New Award Introduced

A new award was introduced for the 14th Annual Sports Media Canada Achievement Awards. The President’s Award was presented during the 2009 Luncheon by, appropriately, the Sports Media Canada president Steve McAllister.New-SMC-Crystal-Award
Past president George Gross and Don Goodwin often discussed Sports Media Canada’s ambition to recognize and honour events and / or individuals not directly involved in sports journalism but making a significant impact on Canadian sport. With new president Steve McAllister’s endorsement the Sports Media Canada President’s Award was born.
The Award will not necessarily be presented every year. When an event or individual is deemed to have been responsible for extra special and memorable sports experiences — the President’s Award is available as Sports Media Canada’s way of underscoring the signficance of the extraordinary achievement. There may be years when no worthy event or individual accomplishment would seem to warrant the President’s Award.
In 2009 there was one individual and one event deserving of our acclaim and, thus, the inaugural Sports Media Canada President’s Awards.
President Steve McAllister expressed his pleasure at being able to recognize Tom Anselmi of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment for his Exemplary Leadership as the driving force behind the establishment and growth of Canada’s newest major league sports franchise — Toronto FC of Major League Soccer — with the inaugural President’s Award.
A second President’s Award was accepted by TSN President Phil King on behalf of his organization — for its 25 Exciting Years. Past TSN presidents Gordon Craig and Rick Brace were in the audience of 300 in the Canadian Room of the Royal York Hotel in Toronto to witness the Award presentation.