THE NOMINATION PROCESS, “HOW IT WORKS”
- All nominations MUST be submitted on or before the nomination deadline to be accepted for
the current year. - The Awards Committee reserves the right to re-direct a nomination into a more appropriate
award category. - It is at the discretion of the Awards Committee whether or not to give out an award.
- Current HCBC Staff and Directors are not eligible to be nominated for the Annual Awards
HCBC’s Annual Awards honor outstanding achievement within BC’s equine community. These awards acknowledge those who stand out from the crowd and have made a positive impact on the equestrian community.
The “HCBC Selection Committee” collectively has over 25 years experience within BC’s Equine Industry and comes from diverse geographical areas contributing to the creditability of these awards. The committee, comprised of a panel of four volunteers, considers nominations submitted by current HCBC members including seniors, businesses, clubs, affiliate groups and the HCBC Board of Directors.
Their Job? To select deserving recipients that meet the award criteria for which they have been nominated for. The committee does reserve the right not to pick an award recipient from among the nominations.
SHERMAN OLSON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Horse Council BC’s Lifetime Achievement Award was established and first presented in 1981 to honor individuals who have made exceptional contributions to BC’s equestrian community. These contributions, whether they have been through education, mentoring or leadership, have made a lasting footprint demonstrating a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the on-going progression of the equine industry. The Lifetime Achievement Award is considered the premier award of Horse Council BC.
The recipient of this prestigious award must be a BC resident having achieved prominence through commitment and hard work, in turn positively impacting BC’s equine industry and inspiring others. This award is only awarded when warranted and is not necessarily awarded every year.
In 2013, the Lifetime Achievement Award was renamed the “Sherman Olson Lifetime Achievement Award” in honourof one of Horse Council BC’s founding father’s who sadly passed away this year. Sherman Olson helped to found Horse Council in 1980. We are ever grateful for his contribution, foresight, vision and his dedication. Horse Council BC was formed by bringing together the BC’s horse sport, recreation and industry sectors. Sherman has left a legacy we can all be proud to be a part of. We will never forget his contributions to horse interests across Canada.
Additional criteria: Significant contribution(s) must be to an equine organization(s), Club(s) or discipline(s).
COACH OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding professionalism, leadership and mentoring skills in a coaching role overseeing a team(s) or individual(s) at any level in any recognized equestrian discipline during the year. This individual MUST be an HCBC member and a Horse Council recognized coach in good standing to be nominated.
BOB JAMES VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Volunteers are the backbone of our sport and are involved in all aspects including competition, recreation, and industry. The HCBC Volunteer of the year award is named after the late Bob James. Bob was a “horse husband” that volunteered in many roles including: an announcer; club organizer; trail preservation leader; and an early board member for Horse Council BC. This award champions a member who has worked tirelessly in their equine area. Previous honourees have included: recreational trail builders; show, clinic or event volunteers; club board members; fund raisers. The common thread is that they are longtime volunteers, always working to grow and support our sport.
This award recognizes an individual (senior or junior) who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to BC’s equestrian community and/or sport in any recognized discipline. No athletic achievement is necessary. This individual MUST be a member of Horse Council BC in good standing to be nominated.
Congratulations to the worthy recipients of the Horse Council BC’s 2023 Awards! Each award winner will receive their award at an event of their own choosing throughout 2023. We received many outstanding nominations this year, so thank you to all who nominated someone and congratulations to our winners.
| Sherman Olson Lifetime Achievement Award | |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Claudia Cojocar |
| 2020 | Frances Teer |
| 2018 | Rick Filmore |
| 2016 | Carol McDonald |
| 2015 | Borge Olson |
| 2014 | Bob Grimshaw |
| 2013 | Pam Arthur |
| 2012 | George & Dianne Tidball |
| 2011 | Judy Ross |
| 2010 | Dorothy Kirby |
| 2009 | Jacqui Oldham |
| 2008 | Ellen Smailes |
| 2007 | Bob James |
| 2006 | Fran & George Bloor |
| 2005 | Jay LaLonde |
| 2004 | Dr. John Gilray |
| 2003 | Freda Gunst |
| 2002 | Mary Swanson |
| 2001 | Hank McEwan |
| 2000 | Bud & Ethel Wright |
| 1999 | Dave Esworthy |
| 1998 | Alf Fletcher |
| 1997 | Joy Richardson |
| 1996 | Edith Reid |
| 1995 | June Osborn |
| 1994 | Maureen Walters |
| 1993 | Janet Dmitrieff |
| 1992 | Jean Simpson |
| 1991 | June LaLonde |
| 1990 | Dan Bland |
| 1989 | Al Sorensen |
| 1988 | Tilly Muller |
| 1987 | Rosie Hyndman |
| 1986 | Bill Archibald |
| 1985 | Vivian Hayward-Breakwell |
| 1984 | Laura Tidball |
| 1983 | Bill MacCauley |
| 1982 | Melva McLean |
| 1981 | Sherman Olson |
| Bob James Volunteer of the Year | |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Jill Ackerman |
| 2021 | Tina Knott |
| 2019 | Angie Szokol |
| 2018 | Margot Vilvang |
| 2017 | Chelsea Wallach & Lana Shields |
| 2016 | Ron Tricket |
| 2015 | Not Awarded in 2015 |
| 2014 | Charlene Kostecki |
| 2013 | Deb Oakman |
| 2012 | Janice Spenst |
| 2011 | Haidee Landry |
| 2010 | Sharon Pickthorne |
| 2009 | Sharon Hall |
| 2008 | Simone Stich |
| 2007 | Marilyn Gregory |
| 2006 | Maureen Savage |
| 2005 | Danielle Frothinger |
| 2004 | Wendy Christoff |
| 2003 | Sandra Ross |
| Coach of the Year | |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Jen Bell |
| 2021 | Stella French |
| 2020 | Jodi Bater |
| 2019 | Tegwyn Harper |
| 2018 | Sara Sellmer |
| 2017 | Derek Huget |
| 2016 | Andrea Taylor |
| 2015 | Jessie Blackmon |
| 2014 | Rochelle Kilberg |
| 2013 | Brent & Laura Balisky |
| 2012 | Fionna Christensen |
| 2011 | Selena Pellizzari |
| 2010 | Lynne Larsen |
| 2009 | Nikki Ayers |
| 2008 | Sandra Verda |
| 2007 | Lisa Pink |
| 2006 | Donna Allen |
| 2005 | Colin Schmidt |
| 2004 | Jane James |
| 2003 | Fionna Christensen |
Instead of hosting a gala in one location for an evening of presenting awards to people from all over the province and from all disciplines, we want the awards and the event to be all about YOU!
Jackets and Awards will be presented to the winners, nominators can work to create their own special way to recognize the winners if they wish.
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