The Velma Springstead Trophy is an award presented annually to

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

's outstanding female

athlete An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-devel ...

. It is named in honour of track athlete Velma Springstead whose career ended prematurely when she died from pneumonia in 1927 when only 20 years old. The Women's Amateur Athletic Federation (WAAF) of Canada founded this award in 1934. The trophy, also known as the "Rose Bowl," was donated by Alexandrine Gibb, sportswriter with the

Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...

. The trophy was to be awarded on the basis of "performance, sportsmanship and behaviour." The award is now managed by the True Sport Foundation.

Past recipients

*2012 - Rosie MacLennan, trampoline *2011 –

Christine Nesbitt Christine Nesbitt (born 17 May 1985) is a Canadian retired long track speed skater who currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. She won the gold medal in the 1000 metres event at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. She had previously ...

, speed skating *2010 –

, speed skating *2009 –

, speed skating *2008 –

Chantal Petitclerc Chantal Petitclerc (born December 15, 1969) is a Canadian wheelchair racer and a Senator from Quebec. Early life At the age of 13, Petitclerc lost the use of both legs in an accident when at a friend's farm, a heavy barn door fell on her, fra ...

, Athletics *2007 –

Kalyna Roberge Kalyna Roberge (born October 1, 1986) is a Canadian short track speed skater. Born in Saint-Étienne-de-Lauzon, Quebec, Roberge has won a gold medal in the 3000m relay at the 2005 World Championships. She also placed third overall at the 2005 W ...

, speed skating *2006 – Cindy Klassen, speed skating *2005 – Cindy Klassen, speed skating *2004 –

, wheelchair athletics *2003 –

Perdita Felicien Perdita Felicien (born August 29, 1980) is a Canadian retired hurdler. Felicien is the 2003 World champion in the 100 metres hurdles and 2004 World indoor champion in the 60 metres hurdles. She also won silver medals at the 2007 World Champions ...

, track and field *2002 –

Catriona Le May Doan Catriona Ann Le May Doan, (born December 23, 1970) is a retired Canadian speed skater and a double Olympic champion in the 500 m and served as the chef de mission for Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Career Speed skatin ...

, speed skating *2001 –

, speed skating *2000 – Caroline Brunet, canoeing *1999 – Caroline Brunet, canoeing *1998 –

, speed skating *1997 – Caroline Brunet, canoeing *1996 – Alison Sydor, cycling *1995 – Alison Sydor, cycling *1994 –

Myriam Bédard Myriam Bédard, (born December 22, 1969) is a Canadian retired biathlete. She represented Canada at two Winter Olympics winning gold medals, and a bronze medal. As of 2022, Bédard is the only Canadian biathlete, male or female, ever to win an ...

, biathlon *1993 – Kate Pace, alpine skiing *1992 –

Kerrin Lee-Gartner Kerrin Anne Lee-Gartner (born September 21, 1966) is a former World Cup alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medallist from Canada. Born in Trail, British Columbia, she grew up in Rossland and raced as a youngster at Red Mountain. Lee-Gartner ...

, alpine skiing *1991 –

Silken Laumann Silken Suzette Laumann, (born November 14, 1964) is a Canadian champion rower. Life and career Laumann was born in Toronto Township, Ontario, now Mississauga. Starting in 1976, Laumann won a number of awards, including a gold medal in quadr ...

, rowing *1990 – Sylvie Daigle, speed skating *1989 –

Heather Houston Heather E. Houston (born February 4, 1959)''Ottawa Citizen, 1 Feb 1988, pg B8, "Rookie skip wins" (Houston was 28) is a Canadian curler and world champion. She is from Red Rock, Ontario and curls out of the Fort William Curling Club i ...

, curling *1988 –

Carolyn Waldo Carolyn Jane Waldo, (born December 11, 1964 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadians, Canadian former synchronised swimming, synchronized swimmer and broadcaster. Competing both as a solo and as part of a duo with Michelle Cameron, Waldo experience ...

, synchronized swimming *1987 –

, synchronized swimming *1986 –

, synchronized swimming *1985 –

, synchronized swimming *1984 –

Linda Thom Linda Mary Alice Thom, , née Malcolm, (born December 30, 1943) is a Canadian Olympic gold medal-winning shooter. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 from Carleton University. At the 1984 Summer Olympics, sh ...

, shooting *1983 –

Lynn Chronobrywy Lynn may refer to: People and fictional characters * Lynn (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Lynn (surname) * The Lynns, a 1990s American country music duo consisting of twin sisters Peggy and Patsy Lynn * Lynn ...

, modern pentathlon *1982 –

Angella Taylor-Issajenko Angella Taylor-Issajenko, CM (née Taylor; born September 28, 1958) is a Canadian coach and former sprinter. She won an Olympic silver medal in the 4 × 100 metres relay in Los Angeles 1984. At the Commonwealth Games she won seven medals, includ ...

, track and field *1981 –

Susan Nattrass Susan "Sue" Marie Nattrass, (born November 5, 1950) is a Canadian trap shooter and medical researcher in osteoporosis. She was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Competing at an elite international level from the 1970s through the 2010s, Nattrass ha ...

, shooting *1980 –

, track and field *1979 –

Helen Vanderberg Helen Vanderburg (born January 12, 1959) is a former Canadian synchronized swimmer and world champion. Career Vanderburg began synchronized swimming in 1969 at age eleven. From 1971 to 1973, she was a member of junior national championship team ...

