |
Gander Wings Tri-Con Gentle Giants |
| 2009 - 2010 |
Andrew Hynes Ada Sheppard |
Mt. Pearl |
| 2010 - 2011 |
Michael Harris Nadia Brenton |
Gander Wings Mt. Pearl |
| 2011 - 2012 |
Jeremy Mueller Crystal Young |
St. John's Explorers Tri-Con Gentle Giants |
| 2012 - 2013 |
Daniel Moores Nikki King |
Corner Brook Vikings Corner Brook Vikings |
| 2013 - 2014 |
Travis Sceviour Floressa Harris Kelly Adams |
Mt. Pearl Gander Wings Mt Pearl |
| 2014 - 2015 |
Jackie Barrett Sarah Brown |
Corner Brook Vikings Gander Wings |
| 2015 - 2016 |
Eleanor Hobbs Chris Dugas |
Tri-Con Gentle Giants Bay St. George Bravehearts |
| 2016 - 2017 |
Floressa Harris Justin Dodge |
Gander Wings Grand Bank - Fortune Seahawks |
| 2017 - 2018 |
Samantha Walsh Daniel Moores |
Bay St. George Bravehearts Corner Brook Vikings |
| 2018 - 2019 |
Jessica Summers Joshua Gardner |
Mt. Pearl Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2019 - 2020 |
Rhegan Robinson Michael Budden |
Tri-Con Gentle Giants Bay St. George Bravehearts |
| 2020 - 2021 | Not Awarded | |
| 2021 - 2022 |
Heather Miller Megan Price |
CBS Brightstars Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2022-2023 |
Samantha Walsh Michael Budden |
Bay St. George Bravehearts Bay St. George Bravehearts |
| 2023 - 2024 |
coaches of the year
| year | name | club |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 - 2009 |
Carol Strickland Guy Richard |
Mt. Pearl Mt. Pearl |
| 2009 - 2010 |
Wally Broomfield Carla Olford |
|
| 2010 - 2011 |
Jim Moss Sonya Anstey |
Gander Wings Gander Wings |
| 2011 - 2012 |
Guy Richard Eileen Reid |
Mt. Pearl Mt. Pearl |
| 2012 - 2013 |
Doug Walters Patricia Baker |
CBS Brightstars
|
| 2013 - 2014 |
Ian Short Dan Deschamps Tanya Smith |
Gander Wings |
| 2014 - 2015 |
Norm Austin Brittany Collins Samantha Guitard |
Gander Wings CBS Brightstars St. John's Explorers |
| 2015 - 2016 |
Teena Adey Paul Mercer |
Gander Wings Gander Wings |
| 2016 - 2017 |
Carmel Casey Travis Maher |
Gander Wings Mt. Pearl |
| 2017 - 2018 |
Rosie Ryan Guy Richard |
Bay St. George Bravehearts Mt. Pearl |
| 2018 - 2019 |
Colleen Ryan Grant Cudmore |
Exploits Hurricanes Gander Wings |
| 2019 - 2020 |
Christina Kendall Shawn Dean |
Bay St. George Bravehearts CBS Brightstars |
| 2020 - 2021 | Not Awarded | |
| 2021 - 2022 |
Laura Butler Trevor Wicks |
CBS Brightstars Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2022 - 2023 |
Rhonda Lawrence Tom Walsh |
Labrador West Big Landers CBS Brightstars |
| 2023 - 2024 |
gina blundon award
| year | name | club |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 - 2009 | Mary Ellen Murhpy | Tri-Con Gentle Giants |
| 2009 - 2010 | Amanda Butt | Tri-Con Gentle Giants |
| 2010 - 2011 | Craig Keeping | Mt. Pearl |
| 2011 - 2012 | Brittany White | |
| 2012 - 2013 | Heather Miller | CBS Brightstars |
| 2013 - 2014 |
Daniel Ralph Bradley Murphy |
Gander Wings Mt. Pearl |
| 2014 - 2015 | Melvin Hanhams | Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2015 - 2016 |
Crystal Young Bradley Haines |
Tri-Con Gentle Giants
|
| 2016 - 2017 | Heather Miller | CBS Brightstars |
| 2017 - 2018 | Daniel Horne | Mt. Pearl |
| 2018 - 2019 | Heather Miller | CBS Brightstars |
| 2019 - 2020 | Margaret MacNeil | Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2020 - 2021 | Not Awarded | |
| 2021 - 2022 | Tyler Thompson | Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2022 - 2023 | David Horne | Mt. Pearl |
| 2023 - 2024 |
team of the year
