Awards
Special Olympics BC Awards
Each year, Special Olympics BC recognizes the incredible contributions of our athletes and volunteers through our annual awards. Locals are invited to submit nominations to highlight the outstanding accomplishments of members in their communities. With support from the Awards Selection Committee, winners are chosen across several award categories. Any registered Special Olympics BC individual can nominate someone, including coaches and athletes, but all nominations must be endorsed by the Local before submission.
Special Olympics BC Award Categories and Past Winners
- Athletic Achievement Award The Athletic Achievement Award is presented annually to a male or female athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic skill both in practice and competition.
- Grassroots Coach Award The Grassroots Coach Award will be presented to a coach who works tirelessly to ensure that all athletes, regardless of their ability level, are provided with opportunities to train, improve and compete.
- Howard Carter Award The winner of the Howard Carter Award is a coach who provides exceptional training to the athletes and ensures that they are prepared to beat their personal bests and deliver high-calibre performances at competitions.
- BC Law Enforcement Torch Run Award This award is presented annually to a Law Enforcement Torch Run member who has demonstrated significant dedication to the BC LETR and Special Olympics BC.
- President's Award The President's Award is presented to a non-coaching volunteer who is dedicated to planning, organizing and operating sport programs, fundraisers or competitions.
- Spirit of Sport Award The Spirit of Sport Award is presented annually to a male or female Special Olympics BC athlete who exemplifies the true meaning of sportsmanship.
Submit a Nomination
All registered individuals of Special Olympics BC can nominate an individual for the awards listed below. Please note that all nominations must be endorsed by the Local before they are submitted to Provincial Office. In instances where the Local Coordinator is nominated, the Regional Coordinator and/or other executive members can endorse the application.
Special Olympics BC will only require two contact names (including name, phone number and e-mail address) to be written at the end of the nomination form in the space provided. These individuals will then be contacted by the Awards selection committee for further information on the shortlisted candidates.
All awards submitted will be held over for one additional year, if requested by the nominator.
Annual Awards Timeline
February: SOBC Awards nominations sent
April: SOBC Awards nomination deadline
April to May: Selection by Awards Selection Committee & award creation
June: Local award presentations
July: SOC Awards nominations due
October: SOC Awards Night
Note: The BC LETR Award follows a slightly different nomination and selection process.
Contact
If you have any questions about SOBC awards, please contact SOBC's Leanne Kelly by email or by phone at 778-581-0511.
What are the Special Olympics Canada (SOC) Awards?
Special Olympics Canada presents annual awards to recognize the exceptional contributions of athletes and volunteers, similar to SOBC awards. However, please note that SOC Award nominations must be submitted through SOBC, as locals cannot submit nominations directly. For certain SOC Award categories, SOBC identifies potential nominees from recipients of specific SOBC awards.
SOBC Awards that Move Forward to SOC Awards:
• SOBC Athletic Achievement > SOC Athlete of the Year
• SOBC Howard Carter > SOC Coach of the Year
• SOBC Coach Ambition > SOC Rising Star Coach of the Year
• SOBC Presidents > Jim Thompson Award