This is a joint news release between the Government of Yukon, Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle, Sport Yukon and Special Olympics Yukon.
The Government of Yukon, Sport Yukon, Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle and Special Olympics Yukon celebrated the territory’s top athletes, coaches and volunteers with an award ceremony on February 17, 2025.
The Government of Yukon recognizes recipients with two awards: the Premier’s Award of Sport Excellence and the Minister’s Award of Sport Recognition.
The Premier’s Award, which recognizes the achievements of outstanding Yukon athletes who competed internationally or nationally, was presented to 32 athletes.
The Minister’s Award, which is presented to athletes or teams who excelled at the Arctic Winter Games, Canada 55+ Games, provincials, Western Canadians or national competitions, was earned by 125 athletes and 8 teams.
Annually, the Sport Yukon Major Awards are presented to Yukoners for their significant contributions and achievement in sport across various categories. A total of seven awards are presented for administrator, coach and athletes of the year.
Special Olympics Yukon enriches the lives of over 120 Yukoners with an intellectual disability through sport. Each year, Special Olympics presents the following awards: Athletes of the Year, Most Improved Athletes of the Year, Athlete and Sport Volunteer Rising Stars and the Heather Miller Sport Volunteer of the Year.
The Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle awards were given to seven recipients including two Indigenous athletes of the year, an Indigenous coach of the year, an Indigenous sport and recreation community steward of the year and an exemplary person in arctic sports, dene games and archery.
Congratulations to all the athletes who received a sport award. Your dedication, perseverance and commitment to excellence inspire Yukoners across the territory. The Government of Yukon is proud to support sport and is grateful to our partners for their contributions to the success of Yukon athletes. I wish you all the best as you pursue your goals in sport.
It is a pleasure to watch the territory’s athletes succeed on the national and international stage. These awards not only reflect their athletic accomplishments, they also acknowledge how they’ve been amazing ambassadors for the Yukon. Our government is proud to support athletes, coaches and officials through programs like Foundations and Podium Pathways, as well as High Performance and Elite Athlete funding. Through the Yukon Sport Action Plan, we’re building an inclusive, fun and fair sport system that helps Yukoners succeed at every level. Athletic success is not achieved alone and I applaud the coaches and volunteers for their dedication to the athletes and programming.
We’re thrilled to celebrate the incredible achievements of our athletes, coaches and volunteers this year. It’s an honour to recognize the dedication, hard work and passion they bring to their sports and communities. This year, we’re especially proud to spotlight Indigenous athletes who have excelled in their disciplines, showcasing the strength and talent within our region. It’s moments like these that inspire us all and remind us why sport is such a vital part of our lives!
There is a very high level of commitment to sport and recreation in this territory and we are proud to honour the athletes, coaches and administrators who give so much. Congratulations and thank you to all the winners of these awards on behalf of the entire community.
We look forward to joining our sport counterparts in celebrating the accomplishments of Yukon athletes. We are particularly excited to recognize several members of the Special Olympics Yukon family. We should always place a spotlight on participation and achievement in sport and Yukon’s annual Celebration of Sport Excellence is a perfect, welcoming and inclusive space to honour the past year’s best athletes.
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The Government of Yukon presents its annual awards to outstanding Yukon athletes.
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The Premier’s Award of Sport Excellence is presented to an athlete or team who has accomplished one of the following while representing the Yukon or Canada:
- they must win a gold medal at tier/division one of Provincials or Western Canadian Championships; or
- they must win a gold, silver or bronze medal or receive special distinction at tier/division one of National Championships, Canada Games or Major International events; or
- they must participate as a member of Team Canada at the Olympics, Paralympics, Special Olympics World Games, Pan or Parapan American Games, Commonwealth Games or World Championship.
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The Minister’s Award of Sport Excellence is presented to athletes or teams who have accomplished one of the following:
- they must win a gold medal at the Arctic Winter Games, North American Indigenous Games or Canada 55+ Games; or
- they must win a gold, silver or bronze medal or receive special distinction at tier/division two or lower of Provincials or National Championships; or
- they must win a silver or bronze medal or receive special distinction at Western Canadian Championships or tier/division one of Provincials.
