Two Richmond teenagers have once again been awarded the prestigious Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport.
Adelle Larden, age 15, and Scott Larden, 17, were among five athletes recognized from the Vancouver Coastal region by the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC).
The pair won the award last year as well.
Adelle, of the Hwlitsum First Nation, was recognized for her achievements in lacrosse, volleyball and judo.
While Scott, also of the Hwlitsum First Nation, was recognized for his outstanding efforts in field lacrosse, box lacrosse and handball.
Winners chosen from B.C. regions
I·SPARC, in collaboration with the B.C. government, launched the regional nomination process in 2021, receiving nominations from each of I·SPARC’s six regions (Fraser, Interior, Northeast, Northwest, Vancouver Coastal, and Vancouver Island).
Applications were open to Indigenous youth athletes 25 years and younger who compete in performance sport and demonstrate a commitment to their education, culture, and promoting healthy and active lifestyles.
“These regional awards celebrate Indigenous youth excellence in sport, an important part of our government’s commitment to reconciliation,” said Premier John Horgan.
“Each year, it is with great pride that we partner with I·SPARC to acknowledge Indigenous youth who have stood out for their leadership, exceptional athleticism and exemplary commitment to their sport, community, and culture. Congratulations, you are an inspiration to us all.”
Winners' videos available
Due to the pandemic, the regional awards celebrations are not being held in-person this year.
As a way of honouring this year’s recipients, I·SPARC has produced a series of commemorative videos highlighting each of the region's athletes to celebrate their outstanding achievements.
The videos can be found on I·SPARC's YouTube channel and the Vancouver Coastal region video can be found here: https://youtu.be/lf9sMxm4i3w.
