The Honour Award is the highest form of distinction BCSS can bestow upon an individual. The award is presented to a teacher or administrator who has demonstrated prolonged and distinguished service to school sport, at a school level and to BCSS in serving on the Board or one of its committees. The award consists of a large framed certificate with the recipient’s name as well as a special Honour Award Pin. The recipient also receives a Gold Card which entitles him/her together with a guest to attend any BCSS Provincial Championship. The recipient’s name is engraved on a permanent plaque which is displayed in the BCSS office.
Eligibility Criteria
Nominees
Must have been involved as a coach/sponsor at the school level;
Must have served administratively on at least two of the following: Executive of a Local Association, Executive of Zone or member of a BCSS Committee; or Board of Directors
Must be, or have been, a teacher or administrator;
Must not currently be a member of the BCSS Board of Directors.
Nomination Procedure
2021-2022 Winner
Kerry Taylor
BC School Sports Outstanding School Award
Purpose
To recognize a school whose special commitment to improving the lives of its students and staff through athletics, leadership and public service has contributed significantly to the welfare of school athletics in its local community and to BCSS.
Form
The perpetual award is a large plaque, on display in the BCSS office. The winning schools are presented with a gold and royal blue Outstanding School Award banner.
Eligibility Criteria
Nominees must be a BC SCHOOL SPORTS Member School in good standing. Additional criteria to be used in evaluating nominated schools:
Extent of extracurricular program;
Staff involvement in coaching and sport administration;
Participation in various BCSS programs;
Awards earned, i.e. sportsmanship, individual or team excellence;
Public service projects;
Work done with special populations;
Fundraising projects;
Athletic program’s contribution to the school community;
Special characteristics/activities unique to the school.
Nomination Procedure
Any staff member in a school may initiate a nomination on behalf of a school. The person(s) nominating must complete the above nomination form and may submit supporting letters stating why the school should be selected (i.e. a maximum of a three page letter). This letter should address the applicable areas as well as any additional information which would be relevant to the BCSS Scholarship and Awards Committee in its deliberations. In addition there should be a letter from the school administrator explaining the place of extracurricular sport and physical activity programs in the school.
2021-2022 Winner
GW Graham
Merritt Secondary
BC School Sports Provincial Coach of the Year Award
Purpose
The Coach of the Year Award is to recognize the outstanding achievements of a Coach. The recipient of this award guides thier athletes to success in sport through their philosophy of fair play and sportsmanship. This Coach leads by example and consistently demonstrates a dedication to lifelong learning and continous improvement.
Form
The award consists of a shared perpetual plaque with the honorees’ names and schools engraved, and which is displayed in the BC SCHOOL SPORTS office. In addition, both coaches will each receive a replica sized plaque.
Eligibility Criteria
Must have been actively involved in coaching high school athletics for a minimum of ten years.
Consistently promotes the philosophy of fair play and sportsmanship.
Must be, or have been, a teacher or school administrator.
Must not currently be a member of the BCSS Board of Directors.
Nomination Procedure
Any staff member in a Member School may initiate an nomination on behalf of a school coach.
The person submitting the nomination should complete the nomination form and include any support materials and testimonials as to why the individual should be considered and selected.
2021-2022 Winners
Byron Jack
Ken Lowe
Mary Bartucci
Sharon Shaigec
BC School Sports Merit Award
The Merit Award is presented to individuals recognizing their outstanding service to a local association or a BCSS Sport in recognition of a long-standing service as a coach, supporter, administrator, or official at the school level. The award consists of a plaque engraved with the recipient’s name.
Eligibility Criteria
Nominees
Must have been involved as a coach/sponsor, administrator or official at the school level.
Must have served administratively on at least one of the following: Executive of a Local Association; Member of a BCSS Committee; member of the BCSS Board of Directors.
Must not currently be a member of the BCSS Board of Directors.
BC School Sports is happy to announce the Zone Scholarship to student-athletes with plans to attend Accredited Post-Secondary Institution. Recipients exemplify exceptional athletic ability, academic prowess, and have demonstrated outstanding service and leadership in school and/or community.