Premier’s Award of Sport Excellence
| Name | Sport | Competition(s) | Event(s) | Placing/Achievement |
| Mya Wilson | Archery | Archery Canada Indoor Championships | U18 barebow | Gold |
| Mikayla Therriault | Archery | Archery Canada Indoor Championships | U15 barebow | Gold |
| Dawson Widney | Archery | Archery Canada Indoor Championships | U18 barebow | Bronze |
| Shiori Monzo | Archery | Archery Canada Indoor Championships 2024 Youth and Masters Pan Am Championships | U15 Recurve | Gold
Member of Team Canada |
| Delia Therriault | Archery | 2024 Youth and Masters Pan Am Championships | Member of Team Canada | |
| Emmett Kapaniuk | Archery | 2024 Youth and Masters Pan Am Championships | Member of Team Canada | |
| Emily King | Arctic Sports | World Eskimo-Indian Olympics | One-Foot High Kick | World record set, four gold, one silver, and three bronze |
| Nadia Moser | Biathlon | Biathlon Canada Nationals | Women Sprint Women Pursuit Women 10 km | Gold Silver Silver |
| Cole Germain | Biathlon | Biathlon Canada Nationals | Youth Men/Women Relay Youth Men Pursuit | Gold
Silver |
| Cheyenne Tirschmann | Biathlon | Biathlon Canada Nationals | Youth Men/Women Relay Youth Women Pursuit Youth Women Sprint | Gold
Gold
Gold |
| Mallory Pigage | Bowling | 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games | 5-pin Bowling Singles F05 | Gold |
| Duncan McRae | Bowling | 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games | 5-pin Bowling Singles M02 | Silver |
| Gracie Ryckman | Bowling | 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games | 5-pin Bowling Singles F07 | Silver |
| Bobbi-Rae Patchett | Bowling | 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games | 5-pin Bowling Singles F04 | Gold |
| Darby McIntyre | Cross Country Skiing | 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games | 7.5 km Classic M1 5 km Classic M1 10 km Classic M1 | Silver Gold Gold |
| Owen Munroe | Cross Country Skiing | 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games | 7.5 km Classic M3 5 km Classic M3 10 km Classic M2 | Gold
Gold Silver |
| Ernest Chua | Cross Country Skiing | 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games | 1 km Classic M2 2.5 km Classic M4 | Silver
Bronze |
| Minty Bradford | Cross Country Skiing | U16 Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals Youth Olympic Games | 7.5 km free 5 km free | Gold Gold Member of Team Canada |
| Derek Deuling | Cross Country Skiing | U23 Nordic World Ski Championship | Mixed Relay | Gold while representing Team Canada |
| Sonjaa Schmidt | Cross Country Skiing | U23 Nordic World Ski Championship | Women’s Sprint | Gold while representing Team Canada |
| Sasha Masson | Cross Country Skiing | U23 Nordic World Ski Championship | Member of Team Canada | |
| Mara Roldan | Cycling | U23 Canadian Road National Championships | Road Race Time Trial | Gold Gold |
| Callum Weir | Futsal | 2024 CONCACAF Futsal Championship | Member of Team Canada | |
| Emery Twardochleb | Hockey | U18 Women’s National Championship | Bronze | |
| Gavin McKenna | Hockey | U18 World Championship U20 World Junior Championship | Gold Member of Team Canada | |
| Kaylee Fortier | Judo | Judo Canada Open Nationals | +63kg Newaza Open | Silver
|
| Lia Hinchey | Judo | Judo Canada Open Nationals | -63kg Newaza Open | Silver |
