INFORMATION BULLETIN For Immediate Release Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services 2002MCAWS0034-000535 March 12, 2002 PREMIER HONOURS B.C.'S TOP ATHLETES

VANCOUVER – Eighty-two top athletes from across B.C. were recognized for their achievements by Premier Gordon Campbell today in a ceremony at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

The Premier's Athletic Awards go to the top female and male athletes from each sport participating in the B.C. athlete assistance program administered by the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. The program helps athletes reach their athletic goals while pursuing their education and career objectives. Past award recipients include wheelchair athlete Marnie Abbott, wrestler Daniel Igali and runner Leah Pells.

Photographs and a list of award recipients' achievements will be displayed at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in B.C. Place Stadium for the rest of the year.

The athlete assistance program provides financial support to athletes who demonstrate the potential and commitment to represent and in athletic competition. Eligible athletes are those participating in major multi-sport Games competitions: the Olympics, Paralympics, Commonwealth, Pan Am and Canada Games.

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Contact:

Communications Branch, Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services, 250-387-4089

2000/01 PREMIER'S ATHLETIC AWARD RECIPIENTS

Abbotsford Cindy Hamulas, Smallbore Rifle Target Sports Justin Neufeld, Softball Nathan Quan, Soccer John Cannon, Rugby Richard Ikeda, Gymnastics Campbell River Cory Bate, Water Skiing Brian Cowie, Blind Sports - Tandem Cycling Chilliwack Courtney Knight, Blind Sports - Athletics David Hanson, Wheelchair Sports Lyndsay Belisle, Wrestling Roozbeh Banihashem, Wrestling Clearwater Erin Thomas, Softball Chris Meehan, Volleyball -2- Coquitlam North Vancouver Tanya Matson, Synchronized Swimming Natalia Cretu, Tennis Kelley Law, Brent Charleton, Basketball Brittany Timko, Soccer Eric Lyons, Figure Skating Kate Richardson, Gymnastics Sandra Walter, Cycling Port Moody Jeff Tambellini, Hockey Cranbrook Jenna Spring, Ice Hockey Prince George Jacqui Benson, Cross Country Skiing Duncan Scott Bellavance, Freestyle Skiing Connor Grimes, Field Hockey Paul Jalbert, Cerebral Palsy Sports Katie Wallace, Cerebral Palsy Sports Fort St. James Andrea Gordon, Speed Skating Richmond Lauren Maclean, Field Hockey Fort St. John Andre Ho, Table Tennis Jay Morrison, Speed Skating Emi Tasaka, Judo Toshihide Uchiage, Karate Invermere Roxana Cervantes, Rhythmic Gymnastics Christina Lustenberger, Alpine Skiing Nancy Sham, Karate Jimmy Van Ostrand, Badminton Kamloops Shane Niemi, Athletics Rossland Scott Anderson, Alpine Skiing Langley George Grey, Cross Country Skiing Haley Roselund, Diving Saanichton Maple Ridge Donnie Orr, Boxing Anthony Stewart, Modern Pentathlon Kim Eagles, Handgun Sechelt Kevin Mitchell, Water Polo Kris Sneddon, Cycling

Merville Summerland Sharleen Jackson, Biathlon Kristi Richards, Freestyle Skiing

Mission Surrey Kimberley Smith, Basketball Andrew Bilesky, Curling Kelly McCallum, Rugby Nanaimo Lillian Meehan, Archery Trevor Mack, Target Sports Vancouver Nanoose Bay Joy Yiu, Table Tennis Kristen Avis, Figure Skating Emily Cordonier, Volleyball Chad Tuck, Baseball New Westminster Michael Leigh, Sailing Arley McNeney, Wheelchair Basketball Laurie Shong, Fencing Dejan Cvetkovic, Tennis Adam Gant, Rowing Marsoe LaRose, Equestrian Jennifer Spalding, Sailing Michael Mintenko, Swimming -3- Angela Johnson, Water Polo Emiko Ihara, Fencing Hugh MacDonald, Archery Gillian Moody, Triathlon Jessica Deglau, Swimming Diane Cummins, Athletics Daniel Lipinski, Judo Riley McCormick, Diving Jennifer Blumberg, Squash Vanderhoof Sara Hopkins, Canoe Racing Hans Erasmus, Biathlon Ryan Cuthbert, Canoe Racing

Victoria White Rock Christin Schroeder, Water Skiing Sarah MacMaster, Badminton Kate Richards, Rowing Shannon Dueck, Equestrian

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Visit the province's Web site at http://www.gov.bc.ca/ for online information and services.