2025 Alberta Sport Recognition Awards

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2025 alberta sport recognition award Winners

The 2025 Alberta Sport Recognition Awards will be presented by Minister Andrew Boitchenko in Red Deer in conjunction with the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Induction Ceremony. 

2025 was a successful year for diver Chase Shaw of Calgary. At the National Team Trials in February, he completed a gold medal sweep on all three boards, qualifying to represent Canada at both the International Youth Diving Meet in Dresden, Germany, and the Pan-American Aquatic Championships in Medellín, Colombia.

In Dresden Germany, he earned a bronze medal on 10m platform and placed sixth on 3-metre springboard. At the Pan-American Aquatics Championships, Chase again stood on the podium with a bronze medal on platform, along with a fourth-place finish on 3-metre springboard against elite continental competition.

Chase successfully defended his national dominance by winning gold on 1m, 3m, and platform at the 2025 Canadian Junior Elite National Championships in Edmonton completing a second consecutive year of triple-gold performances. 

His sustained excellence, versatility across all three boards, and success on both national and international stages reflect his technical skill, competitive resilience, and strong long-term potential within Canadian diving.

 Junior Female Athlete of the Year 

Lia Cho, from Calgary, dominated the 2025 junior figure skating season, winning gold at the 2024-2025 Skate Canada Challenge with a record-setting 186.50 points. She achieved the remarkable distinction of breaking two Canadian records in successive categories within a 12-month period.

The 13 year old  followed  this up winning gold at the 2025 Canadian National Skating Championships, where she set a new Canadian record solidifying her status as a top national junior. 

Lia began skating in Red Deer before relocating to Calgary in 2023 to continue her development. She now trains at The Glencoe Club under former U.S. National Champion and Olympic-level coach Scott Davis. Known for her joy, confidence, and infectious enthusiasm, Lia pairs a disciplined, focused training approach with a genuine love for skating.

Beyond competition, Lia is an inclusive and respectful role model who exemplifies leadership and sportsmanship. She is an amazing teammate both on and off the ice.

 Junior Team of the Year 

For 3 years, this team has exemplified what it means to represent Alberta at the highest of levels on the provincial and national stage.

in 2025  the team beat all other U17 and U18 teams twice during the season to win premier events, and earned a silver medal at U17 provincials.

In May, the team reached thier goal and became national champions at the Volleyball Canada U17 National Championships, wthis is the forst time since 1999 a team from Red Deer won a national title 

 

Alberta Male Athlete of the Year 

Brendan started skiing at the age of 4. Made the switch from ski racing to freestyle when he was 10. He found his passion in the halfpip event and is known for his high amplitudeand technical tricks.

The 2025 competitve season was another great year for Brendan he achieved 2 World Cup podium finishes to bring his career total to 11. In December he won the inaugral freeski halpfpipe event in Secret Garden, China. He topped off the the seasn by winning the Bronze medal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games.

Beyond competition, the 2 time Olympian (2022&2026) represents excellence in every sense. A University of Calgary graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Physics, he is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Physics, conducting research in experimental quantum technology. His ability to balance academic achievement with elite athletic performance speaks to his discipline, intelligence, and commitment to personal growth..

Alberta Female Athlete of the Year 

Abigail Strate has enjoyed a dream season in 2025-26, climbing onto the World Cup podium five times including back-to-back silver-medal finishes in her last two competitions. She started ski jumping at age 6 after trying the sport at a summer camp. She has never looked back.

After another third-place finish in February 2025, Strate headed into the 2025 season in fine form. She reached the podium in five summer Grand Prix events in August and September, including two victories against top tier competitors, one of which was at the Olympic venue in Val di Fiemme. She then finished second at the World Cup season opener on the large hill in Lillehammer. That started an impressive run in which she only placed outside the top 10 once and had eight top five finishes (as of mid-January). She posted another second-place finish on the large hill in Wisla. On New Year’s Day, she celebrated her first career World Cup victory on the large hill in Oberstdorf. It was her ninth career World Cup podium.

She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Creative Arts (specializing in graphic design)  through Yorkville University and Graduated from Toronto Film School in December 2024 with a Diploma in Graphic Design.

Alberta Team of the Year 

Canada's first-ever women's doubles luge team is the duo of Kailey Allan and Beattie Podulsky. The pair from Calgary had only a little over a year to train together after pairing up ahead of the 2024-25 season, good team chemistry made a sucessful recipie for the team.

The duo competed in just two World Cups together before helping Canada win team relay bronze at the 2025 world championship in Whistler, B.C.

Then to kick off the 2025-26 season, they had their best career World Cup result, a fifth place finish, in Winterberg, Germany.

Canada's first-ever women's doubles luge team is the duo of Kailey Allan The trailblazing duo made Olympic history by representing Team Canada in the inaugural women's doubles luge event, where they finished 10th

The team is successful both on and off the track. Their goal is not only to compete at the highest level but to inspire the next generation of female athletes and redefine the future of double’s luge in Canada

 

Coach Recognition Award

Scott Davis is one of Alberta's most accomplished and respected coaches, with over 22 years of experience guiding skaters from beginners to National, International, and Olympic success.

In 2025, Scott’s coaching has led to extraordinary achievements, including guiding Lia Cho to set Canadian records in both novice women and junior women’s scores and Parker Heiderch 2025 Junior Men's Champion—a testament to his ability to develop young athletes to their fullest potential. Additionally, he coached Kaiya Ruiter’s to the 2024 Canadian Senior Women’s title and Skate Canada named him Team Coach to the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea. The team won a Bronze Medal.

