Canada West Celebrates 2024 SID Award Recipients
Awards recognize and honour excellence in sports information
April 23, 2024 - Canada West has announced its 2024 SID Award recipients, celebrating excellence in sports information across the conference.
The annual awards honour the vital role sports information staff play in publicly showcasing the tremendous stories and achievements of Canada West's student-athletes, coaches and staff. Each season, sports information departments work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure high standards are met in stats, webcasts, social media, photography and more. They are often the last ones to leave the venue on game nights, making sure reporting requirements are fulfilled.
The awards feature seven categories and are voted on by SIDs from each of Canada West's 17 member institutions, making the awards a true peer-to-peer recognition.
2024 SID Award Recipients
Feature Story: “Her Brother's Keeper: Brooke Molby and the loss of her brother, Ty”
Writer: Rich Abney, UNBC
Released on International Overdose Awareness Day, "Her Brother’s Keeper" recounts the poignant narrative of UNBC women’s soccer player Brooke Molby and the tragic loss of her brother Ty to opioid drugs.
This compelling story stands out as the most-read piece released by the university in the past three years. Brooke’s candid portrayal of her family’s journey resonated deeply, leading to its republication by the Prince George Citizen Newspaper, where it became the publication’s most-read story of the entire month. After its release, UNBC received numerous contacts from individuals who shared similar struggles with drug addiction or had lost someone to opioid overdose, while Brooke used the momentum to continue speaking up publicly about the growing issue.
Action Photo of the Year: “Not For the Faint of Heart”
Photographer: Colin Moreland, Lethbridge Pronghorns (Lethbridge Sports)
"Not For the Faint of Heart" captures University of Lethbridge women's rugby player Sofia Hoff in the midst of a fierce battle against the Alberta Pandas during the bronze medal game at the 2023 Canada West Rugby Championships in Lethbridge, Alta.
The photo perfectly depicts the raw grit and determination demanded by the sport, with a wave of rubber pellets bearing witness to a chaotic scrum and Hoff's stoic expression serving as the focal point, a warrior fighting and sacrificing for every inch on the battlefield.
Photographer of the Year: Don Voaklander, Alberta
For over 12 years, Don has served as the principal photographer for Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics, immortalizing some of the department’s most significant moments. His lens has been the eye through which the triumphs of 11 U SPORTS Championships, numerous Canada West and Western Regional Championships, Green & Gold Award banquets, Block A breakfasts, and Sports Wall of Fame receptions have been captured, all as a volunteer.
Week after week, regardless of the opposition, sport, or weather conditions, Don has been there, ensuring that content is available immediately after each event, benefiting not only the University of Alberta but also competing schools. Through his dedication, all Bears and Pandas programs, teams, and athletes have been showcased, with his photos adorning murals on campus, utilized in event promotion, shared on social media, and sent to friends and families, leaving an indelible mark on the athletic community.
The recognition is especially fitting as this year marked Don's final season as Alberta's primary photographer.
Social Media Campaign: Manitoba Bisons - “Maya Turner makes HERstory”
Contributors: Mike Still, Neil Noonan
Bisons football kicker Maya Turner etched her name in history on Sept. 23, 2023, becoming the first female to play in and score points in a regular season U SPORTS football game, a milestone she also achieved in preseason and playoff games.
Maya's remarkable performance included two field goals, one of which secured a crucial victory for Manitoba in double overtime. Her extraordinary feat reverberated globally, with prominent platforms such as the NFL, ESPN, espnW, CFL, and TSN amplifying her story of triumph. The ensuing months were marked by widespread celebration and recognition, culminating in a feature-length documentary on TSN.
Maya's journey stands as a beacon of inspiration for equality in sports, emphasizing the belief that perseverance knows no bounds. Through coordinated efforts by Mike Still and Neil Noonan, footage of Maya's historic kick and Bisons head coach Brian Dobie's post-game speech were shared on Instagram and disseminated to various media outlets, resulting in over five million views across digital platforms, solidifying Maya's HERstoric moment in sporting history.
Sports Info Assistant of the Year: Brynn Jarvis, Saskatchewan
Jarvis was an essential part of the Saskatchewan Huskies sports information team this season, stepping up when her team needed her most - all while balancing full time student responsibilities.
She started the year as one of two sports information assistants and quickly saw her role expanded with responsibilities including feature story and recap writing, major graphic projects and managing table staff for court sports. Jarvis saw her role expanded mid-season as she took on many primary SID responsibilities for the Huskies, while also balancing life as a full-time student. She served as the main point-of-contact for opposing SIDs on game nights, trading recaps, photos and stats files while also updating social media accounts and the program's website.
CanadaWest TV MVP: Matt Degenhardt, Regina
Degenhardt has made significant strides in enhancing the quality of U of R’s CanadaWest.TV broadcasts over the past two seasons. His contributions encompass a variety of improvements, including the integration of onscreen graphics and score bugs featuring live stats and animations.
Matt's ability to implement these upgrades stems from his dual role as a videographer and a clinical instructor. Leading the U of R’s Creative Media Team, he oversees the involvement of current U of R students on game nights, managing setup, cameras, and all aspects of production. Matt guides students through a semester-long class as a clinical instructor, providing students with valuable training and experience while earning credits towards their degree.
Video of the Year: Trinity Western Spartans - “Our Story | Aristote Kalala”
Contributors: Michael Ezinga and Mark Janzen
As part of the Spartans' Black History Month celebrations, the TWU sports information department shared the story of Aris Kalala and the remarkable road he took to joining the TWU men's basketball program. Detailing his journey from leaving the Democratic Republic of Congo as a refugee, to attending the NBA Academy in Africa and eventually arriving in Langley, Kalala's remarkable story was incredibly well-received on social media, generating over 38K views.
About Canada West
As the leading university athletic conference in the country, Canada West is home to student-athletes that excel in the classroom and their communities. The conference is comprised of 17 member institutions spanning from Victoria to Winnipeg, with over 3,200 student-athletes competing across 14 sports. Canada West’s mission is to train leaders and build champions by providing leadership in the delivery, regulation, and promotion of university level high performance sports programs throughout western Canada.