Dec. 17, 2025
As Head Coach of the Capital Courts Academy which went undefeated in Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association play during the 2024-25 season, Fabienne Blizzard wins her second Ottawa Sports Award as Coach of the Year.
In 2025 she was named Coach of the Year for both the OSBA and the Women’s National Preparatory Association.
Internationally, Blizzard was head coach of Canada’s U16 Women’s National Team which included competition at the FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup in June.
There, Blizzard guided Canada to a silver medal finish in the tournament and secured a berth at the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026.
Photograph Copyright 2024 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images.
As Athletics Canada’s National Team Head Coach, Glenroy Gilbert’s steady leadership continues to be instrumental in shaping Canada’s track and field success on the world stage.
Gilbert led the team through several major international competitions in 2025, culminating at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in September. There, the women’s 4x100m relay team set a new Canadian record and the men’s 4x100m relay team won the silver medal.
At the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships, Canada won three gold and thirteen total medals.
Notably, Gilbert has been leading Canada’s teams in the new mixed relay events, including gold in the mixed 4×100 at the World Athletics Relays.
This is Gilbert’s sixth Ottawa Sports Award as Coach of the Year, with his first coming in 2013.
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The Athletes of the Year and Teams of the Year were also announced on December 17. The national record-breaking Ottawa Lions 4x400m U20 men’s relay team and provincial championship-winning Capital Courts Academy basketball team were selected as Teams of the Year while national team vetrans Invanie Blondin (Speed Skating) and Tyrone Henry (Para Ice Hockey) are the Athlete of the Year award winners.
The recipients of the Ottawa Sports Awards Lifetime Awards and Mayor’s Cup for 2025 were announced on December 9, with longstanding contributors to the sports of volleyball, soccer, ice hockey, and the Ottawa Sport Council being honoured.
These outstanding members of the community will be celebrated at the 2025 Ottawa Sports Awards Dinner, which will be held on February 4, 2026 at the Infinity Convention Centre. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Further award announcements will include the individual sport award winners in over 65 sports, over 60 championship-winning teams from local clubs, and the Spirit of Sport Award, Special Recognition, and Community Sport Endowment recipients.
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The Ottawa Sports Awards honours the finest in the Ottawa amateur sports community. Click here to view our past winners!