Two (2) $750 scholarships will be awarded for each BCSS Athletic Zone, one male and one female.
BC School Sports congratulates the 16 Zone scholarship recipients. We wish them the best of luck in their post-secondary endeavors
The Bert & Greta Quartermaine Badminton Scholarship fund is provided by Bert & Greta Quartermaine, and is dedicated to assisting worthy BC School Sports student-athletes competing in badminton at the high school level in their desire to attend an accredited Canadian post-secondary school.
The Bert & Greta Quartermaine Badminton Scholarship rewards excellence in both scholastic and athletic pursuits. The successful applicants will be student-athletes who have balanced their achievements as badminton athletes with significant success as leaders and contributors to their community.
6 $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to the most worthy candidates (a minimum of two males and two females)
Bert & Greta Quartermaine Scholarship Winners 2021-2022
Eason Chou
Steveston-London Secondary
Parker Haga
Eric Hamber Secondary
Jacqueline Fei
Crofton House School
Dayton Se
Vancouver College
Vicky Wei
Semiahmoo Secondary
Thea Wells
South Kamloops Secondary
Sports: Badminton Sports Accolades: MVP Bantam Badminton, 2019 BCSS Badminton Provincial Championships runner-up, R.S.S.A.A Badminton 2018 Boys Doubles runner-up Academic Accolades: N/A Eason’s perseverance and determination have never failed him. Even in moments of weakness, he always manages to push through and be the best player that he can be. Eason is an integral part of his school’s badminton team and has experience competing at the provincial level. He thrives both academically and athletically as a straight A student and MVP of the Bantam Badminton team. Off the court, Eason remains a great team-player by helping to coach his less-experienced teammates in his spare time. Outside of badminton, he gives back to the community by sharing his passion for the environment as President of his school’s Eco Club as well as performing at various concerts as part of the senior band.
Sports: Badminton Sports Accolades: Commissioner’s 16 All-Star Award (school badminton), Jack C. Allen Award (club badminton) Academic Accolades: Honour Roll Parker has placed a heavy emphasis on helping others, through her phenomenal leadership skills in sports and community involvement. As a season starter, Parker has helped lead her team to two city championships and to the BCSS Badminton Provincials. Her stellar athleticism has led to her receiving the Commissioner’s 16 All-Star Award and the Jack C. Allen Award. To Parker, sports is more than just about winning; it’s about having a strong sense of accomplishment and building community. Both in and out of badminton, she always thrives to leave a positive impression as co-founder and executive member of the Best Buddies club at Eric Hamber and coach for the Junior Bantam Badminton team. Parker will be starting her post-secondary journey at UBC in the Sciences Po Dual Degree program, where she hopes to continue creating an inclusive and safe community for all.
Sports: Basketball, Badminton Sports Accolades: Best of British Columbia Athlete of the Year, BC Sportsmanship Award Academic Accolades: First Class Honours with Distinction Jacqueline is a highly talented athlete and curious scholar who isn’t afraid to step out of her comfort zone and take on new opportunities. At the age of seven, she began competing at a provincial level for badminton and won her first provincial championship (U12) at nine. Throughout the years, she has won many awards, including the B.C. Sportsmanship Award and the Best of B.C. Athlete of the Year Award. Jacqueline is a 2x Gold Medalist and qualified for the U19 Junior National Team. Outside of sports, she is just as impressive. To explore her interests in science and business, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Vancouver General Hospital and as a Marketing Coordinator for the startup Ebb&Flo. Continuing her roots in badminton, she has also stepped up to be an assistant coach for the Senior Varsity Badminton team.
