The Gagné Family Award for Family of the Year honours the family legacies that run through the Canadian speed skating community and is bestowed upon a family whose members have made an outstanding contribution to the development of the sport.

Named in honour of the Gagné Family – in particular bothers Maurice and Pierre, who are pioneers within the Canadian and Quebecois speed skating communities – this award was established in 1996 by John V. Sands, a Hall of Fame speed skater who represented Canada at the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games.

Nominees for the Gagné Family Award for Family of the Year must demonstrate their family’s substantial, long-term involvement in the sport of speed skating through the following:

• Outstanding contributions to the development of the sport and its participants
• Participation as coaches, officials or volunteers at the grassroots or high performance level
• Performances as athletes on the provincial, national or international stage

To be considered for the Gagné Family Award for Family of the Year, families must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• A minimum of three family members must have been involved as speed skating athletes, coaches, officials or volunteers

A family may only receive the Gagné Family Award once. A maximum of one winning family will be selected for the award in a given year.