| Jaymi Hinchey | Judo | Judo Canada Open Nationals Sask. Open Manitoba Open | U18 -52kg U18 -52kg U21 -52kg Senior | Gold Gold Bronze |
| Huxley Briggs | Judo | Manitoba Open | U18 -50kg | Gold |
| Stian Langbakk | Snowboarding | Snowboarding Junior National Championships BC Provincial Series 1 BC Provincial Series 2 | Slopestyle
Slopestyle
Slopestyle | Bronze
Gold
Gold |
| Tuja Dreyer | Swimming | 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships | Member of Team Canada | |
| Emma Boyd | Volleyball | 2024 NORCEA Pan Am Games | Member of Team Canada |
Minister’s Award of Sport Recognition
| Name | Sport | Competition(s) | Event(s) | Placing/Achievement |
| Helen Dewell | Bowling | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 65+ Singles Bowling | Gold |
| John Hadvick | Darts | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 65+ Doubles Dart | Gold |
| Tim McLachlan | Darts | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 65+ Singles Darts 65+ Doubles Darts | Gold
Gold |
| Janet Brault | Swimming | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 55+ Predicted Swim | Gold |
| Christine Cash | Swimming | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 60-64 100m Breaststroke | Gold |
| Nesta Leduc | Swimming | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 85+ 100m Freestyle | Gold |
| Therese Lindsay | Swimming | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 60-64 years: 50m Freestyle 50m Backstroke 100M Backstroke 100m Medley |
Gold Gold Gold Gold |
| Barb Phillips | Swimming | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 80-84 years: 100m Backstroke 50m Breaststroke 100m Breaststroke 100m Medley | Gold Gold Gold Gold |
| Maureen Wallingham | Swimming | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 65-69 years: 50m Butterfly | Gold |
| Marcella Abrams | Track and Field | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 75+ 1500m run | Gold |
| Rachel Grantham | Track and Field | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 65-69 Javelin | Gold |
| Sheila Senger | Track and Field | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 75-79 200m sprint | Gold |
| Marg White | Track and Field | 2024 Canada 55+ Games | 55+ 400m Predicted Walk | Gold |
| Team Yukon | Alpine Skiing | Arctic Winter Games | Overall Team | Gold |
| Ellyann Dinn | Alpine Skiing | Arctic Winter Games | Overall Team Slalom 08-09 F Parallel Slalom 08-09 F Giant Slalom 08-09 F | Gold Gold Gold Gold |
| Josephine de Jager | Alpine Skiing | Arctic Winter Games | Overall Team Parallel Slalom 10-11 F | Gold Gold |
| Tom Vollmer | Alpine Skiing | Arctic Winter Games | Overall Team Parallel Slalom 08-09 M | Gold Gold |
| Zach Ball | Alpine Skiing | Arctic Winter Games | Overall Team Parallel Slalom 10-11 M | Gold Gold |
| Kael Epp | Archery | Arctic Winter Games | Individual Compound 2006 or later M | Gold |
| Dominick Watt | Archery | Arctic Winter Games | Team Compound Mix | Gold |
| Augustin Greetham | Arctic Sports | Arctic Winter Games
2024 Indigenous Summer Games | Kneel Jump 2007 or later M Overall Junior Male
| Gold
Four Gold, four silver, four bronze
|
| Amelie Guilbeault | Arctic Sports | Arctic Winter Games | Sledge Jump 2007 or later F | Gold |
| Bree Labelle | Arctic Sports
Gymnastics
| Arctic Winter Games Xcel GymBC Championships
| Triple Jump 2007 or later F Category Xcel Platinum - Bars
| Gold
Bronze |