Sports: Volleyball, Badminton, Track & Field Sports Accolades: 2022 BC Junior ‘A’ Badminton U19 XD 2nd Place; U19 BD 3rd Place, 2019 BC Junior ‘A’ Badminton U17 XD 3rd Place; U17 BD 3rd Place, UBC Clearone Badmintology 2019 U19 1st Place, U19 BD 1st Place Academic Accolades: President’s Honour Society Recipient Whether it be on or off the court, Dayton always drives towards excellence. Throughout his sports journey, he has competed on a provincial level, in national Elite, and in recreational open tournaments. Even while busy being a student-athlete, he has managed to achieve exemplary grades all throughout high school. His dedication to the badminton community goes beyond being a player, as he also teaches young athletes basic badminton skills, volunteers as a coach for spring/summer camps, and is a board member on the Lower Mainland Badminton Association. Within his school community, Dayton has a strong sense of responsibility as a three-year peer tutor and a mentor or the Peer Mentors program. In the future, he plans to return and continue supporting younger athletes in his spare time.
Sports: Volleyball, Badminton Sports Accolades: Senior Badminton “Best Attitude,” Senior Girls Volleyball Tournament Player of the Game Academic Accolades: International Baccalaureate Program Surrounded by a multitude of tight-knit communities and teams, Vicky expresses a never-ending enthusiasm and commitment towards helping others. She has seen much success as a student-athlete on the senior badminton team and has been awarded multiple times for her helpful and energetic attitude during games. As an experienced athlete, Vicky also acts as the team manager and student coach for the junior badminton team. Despite the challenges that COVID-19 presented, she saw it as a chance to further her involvement in the community by volunteering at Vancouver Kindness Movement and Community in YOUth to co-lead the Challenges of COVID-19 Pillar. As much as she loves to help others, Vicky is also passionate about ecoservice and is the Co-Founder of the Pollinator Pals Initiative, which is dedicated to slowing the native bee population decline.
Sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton Sports Accolades: 3x All-Star, Fulton Cup scholarship Academic Accolades: Academic Distinction Thea is a natural leader who has been recognized for her dedication to sports and within the community. She is a 3x All-Star and recipient of the Randy Lindros Award for Commitment, Dedication, and Quiet Leadership. She is also a part of various community initiatives that build on inclusivity and sustainability, including being a member of the Stronger BC Youth Council, District Student Gender Sexuality Alliance, and District Student Advisory Council. Through these initiatives, Thea acts as the student voice to bring forth the challenges faced by marginalized communities to bring about change.
Congratulations to all of our winners. Thank you for your contributions to high school sports.
2022 -23 Scholarship Information and application will be available in January 2023
Dave Gifford was a BCSS Director from 1988-90, and received the BCSS Honour Award in 1992. He was a teacher and Administrator in Vancouver, and died in 1992. In his honour, this scholarship is for one male and one female student who truly excels as a student-athlete.
Dave Gifford Memorial Scholarship (2 x $1500) will be awarded to the top male and female student-athlete in the Province.
Applicants must have completed in at least 2 BCSS approved sports during their grade 12 year.
Dave Gifford Scholarship Winners 2021-2022
Owen Luchies
St. Andrews Regional High School
Christina Peet Williams
Chilliwack Secondary
Owen Luchies – St. Andres Regional School
Sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Track & Field, Soccer Sports Accolades: Grade 8 Basketball MVP, Grade 10 Top Junior Basketball Scorer, Grade 10 Vancouver Island Basketball MVP, Grade 12 Vancouver Island All-City 1st Team Basketball, Grade 12 Top Basketball Scorer, Grade 12 Vancouver Island All-Star 1st Team Basketball, Grade 12 Vancouver Island All-Star 1st Team Volleyball Academic Accolades: Straight A’s Owen has positioned himself as a hard-working leader on his high school sports teams, putting everything he has into his team both on-and-off the field and court. He regularly volunteers as a mentor for baseball players in his community, as he plays for the Victoria Eagles in the BC Premier Baseball League and with the Victoria Harbourcats club. As captain of the basketball team and assistant captain of the volleyball team, Owen has developed a camaraderie that spans both age and athletic ability. He chooses to always behave as a role model, using both wins and losses as motivation to further his own and his team’s performance and bond. A prime example of Owen’s drive and tenacity is his soccer season: he started as a bench player, and though they lost the Island Championship, ultimately performed as a starting striker to bring home the Provincial Championship.
