$20,000 in grants from Intact Insurance available to clubs undertaking grassroots development initiatives
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Members of the Canadian speed skating community have until June 5, 2026 to submit their nominations for the 2025-26 Speed Skating Canada Awards Program.
The SSC Awards Program recognizes the incredible contributions and achievements of our sport’s most dedicated and deserving stakeholders – including athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, partners and more. Each year, members of the Canadian speed skating community are invited to submit nominations of deserving individuals. The nominations process is designed to attract a diverse and broad range of eligible nominees, and to be simple enough that anyone can submit a name for consideration.
Nominations are being accepted for 10 different awards, including the Speed Skating Canada Hall of Fame and the Intact Insurance Club Excellence Award, which distributes $20,000 in grants to clubs undertaking grassroots initiatives that aligns with the objectives and priority areas identified in SSC’s 2023-27 Strategic Plan.
The complete list of Speed Skating Canada awards can be found below:
- Athlete Awards
- Coach Awards
- Official Awards
Nominations
Nominations can be submitted using this online form before the deadline of June 5, 2026. Before submitting a nomination, please consult the award descriptions found on our website to ensure the nominee meets the eligibility and selection criteria. For reference, a list of previous recipients for each award can also be found on on the awards pages.
Important Changes for 2025-26
As part of Speed Skating Canada’s annual review process, a few notable changes were made to the SSC Awards Program. These changes will be implemented as part of the 2025-26 nomination period opening in May 2026.
- Public nominations will no longer be accepted for the Athlete of the Year Awards. Moving forward, candidates will be submitted to the Selection Panel for consideration by staff from the respective High Performance Programs, determined in consultation with coaches and members of the HPAC. As a result of this change, athletes must now be members of Speed Skating Canada’s National Program to be eligible.
- The Community Champion of the Year Award has been suspended and will not be awarded for the foreseeable future. The eligibility and selection criteria for this award overlaps significantly with the recently created Intact Impact Award, which will continue to exist until at least the end of the 2029-30 seasons part of Intact Insurance’s renewed partnerships agreement.
- Prizing for the Intact Insurance Club Excellence Award has been modified, with the winning club no longer receiving a visit from two National Program athletes as part of their grand prize package. The cash prizes for both the grand prize winner and four finalists remains unchanged from previous years.
Presentation
This year’s recipients will be unveiled to the speed skating community and general public virtually over the summer. Where appropriate, in-person recognition ceremonies may take place at national or international events hosted by Speed Skating Canada during the 2026-27 season. For select award recipients – as detailed in the Awards Information Package – SSC may cover travel and accommodation costs, as well as provide a set number of VIP tickets to the international event closest to the city where they reside.