By Dan Marshall

Annual Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards seek nominations

Dec 14, 2018 | 8:30 AM

NANAIMO – Since 2006 the Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards have been given out to recognize the best in sport in the Harbour City.

The awards are for athletes of all ages but also coaches, volunteers, officials, administrators, and others who have made noteworthy contributions to local sports.

There are 20 categories that represent all aspects of athletics.

The nomination period is on now until January 4th with an online form available at nanaimosportachievementawards.com.

Anyone can fill out a nomination for themselves or someone else they know.

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The achievements considered will be for the calendar year of 2018 or from a season schedule that included 2017-2018.

A panel of judges will chose three finalists and a winner in each category that will be announced at the 14th annual ceremony at the Coast Bastion Inn on February 22nd.

One category that always has fewer nominations is for officials.

Awards organizer Marilyn Sullivan says they are vital to all sports and hopes that this year more officials will get nominated.

“There is not one sport being played competitively that doesn’t have an official,” said Sullivan. “The other one is partners. There are not a lot of sports that are a specific partner event. But last year we had lots of nominations for partners.”

To be eligible for any of the awards you have to live within the boundaries of School District 68.

So that includes Nanaimo, Gabriola Island, Lantzville, and Ladysmith.

Sullivan says she looks forward to the ceremony every year.

“It’s a very special evening where we have the opportunity to showcase our elite athletes to the city of Nanaimo,” said Sullivan.

Finalists in each category will be chosen by the third week of January.

At that point they’ll be contacted and the three finalists for each award will be published online and through local media.

Every year there are winners from well known organizations like the VIU Mariners, the Raiders and the Clippers, but there are other athletes and stakeholders who don’t have the same name recognition who have made massive contributions to the sports landscape.

Winning a Sport Achievement Award is one of the only ways the community can hear their stories and pay tribute to the hard work and dedication that they put it.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77