Sport Manitoba’s Night of Champions is an event to honour the province’s best junior athletes, coaches, officials, and sport volunteers. For the first time ever, the Great-West Life Volunteer and Youth Volunteer awards are now accepting nominations from the community. Previously, this category was only open to nominations through the Provincial Sport Organizations.

“Manitoba has so many dedicated volunteers who are integral to the development and delivery of amateur sport in Manitoba,” said Jeff Hnatiuk President and CEO of Sport Manitoba. “By opening up the nomination process we hope to hear the stories of those hard working individuals who are doing great things in their communities across the province.”

To submit nominations go to: www.sportmanitoba.ca/nightofchampions Nominations are due by Feb. 22, 2013. Nominations should be based upon accomplishments in sport and can be in the past calendar year or over an extended period of time.

Every year, the sport community gathers at the annual Night of Champions (formerly the Sport for Life Gala) to celebrate the achievements of our nominees for the Sport Manitoba Awards and name the winners in the following categories: Manitoba Chicken Producers Junior Female and Male Athlete of the Year, Calm Air Junior Team of the Year, Great-West Life Volunteer and Youth Volunteer of the Year,  Sport Manitoba Official of the Year, and Manitoba Lotteries Female and Male Coach of the Year.

Sport Manitoba is a not for profit organization and the lead planning, programming and funding agency for the development of amateur sport in Manitoba. Located in the Sport for Life Centre, Sport Manitoba partners with over 100 organizations to deliver sport in our province and is responsible for programs including the Power Smart Manitoba Games, Coaching Manitoba, Team Manitoba, Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, and KidSport. Services provided include the Sport Medicine Centre, Sport Performance Centre, and Sport Resource Centre.