The third annual Celebration of Sport Excellence was held at the Kwanlin Dun Centre on Thursday night. The Yukon athletes were in their best dress as they went up to accept their awards.

Before the presentation of the plaques, Minister John Streiker took to the podium to say a few words to the crowd.

“I get to just beam with pride,” said Streiker in his speech. “Because we want to support our athletes, our teams, our coaches, our organizers, our families. We are just really really happy that we get to try and support you because we think you do a great job in other people’s lives.”

He continued to speak about the major Games that were held throughout the year in 2018 and his experiences there.

He spoke to how sport changes athletes.

“It changes the people that are there,” said Streiker, “and I’m sure it is true as well of the parents and the supports that are there to cheer you on but it is certainly true to the athletes.

“Games really move people from someone who is competing to a sport to someone who is a citizen, someone who is representing this territory, someone who is changing their lives and changing the lives of people around them. I just want to say thank you for striving.”

Once he was finished at the podium Streiker took his place on stage to hand out the Premier’s Awards of Sport Excellence, only after switching out of his suit jacket to his Yukon bomber jacket.

The Premier’s Awards of Sport Excellence were given to athletes who have excelled at Provincials, Western Canadian, National and International Competitions.

Thirty-one individual awards were given to athletes in 13 different sports. As well, three teams were recognized for their successes.

The Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle Award winners were announced next and were presented by YASC president Gordon Reed and Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) Grand Chief Peter Johnston.

Kiiwaadin Swan, a basketball player, was honoured as the Aboriginal Athlete of the Year. The Aboriginal Arctic Sports/Dene Games Athlete of the Year was given to Emily King.

Gary Bailie, a cross country ski coach, was named the Aboriginal Coach of the Year and CYFN was giving recognized for Outstanding Commitment to Aboriginal Sports.

The Sport Yukon Award winners were the next to be announced.

International Female Athlete of the Year went to Olympic cross country skier Emily Nishikawa.

Her mother accepted the award and read Nishikawa’s written thank you to the crowd.

“Thank you Sport Yukon for the award and there are many people that helped me get here and I’d like to recognize them,” read Nishikawa’s mom. “First and foremost I’d like to thank my family, they have been incredibly supportive of me since I was a little girl, through the ups and downs.

“I’d also like to thank my coaches, teammates and the entire sporting community. I am so lucky to have grown up here...”

Freestyle skier Etienne Geoffroy-Gagnon was given the International Male Athlete of the Year award. His mom too went to the podium on his behalf.

“Unfortunately I could not be here to receive my award because I am in Whistler training for next season,” read his mom.

Geoffroy-Gagnon singled out two people to thank, the president of Freestyle Yukon and his mother.

“The second person is none other than my mom,” read his mom, who managed to make it through without crying. “My mom has been there for me since day one. There are no words to describe the unconditional support I have received from her. She has been there for my ups and downs and I am forever grateful to have such an incredible mom.”

The National/Territorial Female Athlete of the Year was Maddison Nicholson. Dylan Cozens was the male recipient and he appeared on video for the crowd.

“This award is a huge honour with all the other successful athletes from the Yukon,” said Cozens. “I like being from the Yukon and being able to represent it everywhere I go. I really appreciate all the support I get down there. I will be back soon and hopefully I will have a gold medal with me.”

Bonnie Love was The Administrator of the Year. The Yukon Selects U15 Male Soccer Team was named Team of the Year and Yves Titley was Coach of the Year.

The Special Olympics 50th Anniversary was celebrated and many coaches and athletes were awarded for their successes in their respective sports.

Streiker made his way back onto the stage this time to give out the Minister’s Award of Sports Recognition.

The award is presented to athletes who have excelled at Arctic Winter Games, 55+ Games, Provincials, Western Canadian, National and International Competitions.

Once those athletes made their way across the stage to receive their plaque there were three more awards to give out.

The first was to Bill Curtis, who was inducted into the Yukon Sport Hall of Fame.

The final two awards were presented to Dahria Beatty and Knute Johnsgaard for their participation in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

Beatty’s dad accepted the award on her behalf.

“It was an immense honour to be able to represent Whitehorse, the Yukon, Canada last winter at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang. I hope to be able to continue to represent you...” read her father.

Johnsgaard stepped to the podium himself.

“... I’m no longer competing as an athlete any more but I cherish every memory of my journey as a cross country skier,” said Johnsgaard. “I hope to inspire future generations of cross country skiers. I hope to see many new Olympic faces in the audience here tonight.”

As the night’s final awards were cleared from the table on stage MC Serge Michaud, president of Special Olympics Yukon left everyone with these final words.

“(We may come from) a small populace but we are mighty, which makes it sweeter when we prevail over the large provinces.”