Schools honoured with CW Sports Info and Digital Awards
Fraser Valley, UNBC, and Regina take home awards
VANCOUVER - Three Canada West schools were honoured for their exceptional work as the conference announced its 2020-21 Sports Information & Digital Awards on Friday.
Canada West's 17 sports information directors selected the winners of the awards that honour the individuals who tirelessly work to showcase university sport through coverage of outstanding coaches, student-athletes, and staff.
The 2020-21 winners were Dan Kinvig of the University of the Fraser Valley (Top Feature Story), the University of Northern British Columbia's Rich Abney (Video of the Year), and University of Regina contributor Arthur Ward (Top Social Campaign). The award for Photo of the Year was not awarded this season.
Since 2019, the Sports Information & Digital Awards have been handed out to conference members to recognize their outstanding work in the areas of sports information and digital storytelling.
Telling the stories of those fighting the pandemic, UFV sports information director Dan Kinvig tracked down four Cascades alumni who are currently working on the front lines.
They each were generous enough to share how their lives had changed amidst the pandemic. Between the four, there was a wide range of jobs, locations, and Cascades programs represented (men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, men’s rowing).
The feature includes insights from an emergency room doctor, stories from a maternity ward and a nurses impact on international innovation.
Other Nominees:
Alberta - "Finding Hope"
Brandon - "Senior Saturday - Elliott Viles"
MacEwan - "Recently-married volleyball couple Hesthammer and Brown a true Griffins love story"
Trinity Western - "Sparta | Being Mowa"
UBC - "The incredible legacy of former T-Bird, Dr. John Utendale"
UNBC - "Nine Seconds: The story of the "Hand of Good" save, and the lifetime of soccer that went into it"
A video response at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, UNBC Men’s Basketball player Tyrell Laing put a face and experience to the issue.
Rather than post an obligatory statement, UNBC chose to move aside and create a space for conversation. Laing’s brave step forward put him at the forefront of the decision locally, and he has continued to step up.
The piece has won the CASE Grand Gold award for video, and the CASE Grand Gold award for inclusion.
Other Nominees:
Brandon - Alumni spotlight - Scott Hlady
Fraser Valley - Bell Let's Talk
TWU - Black History Month
Winnipeg (w/ Brandon & Manitoba) - Athletes unite against racism
Arthur Ward, former Regina track & field medalist and frequent creative contributor to the Cougars Athletics program, sat down with a recent women's volleyball alumna, Ashlee Sandiford, and Sam Mike, a current Rams football player, for a nine-part series celebrating Black History Month – six featuring discussions with Ashlee, and three with Sam.
They talked about how to have difficult conversations about race, their own experiences growing up while being a person of colour, and race & diversity in sport.
Other Nominees:
Alberta - Sports Wall of Fame
Brandon - Bobcats alumni features
Fraser Valley - Senior recognition
Mount Royal - Cougars Diversity & Inclusion
Trinity Western - Greatest moments of 2019-20
UBC - Bird breaks
UNBC - Junior reporter
Winnipeg - Athlete fundraising