Christina Peet Williams – Chilliwack Secondary
Sports: Cross Country, Track & Field, Soccer Sports Accolades: Female Athlete of the Year, Big Block Sports Award, Female Cross Country Runner of the Year, 5 Provincial Championship Medals, 2 National Championship Medals, Track & Field Championship Aggregate Winner Academic Accolades: Grade 11 “A” Honour Roll, Grade 12 “A” Honour Roll Christina is highly motivated and tenacious in all aspects of her life. She is an accomplished athlete, holding multiple provincial and national championship medals and the role of cross country team captain. Not only does she excel in athletics, but also in academics and community support. She volunteers regularly at her local food bank and soup kitchen, lends a hand to a non-profit thrift store, and participates in slough restoration and garbage pickup. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Christina has stepped up in her home life, taking care of domestic responsibilities, and maintaining her punctuality thanks to her trusty bicycle. Christina looks forward to moving out for university to continue her independence.
Congratulations to the Scholarship recipients. We wish them the best of luck in their future academic and athletic endeavors, and thank them for their contributions to high school sports.
2022 -23 Scholarship Information and application will be available in January 2023
BC School Sports is happy to announce the BC Dairy Association Scholarship for student-athletes who plan to attend accredited postsecondary institutions. Recipients have exemplified school spirit, practice a healthy lifestyle, and engage with their community.
BC Dairy Association Scholarship Winners 2021-2022
Maya Dawe
Langley Fundamental Secondary
Lucas Woelders
Langley Christian
Kate Brooks
Claremont Secondary
William McGauchie
NorKam Secondary
Maya Dawe – Langley Fundamental Secondary
Sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Cross Country, Track & Field, Soccer Sports Accolades: Female Athlete of the Year, Volleyball Fraser Valley Finals All-Star, Team BC U15 and U16, School Volleyball Team MVP Academic Accolades: LFMSS Top Student Award for Geography 12, Service Above Self Student Youth in Leadership Accreditation Maya is the definition of a model student-athlete, demonstrating athletic leadership in volleyball and basketball, while maintaining a strong academic standing all throughout high school. Both in and out of school, she is heavily involved in various communities. She has received the Female Athlete of the Year Award 4 years in a row, been deemed as MVP of her school volleyball and basketball team, All-star at the Fraser Valley Volleyball Finals, and offered a position on Team BC U15 and U16 for volleyball. Maya also dedicates a lot of her time to coaching the junior girls and boys volleyball team and West Coast Volleyball Club, volunteering as a referee, helping students thrive through tutoring, and even created a collaborative poetry-sharing platform.
Lucas Woelders – Langley Christian
Sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Track & Field Sports Accolades: 5x All-Star recipient, Top 5 Volleyball Male student athletes in the province Academic Accolades: “A” Honour Roll Lucas is an all-star in sports and the community. Not only is he a 5x All-Star recipient for basketball and volleyball and recognized as one of the top . Volleyball Male student-athletes in the province by USport Volleyball, but he’s also an active member of the community. He is Captain of the senior volleyball team, volunteers as a referee and events coordinator for Volleyball BC events and is a coach/mentor for grassroots programming and Fraser Valley Volleyball Club. His leadership extends beyond athletics as he is part of his school coffee shop leadership team and is a grade 3 Sunday school teacher. Lucas plans to continue his athletic journey in post-secondary as a member of the UBC Okanagan Men’s Volleyball team
Kate Brooks – Claremont Secondary
Sports: Basketball, Aquatics, Cross Country, Badminton, Track & Field Sports Accolades: Senior Girls Island Basketball Championship All-Star, Top 8 finish at Senior Girls Provincial Basketball Championship, Island Cross Country Championship competitor, provincial swim relay competitor Academic Accolades: Principal’s List Kate is a prime example of an all-around student-athlete who excels both on and off the court. She was recognized as All-Star and top 8 finish at the senior girls basketball championship, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout high school. She demonstrates strong leadership skills as the Co-Captain of her school’s senior girls basketball team and Captain of the cross country team. Kate is also an active member of the community, volunteering her time at Keep Girls in Sport, as an assistant coach for the Warriors Basketball Club, and an executive on the grad committee.
