Dec. 27, 2022
The recipients of the Ottawa Sports Awards Lifetime Awards and Mayor’s Cup for 2022 have been selected and will be celebrated at the Ottawa Sports Awards dinner on February 8, 2023.
The recipients for 2022 are badminton dynamo Fei Tam, ice hockey official Sean Reid, rowing coach Ed Fournier, and the duo of Todd Nicholson and Emily Glossop for their outstanding contributions to the Ottawa Sports Community.
LIFETIME AWARD – VOLUNTEER/ADMINISTRATOR: FEI TAM
The welcoming and encouraging head coach at Kanata Junior Badminton Club, Fei Tam has made an indelible mark as a volunteer and administrator for over 30 years. She has served the badminton community as President of the Ottawa and District Badminton Association (ODBA) since 2005, overseeing one of Canada’s most active badminton associations.
She has been the high school tournament convener for NCSSA and personally takes on the organization of the ODBA district championships. She has also acted as the ODBA webmaster and tournament umpire when required. A highly respected volunteer, she galvanizes others to join her on committees, as coaches, or simply as a tournament volunteer to ensure development opportunities for the membership from every age, including entry level players to the national level.
LIFETIME AWARD – TECHNICAL OFFICIAL: SEAN REID
It was a special moment for Sean Reid in 2022 when he stepped onto the ice at TD Place and was recognized for his 1000th career game as an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) official. His parents, including 2021 Ottawa Sports Awards honouree John, were in the stands as they had been throughout his long and impressive career in black and white.
In the OHL alone, Reid has officiated for 22 seasons, and was selected to his 12th OHL Championship Series in 2022. Highly respected by teams, players, and fellow officials, Reid is a veteran of multiple Memorial Cups, is a past winner of the OHL’s Bodie award for demonstrating a passion and dedication to officiating and the game of hockey, and best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice.
LIFETIME AWARD – COACH: ED FOURNIER
A part of the Ottawa Rowing Club (ORC) since 1988, Ed Fournier has coached athletes in provincial, national, and international competitions and counts more than 10 gold medal showings at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, including two in 2022. Currently the lead coach of the Senior Men’s Competitive Program at ORC, Fournier also heads the Carleton Ravens rowing team.
He has helped to not only inspire a love of the sport of rowing within his athletes, bringing them back to continue to compete year after year, but has inspired a generation of rowers to share their love of the sport with others by becoming coaches themselves. His achievements and lasting impact helping athletes reach their potential are felt in the rowing community in Ottawa and across Canada.
MAYOR’S CUP – TODD NICHOLSON AND EMILY GLOSSOP
As individuals, Todd Nicholson and Emily Glossop have made remarkable contributions first as athletes and later shaping the parasport landscape locally, nationally and internationally. As a team, they have had an outstanding impact through their tireless dedication and volunteerism, leading important movements in Ottawa and beyond.
Todd served as Team Canada’s sledge hockey captain for 15 years and competed at five consecutive Winter Paralympic Games from 1994-2010, winning gold, silver and bronze medals. Todd has since occupied a dizzying number of volunteer roles, including International Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council chair, Canadian Paralympic team chef de mission, Games organizing committee advisor and the chair of Own The Podium.
For over two decades, Emily has worked to make sport more inclusive and accessible as an advocate and organizer. She competed internationally, winning numerous World Cup para-alpine medals as a guide skier for Kathleen Forestell. During her work as a recreation therapist at CHEO, Emily introduced many children to adaptive sport and she is now the executive director of the Abilities Centre Ottawa, fronting a movement to make more accessible sport and recreation opportunities available. Alongside Ausome Ottawa and the Ottawa Sport Council, Emily organized a summit of local sports leaders called Sport For All in Ottawa and followed up with the first Ottawa Inclusive and Para Sport Expo.
Emily and Todd are both inspiring speakers and representatives demonstrating the importance of physical activity for everyone, overcoming obstacles, and striving towards your goals.
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The Ottawa Sports Awards will shortly be announcing further award winners for 2022, including annual major award winners in the categories of Coach of the Year, Team of the Year, and Athletes of the Year, as well as individual sport award winners and Special Recognition Award winners.
The Ottawa Sports Awards honours the finest in the Ottawa sports community. Click here to view our past winners!