2022 Annual Award Winners
Ringette BC is pleased to announce the 2022 Annual Award Winners. These awards were presented at the Annual General Meeting and Conference on June 4th in Sun Peaks, BC.
Samantha Morrison is an incredibly inclusive coach, and really focuses on each every player’s strengths using a strength-based approach. When coaching a team with a lot of diversity, not only in athlete ability and skill, but gender identity as well. Samantha kept this in mind and went above and beyond to create an inclusive and supportive environment. She was an incredible mentor, as this was my first year as an Assistant Coach, and held a coach’s meeting to discuss each individual player’s strengths and needs.
Samantha is also the director of coaching in BNWRA and ensures that every coach within the Association is supported and is set up for success. In addition to being a coach Samantha has served on the Ringette BC Sport and Athlete development committee.
In a year of significant changes, Coach Dani has continued to focus on the principle reason for coaching, the athletes. This past season, she coached U19 Team BC, U16 Zone, and in the Excellence program. She and her coaching team strive for excellence and continually go above and beyond expectations, integrating imaginative activities in the face of COVID and a new structuring of the elite calibre team. The dedication to ensuring progression and coaching styles that optimize player development is tangible in every activity. From CrossFit, to a Spartan race through mud and obstacles, training camps, video review and weekly check ins, Dani’s coaching vision extends beyond the development of a ringette player. She reaches to develop these young athletes as a whole, giving skills that can be implemented in not only sport, but life skills that will last for years to come. Her successful communication and coaching was seen at the Canadian Ringette Championships this year. Despite some early losses that would have thrown many teams, Team BC U19 fought with vigor, and emerged with a Silver medal in the Consolation pool. She encouraged and motivated these players and have created for them, a memory of grit, of digging deep, and of finding unbelievable strength. This is a life lesson that cannot be bought or told – it has to be earned, and will serve these young athletes for years to come.
Not only has Colleen been a board member and team manager for several years and but she has also on the coordinating team for almost every single engagement activity that KRA hosts, including Come Try events, Skate with Santa, Sweetheart, etc. This year, Colleen stepped up more than usual. Not only was she on the Club Provincials coordinating committee, but she filled the shoes of several from the coordinating committee when they tested positive for COVID-19. She was at the Rutland arena to set up before the first games of each day and stayed there until after the last game to tear down. The 2021-22 Club Provincials would not have run without Colleen Hill stepping in when others weren’t able to be there, finding volunteers to fill roles for last-minute vacancies and spending countless hours before, during, and after the event to ensure that things went as smoothly as possible. Colleen is a dedicated volunteer and fantastic ambassador for the sport of ringette.
Arran is the current President of Comox Valley Ringette but also supports many other roles within the Association. She works hard to ensure that all the volunteers are having a positive experience and all the players within the Association are enjoying their experience. Arran volunteered over the past year and a half with Ringette BC’s Adult Ringette Task Force and actively coached within her home association. She took the level 1 referee course so that she could better support referees within Comox Valley Ringette. Arran is also a player with the Comox Valley Ringette Masters team. Arran wears more hats than she knows and she continues to make a difference in Ringette.
Kennedy Jackson is an elite athlete that has been proving herself in the ringette community her whole ringette career. She is committed, loyal and hardworking. She has continued to prove herself in everything she does. She is coachable, funny and loved by her teammates. She can be counted on on and off the ice. She is a solid defence who makes the players around her better. Out of all the eligible players in the province, she was one of 3 picked up to attend Western Canadians with Zone 6. She is a hard worker and it was great to see that another coach valued her skills and leadership. Kennedy was selected to the 2022 BC Winter Games Team for Zone 2 and while that event is delayed one year she will be a great teammate and player with that team.
In addition to playing ringette, Kennedy is a multi-sport athlete and also plays basketball, volleyball and hockey, but ringette is her first love and remains her favourite sport.
Emily has been playing Ringette for many years, including at the Canadian Ringette Championships, Western Canadian Ringette Championships, BC Winter Games, and locally with both Zone 3 and the Burnaby New West Ringette Association. This past season, Emily participated in the Excellence Ringette Program, and was a team captain for Team BC U19. Not only was she a great leader for her team throughout the season, but a great role model for all of the athletes in the Excellence Ringette Program. Emily is a Level 2C referee, and has been coaching with BNWRA since 2016. She has coached FUNdamentals, as well as U14. She has spent countless hours volunteering with her local association as both a coach and on ice volunteer at Come Try Ringette sessions and summer ice times. Emily is the epitome of what it means to be a leader in the ringette community both on and off the ice.
Megan worked hard to achieve her level 3 this season. She had planned on attending the Esso Golden Ring for the first time, however it was cancelled. Megan would have also participated at the BCWG had that not been cancelled. She was selected for the 1st time to officiate at the Provincial A Championships in Coquitlam BC and did very well. She has a willingness to improve and takes feedback with enthusiasm. She has a positive attitude and is always trying her best. If Megan continues to learn and improve, she will become one of BCs top officials in the years to come.
Megan continues to give back to the sport by leading gym ringette and Come Try Ringette sessions. Megan has found a real passion for officiating and hopes to continue to grow and develop as an official.
Randy is a long time official in BC, and has spent many years volunteering as a local Referee in Chief and on various committees at the local and provincial level. Randy has a big heart and will do whatever he can to ensure he can cover games that require refs, even if that meant travelling across the lower mainland to referee the game himself. He is a very patient and kind person. He consistently takes the time to explain to younger players about calls against them, which is a great confidence boost and helped the players improve their understanding and game play. Randy is always willing to lend a hand to other volunteers, and is a key reason why many of your games are able to happen, whether is he officiating them himself, or supporting behind the scenes.
As a community builder, Shannon approaches new projects with ease, optimism and always with a ‘can-do’ attitude. She builds sport culture from the ground up, creating an environment for friendships to flourish, whether FUNdamentals or Masters athletes. She is the epitome of a team player, a solid leader, and promotor of female sport.
She was pivotal in the revival of Chilliwack Ringette, wearing many hats – coach, athlete, graphic designer, website manager, goalie coach, and served five-years as President. She spearheaded introducing local Indigenous youth to ringette both on ice and in a gym. Shannon also played a significant role in the success of the 2019 World Ringette Championship in Burnaby, donating her time and energy, helping in various capacities. Shannon herself was a member of Team Canada in 2007.
Shannon’s volunteerism doesn’t stop here. She has held positions as President on local and regional voluntary boards such as Chilliwack Sports Hall of Fame, Lower Mainland Ringette League, British Columbia Historical Federation and most recently the newly formed West Coast Ringette Historical Society. She is also heavily involved in hockey and softball. Volunteering is in Shannon’s blood – her family continue to fund a scholarship for volunteerism at the Michelle Vandale Spirit of Winter Tournament in memory of her dad, Bill. We are so thankful for the time, effort and energy Shannon has contributed to building sports for all athletes.
