Celebrating a Legacy of Excellence
Since 1999, Waterloo Region has celebrated sport excellence by presenting the Athlete of the Year award.
Initially known as the KW Athlete of the Year award, it was first handed out in 1999 during the Big Brothers Sports Celebrity Dinner and Auction, with Civitan Sports Waterloo Region serving as the initial sponsor for the award. The Athlete of the Year program continued as part of the annual Sports Celebrity dinner for its first five years.
In 2002, the Award of Excellence program for individuals was introduced to the Athlete of the Year program. This new program expanded to the Awards of Excellence for organizations in 2003, and further expanded in 2008 to include teams. The Award of Excellence program continued from 2002 to 2018.
In 2004 the KW Athlete of the Year award became an event on its own. Woodhouse Contracting Limited was the initial title sponsor, and proceeds from the event supported Camp McGovern summer camp.
In 2012, the Kitchener Sports Association became the Presenting Patron of the KW Athlete of the Year award, and provided funding to local charities and minor sports groups on behalf of each of the nominees and Awards of Excellence honorees.
In 2024, the Kitchener Sports Association announced that the 25th anniversary celebration of the KW Athlete of the Year could be the last. The award program, co-founded by John Thompson and Ken Brooks, announced a successor was needed in order to continue the celebration of local sport excellence. Upon learning that the Athlete of the Year awards were slated to end, the Sports Hosting Office at Explore Waterloo Region, which had been a sponsor of the Athlete of the Year award, announced it would step in to continue the legacy of the program by hosting the annual award.
In 2025, the program changed its name to the Waterloo Region Athlete of the Year Award. It was decided that along with the annual Athlete of the Year award, a new award celebrating Outstanding Athletic Achievement would be added. With renewed leadership and a new name and logo, the awards program is set to shine a spotlight on Waterloo Region athletes and sports excellence into the future.
The Waterloo Region Athlete of the Year Award committee would like to recognize and thank the many volunteers who have worked diligently to ensure the success of the program for the past 25 years. It is thanks to their efforts throughout the years that we continue to celebrate Waterloo Region’s Legacy of Excellence in sport.
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