2024 Waterloo Region Athlete of the Year Awards
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025
Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, Kitchener ON
Celebrating a Legacy of Sport Excellence in Waterloo Region
The Waterloo Region Athlete of the Year award showcases the accomplishments of local athletes.
Athletes are nominated in one of two categories – Athlete of the Year, and Outstanding Athletic Achievement.
Athlete of the Year
The Athlete of the Year Award recognizes a Waterloo Region athlete competing at the highest level of their sport, and who represents Waterloo Region on an international stage, and/or is a professional athlete.
Outstanding Athletic Achievement
The Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award recognizes a Waterloo Region athlete competing in various levels of sport across a broader level of competition, including high school, collegiate, amateur, or masters events.
2024 Athlete of the Year – Dhane Smith
Dhane Smith received the 2024 Waterloo Region Athlete of the Year award presented during the annual awards ceremony at the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts on June 3rd, 2025.
A standout in the āfastest sport on two feet,ā Dhane Smith first made waves locally with the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves, earning Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League MVP honours in 2012. That same year, he was drafted fifth overall by the Buffalo Bandits, launching a stellar professional career.
Over 10 NLL seasons, Smith has tallied 950 points in 161 games and holds league records for most goals (72), assists (102), and points (137) in a single season.
A proven leader, Dhane helped power the Bandits to back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024, earning championship MVP honours in 2023.Ā Ā
2024 Outstanding Athletic Achievement – Taylor Elgersma
Wilfrid Laurier University quarterback Taylor Elgersma delivered a historic 2024 season, leading the Golden Hawks to a perfect 8ā0 regular season and a Yates Cup championship.
He topped all of U Sports in passing yards (3,554), touchdowns (28), and yards per game (323.1), and set a school record with 452 passing yards in the Uteck Bowl semifinal. His standout performance earned him the Hec Crighton Award as U Sportsā Most Outstanding Player and OUA MVP.
In January 2025, Elgersma broke new ground as the first U Sports quarterback to be invited to the prestigious Senior Bowl. A proud product of WLU, Elgersma finished his university career with more than 10,000 passing yards and 78 touchdownsācementing his legacy in Canadian university football.Ā
Past Recipients
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