Association celebrates award winners

The Canadian Soccer Association recognised its award winners at its evening banquet in Banff, AB today. The banquet was presented in conjunction with the Canadian Soccer Association’s Annual General Meeting, hosted this year by the Alberta Soccer Association. The banquet celebrated 2009 recipients for the Canadian Soccer Association’s President’s Award, the Aubrey Sanford Meritorious Service Award, the Ray Morgan Memorial Award, and the Award of Merit.

Also bestowed this evening was Life Membership to Mr. Bill Hoyle. Mr. Hoyle had most recently been caretaker of The Soccer Hall of Fame, but also previously served in the position of Ontario Soccer Association president. He was a member of the organising committees to both the 1974 CONCACAF Juvenile Tournament and the FIFA U-16 World Tournament Canada 1987.

As for the Association’s award winners, Mr. Fred Kern was presented the President’s Award, Mr. Angus Barrett and Mr. Vincent Ursini were both presented the Aubrey Sanford Meritorious Service Award, and Ms. Carol Anne Chénard was presented the Ray Morgan Memorial Award. Alberta soccer community standouts Stuart Brown, Mario Charpentier, Joanne Mazurkewich, Mike Oliver, Dave Randall, Henry Szewczyk and Mike Traficante were all presented with the Award of Merit.

Mr. Kern was presented the President’s Award by Canadian Soccer Association president Dr. Dominic Maestracci. Mr. Kern has been involved in soccer for more than 35 years, culminating with his recent roles as Alberta Soccer Association president and Canadian Soccer Association board member. He has been a player, a coach and an administrator. He has also been a soccer dad, watching both of his sons win national championships – Greg with the Calgary Kickers (1987 Canadian Soccer League) and Gary with the Vancouver Westside Rhinos (1993 Challenge Trophy).

Outgoing executive members Mr. Barrett and Mr. Ursini both received the Aubrey Sanford Meritorious Award for their outstanding commitment to soccer in Canada. Mr. Barrett has been involved in soccer for more than 40 years, representing both Newfoundland Labrador and the Canadian Soccer Association. Mr. Barrett has served on a number of committees and has been a Canadian Soccer Association executive member since 2000. Mr Ursini has been involved in soccer for nearly 30 years. He joined the Association’s finance committee in 1992 and became treasurer in 2005.

The Ray Morgan Memorial Award is presented to the referee who has shown the greatest progress at the national and international levels. Ms. Chénard has been on the National List of referees since 2004 and has been on the FIFA Referee list since 2006. She is currently the only female match official operating in Major League Soccer and the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. In 2008, she received international appointments to the 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament and 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The seven Award of Merit recipients have all made significant contributions to soccer in Canada, most notably in their home province of Alberta. Mr. Charpentier has long been associated with the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association, Ms. Mazurkewich with the Calgary Soccer Association, Mr. Oliver with the Calgary United Soccer Association, and Mr. Szewczyk with the Edmonton Minor and Senior Associations. Mr. Brown and Mr. Randall are both well known for their accomplishments at the BMO National Championships, Mr. Brown with the Edmonton Angels (Jubilee Trophy champions) and Mr. Randall with the Calgary Callies (Challenge Trophy champions). As for Mr. Traficante, he has been an executive member with both the Alberta Soccer Association and Canadian Soccer Association.

The Canadian Soccer Association congratulates all of its 2009 award recipients.