| Isabelle Paquette | Arctic Sports | Arctic Winter Games | Kneel Jump Open F Triple Jump Open F | Gold Gold |
| Team Yukon Basketball | Basketball | Arctic Winter Games | Gold | |
| Lydia Brown | Biathlon | Arctic Winter Games | 2006-08 F: 7.5 km Individual 7.5 km Mass Start 4x4.5 km Mixed Relay |
Gold Gold Gold
|
| Niamh Hupe | Biathlon | Arctic Winter Games | 2009 or Later F: 5 km Individual 5 km Mass Start |
Gold Gold |
| Alexander LeBarge | Biathlon | Arctic Winter Games | 2006-08 M: 7.5 km Mass Start 4x4.5 km Mixed Relay |
Gold Gold |
| Matthew London | Biathlon | Arctic Winter Games | 2006-08 M: 6 km Sprint 4x4.5 km Mixed Relay |
Gold Gold |
| Stella Mueller | Biathlon | Arctic Winter Games | 2006-08 4x4.5 km Mixed Relay | Gold |
| Logan Tirschmann | Biathlon | Arctic Winter Games | 2009 or Later M 5 km Mass Start | Gold |
| Mason Parry | Biathlon - snowshoe | Arctic Winter Games | 2006-08 M: 5 km Individual 3 km Sprint 4 km Mass Start |
Gold Gold Gold |
| Jasper Charlie | Dene Games | Arctic Winter Games
2024 Indigenous Summer Games | Stick Pull 2006 or Later M | Gold Three silver, two bronze |
| Team Yukon | Dene Games | Arctic Winter Games | Hand Games Open F | Gold |
| Myra Kendi | Dene Games | Arctic Winter Games 2024 Indigenous Summer Games | Snow Snake Open F | Gold Three gold |
| Team Yukon 2006 or Later M | Futsal | Arctic Winter Games | Gold | |
| Lucy Miller | Gymnastics | Arctic Winter Games Xcel GymBC Championships | Floor 2006 or Later F Beam | Gold Silver |
| Eva Benkert | Snowboarding | Arctic Winter Games | 2010 or Later F: Banked Slalom Overall |
Gold Gold |
| Seamus MacDonald | Snowboarding | Arctic Winter Games | 2010 or Later M: Slopestyle Banked Slalom Overall |
Gold Gold Gold |
| Danee Marsh | Snowboarding | Arctic Winter Games | Slopestyle 2010 or Later F | Gold |
| Leo Spiers Leung | Snowboarding | Arctic Winter Games | Rail Jam 2010 or Later M | Gold |
| Aven Sutton | Snowboarding | Arctic Winter Games | 2008 or Later F: Slopestyle Rail Jam Banked Slalom Overall |
Gold Gold Gold Gold |
| Taiga Buurman | Snowshoeing | Arctic Winter Games | Short Distance Combined 2005 or Later M | Gold |
| Micah McConnell | Snowshoeing | Arctic Winter Games | 2009 or Later M: 2.5 km Cross Country 5 km Cross Country Short Distance Combined |
Gold
Gold
Gold |
| Liam Gishler | Wrestling | Arctic Winter Games | Inuit Wrestling up to 60kg M | Gold |
| Aqilah Salim | Wrestling | Arctic Winter Games | Individual up to 50kg F | Gold |
| Leah McLean | Wrestling
Judo | Arctic Winter Games
Sask Open | Individual up to 65kg F Inuit Wrestling up to 65kg F U18 -63kg | Gold
Gold
Silver |
| Harlynn Germaine | Arctic Sports & Archery | Indigenous Summer Games | Overall Junior Female Swing Kick One Hand Reach Airplane One Foot High Kick Knuckle Hop Bow and Arrow |
Gold Gold Gold Bronze Bronze Bronze |
| NuNu Sageaktook | Arctic Sports | Indigenous Summer Games | Junior Female: Swing Kick One Hand Reach Knuckle Hop Airplane Kneel Jump |
Silver Silver Silver Silver Silver |
| Isabelle Prochazka | Dene Games | Indigenous Summer Games | Junior Female: Finger Pull Axe Throwing Fish Cutting |
Gold Silver Bronze |
| Harmony Kendi | Dene Games | Indigenous Summer Games | Junior Female: Fish Cutting |
Gold |
| Eric Porter | Dene Games | Indigenous Summer Games | Open Male: Leg Wrestling Stick Pull |
Silver Bronze |
| Jason Sealy | Arctic Sports | Indigenous Summer Games | Open Male: Triple Jump |
Silver |