, synchronized swimming *1978 –

Diane Jones-Konihowski Diane Jones-Konihowski, (born March 7, 1951) is a former Canadian pentathlete who was the 1978 Commonwealth Champion and won two gold medals at two Pan-American Games, as well as representing Canada at two Summer Olympics. Biography Jones-Koniho ...

, track and field &

Cathy Sherk Cathy Sherk (née Graham, born June 17, 1950) is a Canadian golf champion and professional golf coach and instructor. Golfing career Sherk was born in Bancroft, Ontario. She won the 1977 Canadian Women's Amateur and was runner-up to Beth Daniel ...

, golfer *1977 – Sylvia Burka, cycling &

, shooting *1976 –

Cheryl Gibson Cheryl Anne Gibson (born July 28, 1959), is a former competitive swimmer from Canada who won the silver medal in the women's 400-metre individual medley at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec. She held the Alberta provincial record in ...

, swimming *1975 – Nancy Garapick, swimming & Diane Jones, track and field *1974 – Wendy Cook, swimming *1973 –

Karen Magnussen Karen Diane Magnussen, OC (born April 4, 1952) is a Canadian former competitive figure skater. She is the 1972 Olympic silver medallist and 1973 World champion. She was Canada's Female Athlete of the Year in 1971 and 1972, and was made an Offi ...

, figure skating *1972 –

, figure skating

*1971 –

, figure skating *1970 – *1969 – Linda Crutchfield-Bocock, luge *1968 – *1967 – *1966 –

Elaine Tanner Elaine Tanner-Watt, (born February 22, 1951) is a Canadian former competition swimmer. Olympic medallist, and former world record-holder in two events. Career Nicknamed "Mighty Mouse" partly because of her small stature (standing barely five fe ...

, swimming *1965 –

Petra Burka Petra Burka (; born November 17, 1946) is a Canadian former competitive figure skater and now coach. She won the 1964 Olympic bronze medal in women's figure skating and the 1965 World championship in the sport. Personal life Petra Burka was bor ...

, figure skating *1964 – Gail Daley, artistic gymnastics *1963 – Nancy McCredie, track and field *1962 – Mary Stewart, swimming *1961 – Mary Stewart, swimming *1960 –

Anne Heggtveit Anne Heggtveit, (born January 11, 1939) is a former alpine ski racer from Canada. She was an Olympic gold medallist and double world champion in 1960. Early years Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Heggtveit was raised in New Edinburgh, one of the ol ...

, skiing *1959 –

, skiing *1958 –

Lucille Wheeler Lucile Wheeler, (born January 14, 1935) is a former alpine ski racer from Canada. She was a double world champion in 1958, the first North American to win a world title in the downhill event. Early years Wheeler was born in Quebec and grew u ...

, skiing *1957 –

Marlene Streit Marlene Stewart Streit, (born March 9, 1934) is a Canadian amateur golfer, and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. She was born in Cereal, Alberta. She learned golf from Gordon McInnis Sr. at the Lookout Point Golf Club in Fonthill, Ontar ...

, golfer *1956 –

, golfer *1955 – *1954 – *1953 –

, golfer *1952 –

, golfer *1951 – *1950 – Rosella Thorne , track and field (sprinter) *1949 – Eleanor McKenzie, track and field (sprinter) *1948 –

Viola Myers Viola Lillian Myers (later Richardson, 1927 – November 15, 1993) was a Canadian sprinter who competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics. She won a bronze medal in the 4×100 m relay and finished fourth in the individual 100 m. Myers started training ...

, track and field *1947 – Barbara Ann Scott, figure skater *1946 – Irene Strong, swimmer *1945 – Barbara Ann Scott, figure skater *1944 – Rhona Wurtele and

Rhoda Wurtele ''Rhoda'' is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns starring Valerie Harper that originally aired on CBS for five seasons from September 9, 1974, to December 9, 1978. It was the first spin-off of ''The Mary Tyle ...

, skiing *1943 – Joan Langdon, swimming *1942 – Joan Langdon, swimming *1941 – Mary Rose Thacker, figure skating *1940 –

Dorothy Walton Dorothy Louise Walton, , née McKenzie (7 August 1909 – 17 October 1981) was a Canadian badminton player who is the only Canadian ever to win the All England Open Badminton Championships, winning the Women's Singles in 1939. Born in Swift C ...

, badminton *1939 –

Jeanette Dolson Mildred Jeannette Dolson (later ''Cavill'', August 13, 1918 – July 17, 2004) was a Canadian athlete who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. She was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and died in North Palm Beach, Florida, United ...

, track and field *1938 –

Noel MacDonald Noel Marguerite Robertson (née MacDonald; January 23, 1915 – May 13, 2008) was a basketball player for the Edmonton Grads. In 1938, MacDonald was awarded the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award and Velma Springstead Trophy as the best Canadian female athl ...

, basketball *1937 – Robina Higgins, track and field *1936 – Betty Taylor, track and field *1935 –

Aileen Meagher Aileen Aletha Meagher (November 26, 1910 – August 2, 1987) was a Canadian athlete who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics, sharing bronze in the 4×100 metres event. She was also a painter. Life She was born and died in Halifax, Nova Sco ...

, track and field *1934 – Phyllis Dewar, swimming

External links

True Sport Foundation: Canadian Sport Awards

References

{{National Sportsperson of the Year 1934 establishments in Canada Canadian sports trophies and awards Most valuable player awards Awards established in 1934

Past recipients

See also

Further reading

External links

References