National Coaches Week kicks off in Ontario at the 2018 Coaching Excellence Awards
The fourth annual National Coaches Week officially kicked off here in Ontario this past Saturday as coaches from across Ontario were recognized and celebrated at the 2018 Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards.
Athletes, fans and family members eagerly lined up to see their favourite coach walk the red carpet at the screening of the 2018 Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards. As they watched their coaching story unfold on the big screen, one by one the coaches gave a heart-felt acceptance speech, thanking their families for the support to pursue their passion.
For 12 years, the Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards Program has been celebrating the dedication and commitment of exemplary individuals who inspire, innovate and share knowledge of sport with others. The Awards recognize the importance of leadership, performance and the value of human insight which are all integral to great coaching.
Selected by OFSAA, the 2018 female recipient of the “Coaching Excellence Award in the School Sport Category” is:
Dawn Manerowski – School Sport Coach (Female), O’Neill Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Oshawa
Dawn is regarded by her co-workers and peers as an outstanding physical education teacher, coach, mentor and leader for young women in sport at O’Neill and within LOSSA. While coaching several different sports (basketball, volleyball, soccer), Dawn’s main passion is with girls rugby. The sport has become a source of pride at the school and it has consistently been the sport with the highest female participation rate at the school. She has instilled a culture of respect, hard work, commitment and accountablility. Her teams have been highly-competitive and have been rewarded with playoff appearances and championships but her focus has always been getting young woman involved in sport for the love of the game.
Here are just a few quotes from students that Dawn has taught and the influence she has had during their high school sport experience:
“Regardless of your size, gender, body type, every student of hers are equal.”
“She inspires women so that they can tackle all the obstacles, even in the hardest situations.”
“Mrs. Manerowski empowers and motivates all young females rugby players at O’Neill. With her help we can reach our full potential.”
OFSAA salutes Dawn for her incredible commitment and dedication to school sport. Congratulations!
Learn more about Dawn’s dedication by viewing this short video here.
The event also marks the start of National Coaches Week (September 22-30), a celebration of the tremendous positive impact coaches have on this nations’ athletes and communities. The week is an opportunity to recognize coaches for the integral role they play by simply saying #ThanksCoach.
OFSAA congratulates all of the award winners and coaches across Ontario for their commitment and dedication to ensuring Canadians live an active and healthy lifestyle. For more information on the Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards and how to nominate a coach in the future, visit www.coachesontario.ca/awards.
The Coaches Association of Ontario is a non-profit coach-led organization that strengthens development opportunities and provides educational resources for coaches. The CAO promotes coaching ethics and ensures the wider community recognizes the vital role of the coach in the development of sport at all levels.
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