William McGauchie -NorKam Secondary
Sports: Basketball, Volleyball Sports Accolades: Most Inspiring Player, Fulton Cup MVP, CougarClassic Winner Academic Accolades: Honour Roll, Principal’s List William is a versatile multi-sport athlete, balancing multiple sports throughout high school, while keeping up his academics and finding time to give back to his community. He was given the title of Most Inspiring Player and demonstrates this by being Captain of the basketball team and assistant coach for grade 10 basketball. Within the community, he volunteers as a coach for the Sun Peaks Ski Club, is an active member of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance, volunteers for the Kamloops Food Bank, and does fundraising for children in Haiti through the Hike program. William will be furthering his education in the field of kinesiology and sport science.
We wish them the best of luck in their future academic and athletic endeavors.
CIOS is a program developed by the Coaching Association of Canada and the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations to give teacher-coaches and community volunteers the special skill-set they need to coach effectively in the school environment. CIOS also provides three PD points to maintain NCCP certification.
Additionally, CIOS educates teachers, coaches and volunteers about OFSAA! Online courses are available in both english and french.
Please contact Erik Espinola at erik@ofsaa.on.ca or (416) 426-7438.
All full and part-time staff at OFSAA extend good luck wishes to all students, teachers and staff as we take on the 2022-23 school year!
OFSAA would like to welcome two new full-time staff members and a part-time staff person.
OFSAA welcomed Erik Espinola as assistant director in August. Erik most recently served as executive director for Boxing Ontario and he has also served as events coordinator for Ontario Soccer. His knowledge of sport and strong commitment to serving membership will be valued by school sport volunteers across the province. The native of Etobicoke, Ontario attended Dante Alighieri Academy before earning his Sport Management Advanced Diploma from Humber College.
In his role, Erik will oversee the OFSAA HUB, the 3 Year Calendar, and boys’ sports.
Nicole Clarke came on board as OFSAA assistant director in late spring and she is looking forward to her first full school year on our staff. Prior to joining OFSAA, Nicole was a long-term occasional teacher at Fort Frances High School in the Rainy River District School Board where she coached girls’ hockey and boys’ basketball. Nicole is a native of Lindsay, Ontario and attended Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute before completing her Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology and Bachelor of Education at Lakehead University.
Among other duties, she will work with the Committee for Girls’ Activities and will be responsible for all girls’ sports in addition to snowboarding.
Brian Poste joined our team this summer as OFSAA’s new part-time sport coordinator. Brian was one of the longest-standing association representatives and a valuable CBA member and strong contributor on various OFSAA committees. He just recently retired from North Hastings High School in Bancroft, Ontario after 30 years of teaching math, computers and drama, among other courses.
Brian will be heavily involved with OFSAA baseball, wrestling, curling and boys’ golf. His passion for school sport and student-athlete growth makes him a welcome addition to the OFSAA office.
We are excited to have Brian, Erik and Nicole on our OFSAA team as we work towards an exciting year of school sports under the leadership of new Executive Director Shamus Bourdon!
Doug Gellatly retired in July after 16 years in the role of executive director at OFSAA. We wish Doug and his family great health and happiness in retirement and we thank him for his dedication and passion for school sport.
Longtime OFSAA staff member Brian Riddell stepped down this summer from his sport coordinator role with us. He was a tremendous influence on student-athletes, teacher-coaches and officials during his tenure with OFSAA.
OFSAA extends a sincere thank you to outgoing WOSSAA Association Representative Michele Van Bargen. We value her many years of dedication and guidance to school athletics in Ontario and we’ll miss her contributions and experience on Executive Council. Congratulations on your retirement from teaching in Strathroy, Michele!
In case you missed it – we are pleased to announce that OFSAA Girls’ Slo-Pitch will debut in 2023! This festival will take place in London on June 12 and 13 under the direction of Convenor Viviane Rouleau of École Secondaire Catholique Notre-Dame (Woodstock, ON).
Have a safe and fun year ahead inside and outside the classroom in 2022-23 everyone!
