2015 THE YEAR OF SPORT
June 2015
April and May have been busy months for many sport organizations and clubs, the BSA, and its standing
committees.
The Inductions into the 2015 Sports Hall of Fame on May 28 brought sport personnel together for reunions of
coaches, high school friends, and team mates to honour: Steve Mitruk (founder and coach of Burlington Boys
Gymnastics Club) John Priestner (CFL football player), Michael Torsney (world champion masters swimmer)
Chris Schultz (CFL football player and TV sports commentator). Unable to attend was Graham Hood (Olympic
runner).
Congratulations to our class of 2015 and to the organizers of this enjoyable classy event.
There is now a Sports Hall of Fame website that honours all inductees with photos and bios. There is a direct
link from the Hall of Fame page of the BSA website (www.burlingtonsportalliance.com), or go directly to
www.burlingtonsportshalloffame.ca
The Burlington Physical Literacy Summit on May 26 saw 130 coaches, health practitioners, sport organizers
gather to learn how to introduce sport skills to children by breaking them down into very basic steps.
Sport literacy will assist parents, coaches and teachers understand how children learn the basic movement
patterns to throw, catch, jump, run, etc. This event was organized by the Have A Heart for Burlington
Committee.
Congratulations are extended to Graham Cocking who has recently moved to a new position, Executive
Director of the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence in Toronto. The BSA Board will miss his ideas and
support.
UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST IN BURLINGTON
1. ParticipACTION Report Card Webinar
Following the release of the ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth on
June 9th, 2015, ParticipACTION will be hosting a series of free webinars to help you make better use
of the Report Card in your own work. The first webinar will cover its purpose, how it is put together and
the 2015 grades and cover story. The first webinar will be Wednesday, June 24th from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Speakers include the lead author, Joel Barnes, Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute.
Check out the report card on June 9. We need to increase our levels of activity at all ages.
2. BSA Sport Recognition and Awards Dinner:
Tuesday June 16, 6:30 pm at the Burlington Holiday Inn; Harvester Rd
Selection of this year’s award winners is complete. We have winners in all categories. Do plan to attend to
honour our 2015 top athlete and sport builders. Let’s stand together to show solid support for sport. Tickets
are available for the dinner and ceremony by contacting Jill Sutherland at [email protected]
Athletes of the Year:
Junior: ** male: Peter Blazevic
** female: Amanda Tobin
golf
figure skating
Athlete: ** male: Ahmed Shamiya wrestling
** female Rebecca Quesnel diving
Masters: ** male: Doug Lowden
volleyball
** female: Fiona Lowden swimming
Parasport:
Melanie Hawtin National Team wheelchair basketball competing in Parapan Am
Games
Special Olympics: ** male Jacob Connolly
** female Katie Barnard
Team: Nexxice Senior Synchronized Skating Team
World Champions
Top High School Athletes to be announced at the dinner
Builders:
** Volunteer Sport Builder of the Year:
Stephanie Kotani
Burlington Gymnastics Club
** Champion of Sport: Coaching Award
Vern Lucyk
Basketball and football
** Official of the Year:
Murray Drinkwalter
**A J Dunn Sport Builder:
football
Andrew Nicholson
volleyball
*** Name your Club Volunteer and have her/him recognized at the dinner. Contact Paul
Tomlinson: [email protected]
3. Ignite Pan Am Day In Canada in Burlington: June 13 spread the spirit of sport and competition.
Come out to LaSalle Park from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, dress in red. Show your support for Canadian
athletes who have dreamed and trained for years to represent their country, at these home games.
4. PAN AM GAMES July 10-26 PARAPAN AM GAMES August 7-15…. Have you
bought your tickets yet? Are you a volunteer? The largest multisport games to come to Canada
surrounds Burlington this summer within a short driving distance, bus, or GO train ride.
Tickets start at $20, discounts for seniors and
children. Tickets allow for free public transit to
and from the venue on the day of the event
including GO Train
www.TORONTO2015.org/tickets
The Pan Am Torch Relay will be running through Burlington on Friday, June 19 Do plan to line the
route to cheer on Dr Ashley Worobec representing Burlington as she carries the torch. The Parapan Am
Torch Relay is scheduled for August 5, celebrations again at Spencer Smith Park. Dress in red and take
your kids. Promote the event within your club, through newsletters, and memos home to parents.
Route: South on Brant, west on Caroline, south on Locust, west on Elgin (at the PAC), south on
Maple into Spencer Smith Park and along the water walkway
Festivities run in Spencer Smith Park from 5:00 – 7:00 PM with the torch expected at 6:30 on
June 19
5. June 21 has been designated by ParticipACTION as the Longest Day of Play. The intent is to
encourage families to go outside and play sport actively together. Your club/organization could tap into
this opportunity by offering evening events of family fun
6. Sports Day In Canada 2015: date has been confirmed as Saturday November 21.
The Burlington Sport Alliance will again be offering a huge Festival of Sport within the Burlington
Youth Soccer Club indoor soccer domes in Sherwood Park. Plan to be involved. Last year 14
organizations and about 350 people came out for a day of fun, play and the trying on of new sports. JOIN
US to make 2015 bigger and more inclusive. Contact the BSA at: [email protected] to
indicate your wish to be involved.
This event again is partnered by ParticipACTION, CBC, and RBC.
Go to website http://sportsday.cbc.ca to register an event your club association may wish to host. Be sure
to let the BSA know so we can feature your event on our poster and website.
INFORMATION FOR ALL SPORT ORGANIZATIONS, CLUBS AND SPORTSMAN/WOMEN?
Did you know about……..?
Display Cabinets:
The BSA has several display cabinets along the outside gym walls in the Haber Recreation Centre on
Dundas St or Hwy #5
These cabinets house the trophies and history of all sport award previous winners. Check them out.
Bios and photos of all Sports Hall of Fame inductees are also permanently displayed here
There is one cabinet available to BSA members/supporters to advertise your upcoming events.
Contact: [email protected] to inquire about the cabinet.
Volunteer Help Needed:
Community VOLUNTEERS are needed to maintain the current offerings of the BSA: the Annual Sport
Recognition and Awards Dinner; Sports Week In Burlington; Sports Festival on Sports Day In Canada;
Jersey Day In Canada. We also have a vacancy on the Board of Directors. Please help us continue to offer
these events.
Membership. Become a supporter of the BSA! Join the BSA for a minimal amount of $25 annually.
.
Notice to all Sport Organizations and Members….. Memorabilia is being sought
Look into your archives, on shelves and in folders. Have you any sport memorabilia: photos,
event programs, small equipment, news articles from your past that could be shared with the
public? The BSA has a display cabinet for local sport history to highlight events and people who have
helped grow sport in Burlington.
“TOGETHER SPORT GROWS STRONGER”
www.burlingtonsportalliance.com