It's your turn to pick the winner.
Sport B.C., in partnership with the province of British Columbia, encourages all British Columbians to have their say in naming the top provincial athlete of 2011 by voting online at SportBC.com. The athlete who receives the highest number of votes will be honoured with the Best of B.C. award for his or her achievements at Sport B.C.'s 46th annual Athlete of the Year awards presented by TELUS.
Voters will be asked to choose the athlete they feel best represented B.C. nationally or internationally in either a professional or amateur sport from the following finalists:
- Dylan Armstrong from Kamloops in men's discus, the 2011 Pan American Games gold medalist
- Andrew Harris (Nanaimo, BC) in B.C. Lions football, won 99th Grey Cup - named Most Outstanding Canadian
- Surrey's Paul McCallum in Canadian Football League, record for most consecutive field goals in the CFL
- Boston Bruins forward Mark Recchi from Kamloops in ice hockey, Stanley Cup winning season
- Christine Sinclair of Burnaby in women's soccer, 2011 Pan American Games gold medalist and flag bearer
"British Columbians are exceptionally proud of our athletes and the sport system that supports them as they train, develop and compete," said Hon. Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. "These five athletes have made tremendous achievements in their sport, and truly represent the best of B.C.'s collective spirit - excellence, fortitude and strength."
"2011 was an outstanding year for B.C.'s athletes, as evident by the calibre of candidates put forward for this award," said Carey Summerfelt, event manager for Sport B.C. "These five athletes are powerhouses, not only as competitors in their respective sports, but also in their representation of our province on the world stage."
The online vote, along with athlete profiles, can be found at SportBC.com/bestofbc. Voting closes on Feb. 27 and the people's choice for Best of B.C. will be revealed the following day. Previous winners of the Best of B.C. Award include Lauren Woolstencroft (Para-Alpine Ski, 2010), Justin Morneau (Baseball, 2008) and Steve Nash (Basketball, 2005 & 2006).
Sport B.C.'s Athlete of the Year awards is Canada's longest-running sport recognition event, celebrating B.C.'s finest athletes. Tickets for this year's event, taking place March 8 at the River Rock Show Theatre in Richmond BC, are still available and can be purchased at SportBC.com.