| Ross King | Archery | Indigenous Summer Games | Open Male: Bow and Arrow | Gold |
| Laneah Colwell & Sabine Keesey | Beach Volleyball | Volleyball Canada Beach Nationals | 16U Girls Tier 3 | Silver |
| Kassia Kelly & Mischa Ng-Schmidt | Beach Volleyball | Volleyball Canada Beach Nationals | 14U Girls Tier 4 | Silver |
| Asher Johnson | Climbing | Climb Canada Western Canadian Regionals | Overall Youth B Boys (Bouldering) | Silver |
| Jenna Henderson | Gymnastics | BC Provincial Artistic Gymnastics Championships | CCP8 - Bars | Bronze |
| Julianna Kennedy | Gymnastics | BC Provincial Artistic Gymnastics Championships | CCP6 - Bars | Bronze |
| Layla Hombert | Gymnastics | BC Provincial Artistic Gymnastics Championships | CCP8 - Vault | Bronze |
| Lily Witten | Gymnastics | BC Provincial Artistic Gymnastics Championships | CCP8 - Bars | Bronze |
| Taylor Kennedy | Gymnastics | BC Provincial Artistic Gymnastics Championships Western Canadian Artistic Gymnastics Championships | CCP8 – Bars
CCP8 - Bars | Gold
Gold |
| Amelie Blackie | Gymnastics | Xcel GymBC Championships | Xcel Gold: All Around |
Silver |
| Leoni Crete-Bergeron | Gymnastics | Xcel GymBC Championships | Xcel Gold: All Around Beam Vault |
Silver Bronze Bronze |
| Linnea Roberts | Soccer | BC Youth Provincial Championship | U16 Girls Soccer B-Cup | Gold |
| Subzero 16U Girls | Volleyball | Volleyball Canada Nationals | 16U Girls Tier 29 | Silver |
| Subzero Surge 15U Girls | Volleyball | Volleyball Canada Nationals BC Provincials | 15U Girls Tier 21 15U Girls Tier 4 | Gold Silver |
Sport Yukon Major Awards
| Award | Winner | Sport |
| Administrator of the Year | Lianne Fordham | Basketball |
| Coach of the Year | Penny Prysnuk | Judo |
| National/Territorial Female Athlete of the Year | Cheyenne Tirschmann Minty Bradford | Biathlon Cross Country Skiing |
| National/Territorial Male Athlete of the Year | Stian Langbakk | Snowboarding |
| International Female Athlete of the Year | Sonjaa Schmidt | Cross Country Skiing |
| International Male Athlete of the Year | Derek Deuling | Cross Country Skiing |
| Team of the Year | Team Yukon | Arctic Winter Games |
Special Olympics Yukon
| Award | Winner(s) |
| Athlete(s) of the Year | Bobbi-Rae Patchett & Darby McIntyre |
| Most Improved Athlete(s) of the Year | Martina O’Brien & Owen Munroe |
| Rising Star Athlete of the Year | Sage Bowlby |
| Rising Star Sport Volunteer of the Year | Jennifer Spencer |
| Heather Miller Sport Volunteer of the Year | Leeland Hawkings |
Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle
| Award | Winner |
| Indigenous Male Athlete of the Year | Hudson Sias |
| Indigenous Female Athlete of the Year | Emily King |
| Indigenous Coach of the Year | Penny Prysnuk |
| Indigenous Sport and Recreation Community Steward of the Year | George Skookum |
| Archery Coach of the Year | Warren Kapaniuk |
| Arctic Sports Coach of the Year | Sarah Walz |
| Dene Games Coach of the Year | Mats’äsäna Ma Primozic |
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
[email protected]
John Tonin
Communications, Community Services
867-334-5816
[email protected]
Heidi Bob
Office Manager, Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle
[email protected]
Reid Vanier
Events & Programs Manager, Sport Yukon
867-668-4236
[email protected]
Serge Michaud
Chief Executive Officer, Special Olympics Yukon
867-668-6511
[email protected]