Runway of Recognition

Thorold's Runway of Recognition Awards are a community led initiate to honour and celebrate the names and deeds of those individuals whose athletic abilities have brought fame to themselves and their community and of those individuals whose interest in and work for sport has resulted in a climate which benefited athletes and athletics. Learn more about the Runway of Recognition Constitution.

Want to nominate someone?

Click on the button below and fill out the online form before May 1, 2025. Up to ten inductees are selected on an annual basis. Inductees will be presented with a plaque for their recognition.

Nomination Form

Open the Door Scholarship Program

The White Family Foundation funds the Open Door Scholarship Program to bring equal educational opportunities for exemplary student-athletes from the City of Thorold from all backgrounds to attend college and university without financial barriers.

Two eligible student-athletes will be awarded up to $10,000 annually for up to four years. Applications are due by May 1st, 2025. Click below to view the eligibility requirements.

Learn More

Induction Ceremony - Save the Date - Monday, June 16th!

Inductees and award winners will be honoured at the Runway of Recognition Induction Ceremony on Monday, June 16, 2025 at Amici's Banquet and Conference Centre. Family, friends, residents and community members will be invited to purchase tickets to attend the event soon!

Nomination Criteria

Community members can nominate an individual or sports team to receive an award. To be eligible to receive the nomination, nominees must fit one of the following criteria:

Athlete Inductee

Athletes to be considered for admission to the Thorold Runway of Recognition must have been outstanding in their athletic field of endeavor or must have achieved better than average proficiency in a number of sports, even if not reaching the absolute top level in any one, in competition against peer athletes. This involves those competing on a strictly local level and those going on to district, provincial, national and international events, as well as those who enter professional sports.
Any Athlete nominated to the Thorold Runway of Recognition must have retired from active field participation in the sport(s) for which he/she is nominated for a period not less than three years (dating from the end of the season of the sport(s) for which he/she has been nominated). An athlete may be nominated even though he/she has not been retired for the mandatory three years if he/she has reached the age of fifty years.

Builder Inductee

Builders are defined as officials (referees, umpires, etc.), executives, trainers, coaches, etc., whose work for sport over an extended period of time have been outstanding, whether it be in the organization of leagues and facilities, achieving a high degree of success in coaching teams and/or individuals, keeping a league or team alive, providing services of a consistently high level over an extended period of time, etc. However, just because an individual has worked many years for a sport as a builder, does not necessarily mean inclusion in the Thorold Runway of Recognition. His/her work over that period of time, or over most of it, must have been of a consistently high level with regard to services provided or results achieved.

Team Inductee

Teams shall be eligible for recognition by the Committee under the following criteria. Each team nominated for recognition shall be judged on merit by the Committee. A team for Wall purposes is defined as "any group of two or more athletes engaged in the same sport, who work together as a unit in that sport." The team may be made up of members of the same sex or the sexes may be intermixed. A figure skating pair, tennis doubles, curling team, cross country running team, etc., are defined as teams for our purposes. A boxer and his manager do not constitute a team.

Awards Available

Team of the Year
Irene McInnes Female Athlete of the Year
Wilfred Slater Male Athlete of the Year
Daryl Mahler Award for Coaching Excellence
Albert Ciancio Memorial ‘Friend of Sport’ Award

Congratulations to our 2024 Inductees and Award Recipients

They were honoured on June 10, 2024 at John Michaels Banquet Hall.

Runway Inductees:

Gary Mills (Athlete – Skeet Shooting)
Nicole Venditti (Athlete – Rowing)
Sean Bentivoglio (Athlete – Hockey)
Andrew Bosco (Builder – Figure Skating)
Bob Elliott (Builder – Runway of Recognition)

Award Winners:

Team of the Year: Scorpions Cheer Team
Irene McInnes Female Athlete of the Year: Grace Pyatt – Volleyball
Wilfrid Slater Male Athlete of the Year: TJ Woods – Track & Field
Daryl Mahler Coaching Excellence Award: Mike Bolibruck – Hockey
Albert Ciancio Memorial ‘Friend of Sport’ Award: Linda Saldarelli