Scott’s leadership extends beyond individual achievements, creating an inclusive and supportive environment where skaters and coaches alike thrive. His planning and innovative training methods ensure skaters have clear goals and the resources needed to succeed. His contributions have not only shaped the careers of exceptional athletes but also enriched the broader skating community in Alberta, leaving an enduring legacy of excellence and inspiration.

 Coach Recognition Award

Owen Dawkins is the Head Coach of the Golden Bears Wrestling Team at the University of Alberta. In 2025 recognized this as the U SPORTS Outstanding Men’s Coach, a distinction reflecting both competitive excellence and exemplary leadership. He was recently selected by Wrestling Canada as a coach for the 2025 U23 World Championships. 

Owen is also the Head Coach of the Edmonton Wrestling Club. He works with wrestlers of all ages and stages of development, with a particular emphasis on coach education and mentorship. Many of Alberta’s emerging coaches have been trained and influenced directly by Owen, benefit from his technical expertise, professionalism, and commitment to long-term athlete and coach development.

He is also commited to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for female wrestlers and coaches. Owen has started  women-only coaching nights designed to foster participation, retention, and leadership among women in the sport. This initiative has made a meaningful impact for female wrestlers and coaches.

Owen is currently the president of the Wrestling Alberta Board and is a coach facilitator  actively supports Wrestling Canada Lute committees and coaching development initiatives, further strengthening the sport across Alberta and Canada.

 Coach Recognition Award

Heather has played a large role in the growth and development of Wado Kai karate in Alberta. She also serves as President of Karate Alberta and is the National Para Karate Coach. She has coached at 5 World Championships and 8 Continental Championships, helping athletes with disabilities achieve personal bests and numerous podium placements, including eight world medals and consistent podium finishes at Pan American events. .

Heather’s most significant contribution is the creation of Canada’s Para-Karate program in 2014, which originated in Alberta and now serves as a national model for inclusion. 

Heather advances coach education as a National Coaching Certification Program Coach Developer, hosting multiple courses, completing coach evaluations, and providing coach mentorship. Her efforts have not only established programs but ensured their long-term growth, positioning Alberta as a leader in both mainstream and para-karate.

Coach Recognition Award

Beth is a highly experienced head coach at The Glencoe Club, where she has dedicated 33 years to coaching. In her current role, she works primarily with young athletes aged 5–12, delivering lessons and leading the club’s comprehensive ladder program.

Beth plays a critical role in introducing children to sport, helping them navigate early challenges, and fostering a lifelong passion for physical activity.

She has a strong understanding of long-term athlete development, focusing on strategic, age-appropriate development and recognizing her work as a foundational phase in each athlete’s broader sporting journey.

Beth is currently the Zone 3 Director with Badminton Alberta.

 Technical Official Recognition Award

Kris has distinguished himself as an elite-level official on the ball field, ice rink or volleyball court. He offciates at the highest levels in softball, baseball and volleyball.

He has earned appointments to numerous national and international assignments in multiple sports including the 2025 18U Men’s Pan-Am Championship in Argentina for Fastpitch and the 2025 19U Men’s Volleyball Pan-Am Championships held in Calgary reflecting the trust placed in him by assigning bodies and sport organizations.

Beyond his on-field achievements, Kris has devoted countless hours to the advancement of officiating within multiple sport organizations provincially and nationally, reflecting a deep understanding that the long-term success of sport in Alberta depends on strong, well-supported officials. Through mentoring, evaluation, clinics, and one-on-one guidance, Kris has played a pivotal role in developing new officials and supporting experienced officials as they progress toward higher levels of competition. He serves as a role model for officials across Alberta, exemplifying the values of leadership, and accountability.

Technical Official Recognition Award

Marsha’s officiating journey spans over eleven years of volunteer service, progressing from local club helper to lead official and Event Director at major provincial, national, and international events.

As a certified Orienteering Canada O300 Course Planner, Marsha has led the successful delivery of numerous high-level events, including serving as Event Director for the 2024 Alberta Orienteering Championships and the 2025 Western Canadian Orienteering Championships—part of the Canadian Orienteering Festival, an international World Ranking Event.

As a mentor and educator, she plays a vital role in growing Alberta’s community of trained officials. Each year, she organizes and leads introductory officiating and course planning clinics for the Foothills Wanderers Orienteering Club (FWOC), guiding new volunteers in applying rules, managing safety, and designing fair, age-appropriate courses. Her mentorship has directly supported the certification and confidence of new planners and controllers, ensuring a steady pipeline of qualified technical officials for future events.

 

Sport Volunteer Recognition Award 

Wilma has been volunteering with Special Olympics since 2007 and has dedicated a significant amount of time and service to the movement. Her commitment to the Special Olympics Alberta  goes beyond coaching, she has held several volunteer senior leadership roles with the provincial organization and has provided key advice and governance for our organization

In 2012, Wilma began her term as a Board Director with Special Olympics Alberta and later served as Board Chair from 2016-2018. Under her leadership, the bylaws were reviewed and streamlined

Wilma is passionate about sport and teaches two sports law courses at the University of Calgary. Special Olympics Alberta regularly gets new volunteers from her class as she has been a great advocate for our community.

Sport Volunteer Recognition Award 

Since joining the Hockey Alberta board in 2010 and becoming Chair in 2019, Len Samletzki has demonstrated strong leadership and is tremendously respected in his role

Len’s passion for constantly improving and not settling for the status quo has led to positive policy changes, such as improving alignment with the western branches, celebrating Hockey Alberta’s history with Life Membership awards and a new recruitment process to have a more diverse board.

Not only is Len a leader in Alberta, but he has also made an impact on a national stage. Len has worked alongside Hockey Canada staff, fellow branch chairs and presidents, and is a respected voice within the member forum. 

 

See a complete list of  Alberta Athlete and Team of the Year recipients

See a complete list of Alberta Sport Recognition Awards past recipients