Fitness Leadership Awards

Meet the 2024 BCRPA Fitness Professional of the Year Award recipient!

BCRPA's Annual Fitness Leadership Awards recognize BCRPA Registered Fitness Leaders who have made outstanding contributions to BC's fitness industry - those who inspire, inform, and actively model promotion of active and healthy lifestyles.

Awards About Awards Current Recipient Awards Past Recipients

 


About the Award

BCRPA's Fitness Professional of the Year award recognizes a BCRPA Registered Fitness Leader who has made outstanding contributions in the lives of their clients, communities, and within BC's fitness industry.

The successful recipient is someone inspires and informs, actively models and promotes an active, healthy, and connected lifestyle, and who celebrates equity, diversity and inclusion in all that they do. This includes but is not limited to supporting those who are physically inactive or traditionally underserved.

This annual award is presented at BCRPA's BCFit® conference each year.

ELIGIBILITY: Current BCRPA Fitness Leader Registration
Note: Registration status can be confirmed by searching The Registry® of Fitness Professionals.

SELECTION CRITERIA: Each nominee will be evaluated on the following:

  • Inspirational teaching and motivational methods to encourage active and under-active individuals to initiate or maintain a physically active lifestyle.
  • Development of unique/creative programs(s) or service(s) that increase community awareness of the benefits of physical activity.
  • Support and encouragement of communities and individuals who are traditionally underserved.
  • Promotion of equity, diversity and inclusion within the fitness industry and culture.
  • Significant contributions to the professional credibility and promotion of fitness leadership in BC.

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2024 Fitness Professional of the Year — Christina Truscott

Fitness Award For Web

 

Christina Truscott, from Victoria, has been a driving force in the fitness industry for more than 40 years. She is the Founder and Director of Body Blueprint Fitness Education, which provides an extensive range of fitness courses and workshops, covering everything from Fitness Theory and Group Fitness to Aquatic Instruction, Older Adults programs, and Personal Training.

She has empowered fitness professionals around the world and inspired countless individuals to lead healthier, more confident lives. Her passion and impact continue to shape the future of fitness. Her motto is “If you have an opportunity to make someone feel special – take that opportunity”.

Read the complete media release here.

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Past Fitness Leadership Award Recipients

2023

Fitness Award Post

Sheryl Hay

Fitness Professional of the Year

Read more about Sheryl

Fitness Award 2023 Sheryl

Sheryl Hay, from the community of Enderby, was awarded the 2023 BCRPA Fitness Professional of the Year Award. She is a BCRPA Registered Fitness Leader with specialities in Older Adult Fitness, Aquatic Fitness and Fitness Theory who has dedicated over 27 years to the fields of fitness and aquatics. She is a coach and trainer, program designer and facilitator, as well as a dedicated member of multiple community sport teams.

Sheryl works enthusiastically with Enderby & District Recreation Services as a Recreation Programmer and Fitness Instructor. She is known for her customized land and water-based programs that support accessibility, mental and physical wellbeing. Sheryl’s achievements also include leading her hometown to be crowned by the national non-profit organization ParticipACTION as Canada's Most Active Community in 2019, and in 2023, being inducted into her high school's Wall of Fame for her contributions to community sport, fitness, and wellbeing.

Read the complete media release here.

 

2022

2022 Fitnessaward Shannonwhieldon

Shannon Whieldon

Fitness Professional of the Year

Read more about Shannon

2022 Fitnessaward Shannonwhieldon

Shannon is a BCRPA Registered Fitness Leader and Supervisor of Fitness Leaders (SFL) who has dedicated the past 40 years to the field of community fitness and health promotion. She holds Specialities in Older Adult Fitness, Personal Training, Weight Training and Group Fitness and is deeply committed to making fitness education accessible and inclusive.  

Shannon’s fitness career began as an Industrial First Aid Attendant and a Fitness Instructor in the early 1980s. Soon after, she added skydiving as a unique form of exercise and became a volunteer Skydiving Safety Officer to support first-time jump students. She went on to become a rigger and jump master, jumping into Vanier Park in Vancouver as part of Expo86, opening the Abbotsford Airshow with a red and white parachute and Canadian flag, and later securing a bronze medal for Canada in the 1988 World ParaSki Championships in Damüls, Austria. 

Shannon is a life-long learner who has supported people of all ages through fitness education and physical activity. During her 27-year career as a nurse in acute care, Shannon set up a back-care program in her unit to support physicians and nurses at the end of their 12-hour shifts. She would then check in on elderly home-bound clients on her way home each night to support them to do the same. She later supported her own son using nutrition and exercise to help him thrive through 8 years of chemotherapy and 2.5 years of restorative leg surgery. 

Shannon is known by students, clients, and colleagues past and present to be extremely positive, supportive and creative.  

Read the complete media release here.

 

2021

2021 Fitnessaward Winner Insta V3

Andrew Alcalde

Fitness Professional of the Year

Read more about Andrew

2021 Fitnessaward Winner Insta V3Andrew is a BCRPA Registered Fitness Leader and Group Fitness Instructor and a highly respected leader in Vancouver’s fitness community. Andrew is widely known for his accessible, personable, and entertaining training style, balancing fitness with fun to engage and motivate his clients and community members. His supportive and energetic approach allows all individuals, from beginners to fitness enthusiasts, to reach far beyond their fitness goals.

Andrew’s inspirational fitness classes have been a lifeline for many during the past pandemic year. He was nominated for this award by multiple individuals, including a Critical Care Nurse who sought out Andrew’s classes not only to stay active, but to support her mental and physical health. Andrew also chose to support those who may have seen a reduction in income or job loss due to COVID-19 by providing no-cost small group classes as well as free online classes.

Andrew’s creative approach to teaching makes his classes accessible and allows even someone brand new to physical activity to feel welcome. “His classes feel more like a party with friends than a workout you have to suffer through,” said one Award Nominator.

In addition to receiving this honour from BCRPA, Andrew was also named one of Canada’s Top Fitness Instructors in 2021 by IMPACT Magazine.

Click here to read the complete Media Release.

 

 

2018

Karen Harmon

Karen Harmon

Fitness Leader of the Year

Rhonda Jackson Web

Rhonda Jackson

Program Manager/Director of the Year

 

 

 

2017

LynnwaltersLynn Walters

Fitness Leader of the Year

Debbiecheong

Debbie Cheong

Educator of the Year

 

MelanieosmackMelanie Osmack

Program Manager / Director of the Year

 

 

2016

GilliangoerzenGillian Goerzen

Fitness Leader of the Year

Aarontews

Aaron Tews

Educator of the Year

 

Sharontaylor

Sharon Taylor

Program Manager / Director of the Year

 

2015

Chrissyduncan Chrissy Duncan

Fitness Leader of the Year

Tinagrant

Tina Grant

Educator of the Year

 

2014

Katelee Kate Lee

Fitness Leader of the Year

 

Brendaadams

Brenda Adams

Educator of the Year

 

NadiamalekNadia Malek

Program Director / Manager of the Year

 

 

2013

KimmagnanKim Magnan

Fitness Leader of the Year

 

Chad Benson

Chad Benson

Educator of the Year

Jaimeestokesnelson Jaimee Stokes Nelson

Program Director/Manager of the Year

 

 

2012

Kimbond 2012

Kim Bond

Fitness Leader of the Year

 

Andrepotvin 2012

André Potvin

Educator of the Year

 

Donnarenaud

Donna Renaud

Program Director/Manager of the Year

 

 

2011

Heatherstanton 2011 Heather Stanton

Fitness Leader of the Year

 

Melaniegalloway Melanie Galloway

Educator of the Year

 

Kimbond 2011

Kim Bond

Program Director/Manager of the Year

 

2010

Silviaisachsen Silvia Isachsen

Fitness Leader of the Year

 

Donnahutchinson Donna Hutchinson

Educator of the Year

 

Jillamy Jill Amy

Program Director of the Year

 

 

2009

Beverlymccallum

Bev McCallum

Aquatic Fitness Leader of the Year

Hannahfletcher

Hanna Fletcher

Group Fitness Leader of the Year

Kimbond 2009 Kim Bond

Program Director of the Year

 

 

2008

Lisa Steele WebLisa Steele

Aquatic Fitness leader of the Year

Mokieburnham Mokie Burnham

Group Fitness Leader of the Year

 

Nicoleyamanaka Nicole Yamanaka

Personal Trainer of the Year

 

Andrepotvin 2008 André Potvin

Program Director of the Year

 

2007

GwensanderGwen Sander

Aquatic Fitness Leader of the Year

 

Danielle KlassenDanielle Klassen

Group Fitness Leader of the Year

 

LorinishiLori Nishi

Personal Trainer of the Year

  

Coriboguski Cori Boguski

Program Director of the Year

 

 

2006

LaurabroughDr. Laura Brough

Group Fitness Leader of the Year

Mikkie NettlesMikkie Nettles

Personal Trainer of the Year

KimfroomKim Froom

Program Director of the Year

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