Sport BC Announces 58th Annual Athlete of the Year Award Finalists
Sport BC is pleased to announce the finalists to be recognized and celebrated at the upcoming 58th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards taking place on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
Representing Soccer in British Columbia is Carlo Basso, nominated for Male Coach of the Year, Holly Ward, nominated for Senior Female Athlete of the Year, and Stefan Tanaka-Freundt, nominated for Official of the year.
"Congratulations to all the finalists of the 2025 Athlete of the Year Awards. This is the moment we celebrate your positive contribution to sport and community,” says Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “Your commitment inspires those around you and demonstrates the importance of sport in bringing people together to build a stronger, more inclusive future for everyone.”
Carlo Basso - Simon Fraser University Women's Soccer
Nominated for Male Coach of the Year: In his three seasons as the Head Coach of the SFU Women's Soccer team, Basso has lead them to back-to-back-to-back conference championships for the first time in school history.
Holly Ward - Vancouver Rise FC
Nominated for Senior Female Athlete of the Year: In the first season of the Northern Super League, Ward capped off a stellar season by scoring the game winning goal in the final to crown Vancouver Rise NSL Champions. Ward's impressive season was rewarded as she received her first senior call-up to the Canadian Women's National Team.
Stefan Tanaka-Freundt - FIFA Assistant Referee
Nominated for Official of the Year: The Head Referee for Surrey United has also refereed matches in MLS, the CPL, and Canadian Championship. Tanaka-Freundt's 2025 season was capped off with a trip to officiate matches in Qatar at the FIFA U17 World Cup.
The Athlete of the Year Awards is a true celebration of sport in our province. The finalists listed below will be honoured at the event and represent exceptional efforts and accomplishments in 2025. We congratulate our finalists and the organizations they represent”, shares Sport BC’s President and CEO, Rob Newman. “We look forward to celebrating as a sector together on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The finalists represent various sports from communities all throughout BC demonstrating the collective strength of our province’s sport sector.”
Click Here for the full list of nominees for the 58th annual Athlete of the Year Awards finalists.
About Sport BC
Sport BC believes in the power of sport and is committed to building stronger communities through positive sport experiences. Our goal is to enhance and support sport participation in British Columbia ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Through our KidSport BC, BC Amateur Sport Fund, and BC Women & Sport along with our services Sport BC Insurance, and Payroll and Group Benefits; Sport BC supports our seventy plus member organizations. Keep up to date @SportBC
