Canadian Sport Awards Announces Finalists

 The Canadian Sport Awards, a partnership between the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada, AthletesCAN and the Canada Games Council is the premiere showcase of Canadian athletic accomplishment. The Honorable Denis Coderre, Secretary of State for Amateur Sport, spoke to the importance of this event: "The Canadian Sport Awards is a celebration of performances, creativity, innovation and community leadership that is critical to the continued growth of amateur sport in Canada. The Department of Canadian Heritage, through Sport Canada, is proud to be an official partner of this important event and to recognize the individuals who, by making a difference in sport, contribute to strengthening Canada."

 In the category of outstanding female athlete, the finalists are 1999 Ironman Triathlon Champion Lori Bowden of Victoria, B.C., Triple World Championship gold medallist in canoeing Caroline Brunet of St. Sauveur, Quebec, and #1 world-ranked swimmer (200m Individual Medley) and triple 1999 Pan Am Games gold medallist Joanne Malar of Hamilton, Ontario.

 In the category of outstanding male athlete, the finalists are 1999 World Wrestling Champion Daniel Igali of Surrey, B.C., 1996 Olympic gold medallist (4X100 relay) and 1999 100m World Championship silver medallist Bruny Surin of Montreal, Quebec, and Humboldt, Saskatchewan's Jeremy Wotherspoon, the 1999 World Sprint Speed Skating Champion at both 500m and 1000m.

 Finalists in other categories include World Championship pairs rowers Theresa Luke of Forest Grove, B.C. and Emma Robinson of Winnipeg, Manitoba, the National Men's Baseball Team, also dubbed the "Darlings of the Pan Am Games", and teenage cycling sensation Genevieve Jeanson of Lachine, Quebec.

 Finalists for the Corporate Excellence Awards for national event, national team, individual athlete and program development support include Bank of Montreal, Canon Canada Inc., Nokia Products Ltd., Honda Canada, Molson Breweries, The Royal Canadian Legion, Dynamic Mutual Funds, Nike Canada Ltd., Omnilogic Systems Group, Speedo Canada, AMJ Campbell Van lines, Bell Mobility and Impletech International Ltd.

 The Canadian Sport Awards will be hosted by Ron MacLean and televised coast-to-coast on CBC, March 23rd at 7:00pm (local time).

 Investors Group, Canada's leading professional financial services organization has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the Canadian Sport Awards. "Investors Group has a long history of supporting amateur athletics in Canada, and we are proud to further that commitment through the sponsorship of the event for the next three years," said Richard Irish, Vice-President of Corporate and Community Affairs with Investors Group.

 During this event, awards will also be presented by the Aboriginal Sport Circle, Canada Games Council, Sport Medicine and Science Council of Canada and the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport.