OTTAWA (Thursday, November 18, 2010) – Coaches of Canada announced today that Swimming Canada will be the recipients of the Sheila Robertson Coaching Award for 2010.  The Award will be presented during the Sport Leadership Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 19, at 6:30 pm at the Westin Ottawa.
 
The Sheila Robertson Award, inaugurated in 2005, is named in honour of the founding editor of Coaches Report magazine. This award recognizes a national sport organization that demonstrates a consistent approach to valuing and recognizing the role of the coach within the organization, with the media, and with the public.
 
This year the Sheila Robertson Award will be presented to Swimming Canada who has demonstrated an exceptional relationship with their coaching fraternity and understand the importance of a strong coach/athlete relationship to a successful team. 
 
“Swimming Canada has been a leader in coaching development and support for some time and is well deserving of this award!” said Wayne Parro, ChPC, Executive Director of Coaches of Canada. “They have set the bar high for future winners of this award!”
 
“We are very grateful to receive this recognition,” said Pierre Lafontaine, CEO and National Coach for Swimming Canada.  “Our coaches are the bloodline of our sport.  It’s extremely important for our organisation to keep investing in our coaches if we want our sport to succeed at every level.”
 
Previous winners of the Sheila Robertson Award are Athletics Canada (2009), Skate Canada (2008, 2007), Diving Plongeon Canada (2006) and the Canadian Yachting Association (2005).