June 28, 2008 – Earlier this month at the 2008 Cross Country Canada AGM held in Whistler, BC, the following individuals were recognized for their outstanding contribution to promoting and supporting the sport of cross country skiing in Canada.

The Dave Rees Award (Michael Neary, AB)
Michael has devoted his adult life to the sport of Cross Country Skiing and has helped countless people to improve their skills and develop a love of the sport. He has always been committed to supporting athletes, coaches, officials, clubs and Divisions across Canada. Mike maintains professional relationships and friendships built over almost 30 years of service to cross country skiing, and is always welcoming new people to the sport. His unique style in creating and leading athlete centered programs and services across Canada, and his personable and professional manner makes Michael Neary a worthy recipient of this prestigious award. Dave Rees was presented with the “On a New Path” framed print from Executive Director, Al Maddox as a gift from Cross Country Canada in appreciation of his extensive contribution to Cross Country Canada for the last 40 years and more recently as CCC’s President.

The Firth Award
At the heart of NTDC Thunder Bay’s Board of Directors are four women who have provided unfailing and unflinching service to the ski community as a whole and the athletes of NTDC in particular. Their involvement as a “team” supporting the NTDC team goes back over a decade. Incredibly, they have found time in their busy personal lives as mothers and professional lives as teachers, administrators, and managers to provide those same talents to the NTDC. These ladies are the epitome of role models for those of us who are now faced with the challenges of supporting our children and their peers as they move into the higher levels of ski competition. A tree will be planted in their name with a plaque in Thunder Bay.

Volunteer of the Year Award (Dan Farrell, Nova Nordic Ski Club, Nova Scotia)
Dan has been a member of Nova Nordic since it was founded in 2006. He was instrumental in helping the club obtain the funds from the Halifax regional municipality (HRM, Regional government) and the province of Nova Scotia for their snowmobile and groomer. He has led the Nova Nordic grooming team for its first two seasons. He researched and helped the club obtain and store its equipment. Dan and his wife Brett Macauley are outdoor enthusiasts as well as professional employees and the proud parents of two children. They are always enthusiastic about cross-country skiing. Dan has also acted as a webmaster.

Sponsor of the Year Award (AltaGas Ltd. – Calgary, Alberta)
As a first year sponsor of CCC, AltaGas has made a significant contribution to the Nationals Ski Teams, our Coaching and Athlete development programs and have readily looked at ways to enhance their contribution to our sport. Their contribution to CCC is the largest single sponsorship investment ever by the company. AltaGas remains a committed corporate partner of CCC and will play an important role during the period leading up to 2010.

Media Award (Marina Knez, Media Chair, 2008 Haywood Ski Nationals)
For her outstanding Media Summary Report of the 2008 Haywood Ski Nationals in Callaghan Valley, BC. The Haywood Ski Nationals were the first major FIS sanctioned cross-country ski event held by CCC at the Whistler Olympic Park. The event marked a tremendous opportunity to market our sport in the Sea to Sky Corridor and to launch Haywood Securities 3 year sponsorship of the Canadian Championships. As the Media Chair of the Event, Marina coordinated the promotion of the sport to local, regional and national media and the need to integrate the title sponsor into all communication materials developed by the Local Organizing Committee. After the event the Media Chair designed a Media Summary Report second to none. This comprehensive 76 page report identified the media medium’s providing coverage on a day to day basis including electronic TV, web, radio and print media, the reach (readership of this coverage) and electronic page action shots and a day by day photo library of both Able Bodied and Para-Nordic athletes in action.