| year | name | club |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 - 2015 | Soccer Team | Mt. Pearl |
| 2015 - 2016 |
Floor Hockey Team |
Mt. Pearl |
| 2016 - 2017 |
Curling Team Coaches: Tanya Smith & Paul Mercer Athletes: Daniel Ralph, Dennis Welsh, Daniel Philpott, Craig Alyward, and Michael Harris |
Gander Wings |
| 2017 - 2018 |
Curling Team Coaches: Joe Tremblett & Sara Pinsent Athletes: Margaret MacNeil, Joshua Gardner, Kim O'Neill, Gary Wicks, and Tony Kyritsis |
Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2018 - 2019 |
Curling Team Coaches: Joe Tremblett & Sara Pinsent Athletes: Margaret MacNeil, Joshua Gardner, Kim O'Neill, Gary Wicks, and Tony Kyritsis |
Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2019 - 2020 | ||
| 2020 - 2021 | Not Awarded | |
| 2021 - 2022 | Not Awarded | |
| 2022 - 2023 |
Curling Team Coaches: Josh Farrell and Sandra Gillam Athletes: Junior Dumaresque, Chris Gillam, Lenny Farrell, and Debbie Baggs |
Labrador West Big Landers |
| 2023 - 2024 |
volunteer of the year
| year | name | club |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 - 2009 | Carmel Casey | Gander Wings |
| 2009 - 2010 | Nannette Blake | |
| 2010 - 2011 | Allison Ash | Mt. Pearl |
| 2011 - 2012 | Beverly Barbour | Mt. Pearl |
| 2012 - 2013 | Joe Philpott | Gander Wings |
| 2013 - 2014 | Beverly Barbour | Mt. Pearl |
| 2014 - 2015 | Connie Lidstone | Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2015 - 2016 | Philly O'Grady | Gander Wings |
| 2016 - 2017 | Marg Byrd | Gander Wings |
| 2017 - 2018 | Joe Philpott | Gander Wings |
| 2018 - 2019 | Sue Horne | Mt. Pearl |
| 2019 - 2020 | Melissa Tobin | Mt. Pearl |
| 2020 - 2021 | Not Awarded | |
| 2021 - 2022 | Gary Butler | CBS Brightstars |
| 2022 - 2023 | Pauline Price | Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2023 - 2024 |
presidents award
| year | name | role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 - 2018 | Kevin Dunphy | Past Chair, SONL Board of Directors |
| 2018 - 2019 | Shirley Miller | RLC Executive Member |
| 2019 - 2020 | Gail Baker | CBS Brightstars, Executive Member |
| 2020 - 2021 | Not Awarded | |
| 2021 - 2022 | Not Awarded | |
| 2022 - 2023 | Junior Humphries | Labrador West Big Landers, Executive Member |
| 2023 - 2024 |
rising star coach of the year
| year | name | club |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2022 | Alexandra Gamble | CBS Brightstars |
| 2022 - 2023 | Molly Gill | CBS Brightstars |
| 2023 - 2024 | ||
| 2024 - 2025 |
evan ash builder award
| year | name | club |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 - 2018 | ||
| 2018 - 2019 | Colleen Ryan | Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2019 - 2020 | Philly O'Grady | Gander Wings |
| 2020 - 2021 | Not Awarded | |
|
2021 - 2022 |
Joe Tremblett | Exploits Hurricanes |
| 2022 - 2023 | Colleen Abbott | Clarenville Allstars |
| 2023 - 2024 |
2020 - 2021 COVID-19 AWARDS
These awards were given out in place of our typical Provincial Award categories.
| award | name | club |
|---|---|---|
| Courageous | Cameron Bennett | Bay St. George Bravehearts |
| Outstanding | Matthew McCarthy | CBS Brightstars |
| Venturesome | Samantha Walsh | Bay St. George Bravehearts |
| Impactful | Heather Miller | CBS Brightstars |
| Determined | Valerie Mercer | CBS Brightstars |
| 1 "One for All, All for One" | Coach, Daphne White | CBS Brightstars |
| 9 "The Whole Nine Yards" | Coach, Shirley Miller | CBS Brightstars |