Bernier and Bélanger named Québec soccer players of the year

Patrice Bernier and Josée Bélanger were the big winners at the Soccer Québec Gala on Saturday 26 November, both winning the province’s 2016 professional footballers of the year awards. The annual gala was held in Laval with mayor Marc Demers, provincial representative Saul Polo, and federal representative Vimy Eva Nassif all in attendance.

In all, there were 12 award winners, with David Choinière and Gabrielle Carle the senior winners and Jean-Yves Ballou Tabla and Lysianne Proulx the junior award winners. Also honoured were Mathieu Bourdeau as men’s referee, Marie-Josée Charbonneau and Suzanne Morisset as women’s referees, Sam Gabbay as volunteer, ARS Est-du-Québec as regional association, AS Beauport as club, and the Laval international soccer competition (Coupe soccer internationale Laval) as event of the year.

Alongside 12 winners, Soccer Québec also honoured three members into their Hall of Fame: Jim Hubay, Dwight Kennedy, and Luis Pulgar.

Awards of Excellence
Joueur professionnel / Men’s Professional : Patrice Bernier (Impact de Montréal)
Joueuse professionnel / Women’s Professional : Josée Bélanger (Orlando Pride)
Joueur senior excellence / Men’s Senior : David Choinière (FC Montréal) 
Joueuse senior excellence / Women’s Senior : Gabrielle Carle (CS Lévis-Est)
Joueur juvénile excellence / Men’s Junior : Jean-Yves Ballou Tabla (FC Montréal)
Joueuse juvénile excellence / Women’s Junior : Lysianne Proux (AS Varennes) 
Arbitre masculin / Men’s Referee : Mathieu Bourdeau (ARS Rive-Sud) 
Arbitres féminin / Women’s Referees : Marie-Josée Charbonneau (ARS Lanaudière) et Suzanne Morisset (ARS Rive-Sud)
Association régionale de soccer de l’année / Regional Club : ARS Est-du-Québec
Bénévole de l’année / Volunteer : Sam Gabbay (ARS Lac St-Louis) 
Club de l’année / Club : Association de soccer de Beauport
Événement de l’année / Event : Coupe soccer internationale Laval