The 2009 Ontario Sports Awards were hosted by the Sport Alliance of Ontario at Ontario Place in Toronto on April 15, 2010. The awards were presented by Margarett Best, Minister of Ontario Health Promotion.
The evening provided a wonderful celebration of sport in Ontario. The many contributions of coaches, volunteers, sponsors as well as the amazing accomplishments of the athletes were acknowledged. Skate Ontario is thrilled to have the achievements of its nominees acknowledged in this manner.
Skate Ontario would like to congratulate the following:
Patrick Chan – Ontario Male Athlete of 2009!
Patrick was the 2009 Canadian and Four Continents Champion as well as World Silver medalist!
Patrick was not available and in his absence the award was accepted by his Father, Lewis Chan.
NEXXICE, 2009 Ontario Team of the Year!
NEXXICE Synchronized Skating Team, coached by Shelley Barnett was the 2009 World Synchronized Skating Champions as well as the 2009 Canadian defending Champions.
HomeSense was acknowledged with a Corporate Citation for its significant and greatly appreciated sponsorship of Skate Ontario over the last four years.
Ross Phelps: Skate Ontario was very pleased to have named Ross as our sport’s nominee for Syl Apps Special (volunteer) Achievement Award.
Ross has volunteered in the sport of figure skating for over 40 years, serving in several capacities primarily in the area of music production, at the club, Section, Provincial, National and World levels. He has participated as a music event technician at both the 1988 and 2010 Olympic Games, as well as several Ontario Winter Games, numerous Canadian Championships and International Skating Union events held in Canada. Ross, who has demonstrated a life -long passion for volunteering has served as the President of the Weston Skating Club as well as the Chairman of the Skate Canada-Central Ontario Music and Announcing Team. He has been a valuable and well- respected resource for Skate Ontario as well as for Skate Canada. He is passionate about the sport of figure skating and yet very unassuming; always recognizing the importance of music and sound quality at events and in the development of programs and performances of the skaters. Ross cherishes his grass roots affiliations and is admired across Canada for his quiet, tireless dedication to the sport.
Shelley Barnett, coach of NEXXICE was a finalist (top three) in the Female Coach of the Year category. Shelley successful coached NEXXICE to National and World titles in 2009, and has received the Petro Canada Coach Excellence Awards for the past three years.
