Sport Orillia hosted its 2017 Breakfast of Champions event Thursday morning at the Bayside Restaurant at the Barnfield Point Recreation Centre.
Gill Tillmann, chair of the committee organizing the 2018 Ontario Winter Games, hosted by Orillia, spoke at the event and urged athletes to not only be champions in their chosen sports but to champion important causes that can result in positive change.
Orillia City Councillor Jeff Clark and Sport Orillia President Martino di Sabatino presented 12 Orillia students – three from each of the local high schools – with Breakfast of Champion certificates. The student athletes were chosen by their respective school’s coaches for their athleticism and sportsmanship; the winners also received custom hoodies courtesy of Artech.
“It’s important to us, at Sport Orillia, to celebrate youth in sport,” said di Sabatino. “This event is a great way to recognize the amazing things youth in our community are doing.”
The goal of Sport Orillia, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization formed in 2013, is to enhance the economic, social and personal health of Orillia residents through sport and active living. One of its marquee events each year is the Orillia Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which will be held this year at Casino Rama on April 21. Deadline to nominate athletes, coaches or builders is Dec. 15. Applications can be downloaded from the website, sportorillia.com.
