The Jean Grenier Award for Volunteer of the Year is bestowed upon a volunteer or administrator who has made invaluable contributions to the betterment of speed skating in Canada. Winners of this award are unsung heroes who work tirelessly in delivering competitions, clinics, programs or events to help increase awareness, promote participation and foster athlete development.

Named in honour of Jean Grenier – a long-time volunteer to speed skating in Canada, including as President of Speed Skating Canada and a Canadian representative at the International Skating Union – this award was first established in 1999 to recognize the importance of volunteers to our sport. In 2019, the Jean Grenier Award and former Jean R. Dupré Award – created in 2010 to honour the transformational leadership of Speed Skating Canada’s former Director General – were combined to create one award recognizing the invaluable contributions of our volunteers and administrators to the speed skating community.

Nominees for the Jean Grenier Award for Volunteer of the Year must demonstrate their leadership and commitment as a volunteer or administrator through the following:

• Planning and delivery of competitions, clinics or events
• Implementation of activities or programs to increase awareness, promote participation or foster athlete development
• Involvement with an executive, Board of Directors, or committee at the club, provincial or national level
• Any other long-term initiative to advance speed skating in Canada

Individuals may only receive the Jean Grenier Award for Volunteer of the Year once throughout their career. A maximum of one winner will be selected for the award in a given year.