Lalji to be honoured at Sport BC’s 55th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards on March 9, 2023
VANCOUVER, BC - January 25, 2023 — Sport BC and KidSport BC are pleased to announce that Farhan Lalji has been named the recipient of the KidSport Community Champion Award for 2023. The award will be presented at Sport BC’s 55th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards on Thursday, March 9 at the Vancouver Convention Centre East.
“Receiving this honor is very humbling and rewarding. KidSport has always been a natural organization for me to be involved with, given the amount of time I’ve spent as a volunteer coach and builder,” Farhan shared when he learned of the award. “I have seen the direct benefits of both what sport can do for all kids, and how KidSport can give those kids that don’t have financial means an opportunity to access sport. Without KidSport so many kids would not be impacted by people and experiences that could change their lives, so to assist them in any way is a privilege.”
The KidSport Community Champion award is presented to an individual who has gone above and beyond in their service to KidSport. Past recipients include former BC Lions Tommy Europe (2014) and Paul McCallum (2013), Olympians Jon Montgomery (2019), Evan Dunfee (2018), Kelsey Serwa (2015) and Mike Janyk (2012), and most recently, Richmond hotel manager, Sanjeet Sadana (2020).
Farhan has been a fixture in sports media as a reporter with TSN for more than 25 years. Throughout his career, he has reported from some of the biggest sporting events in the world, including multiple Super Bowls, four Olympic Games, the Stanley Cup Final, College Football Playoff, NBA Finals, Grey Cup, MLB and NBA All-Star Games, and golf’s U.S. Open and PGA Championship.
In addition to his work as an award-winning sports reporter, Farhan has dedicated many years to the amateur sport sector, developing and coaching football at the grassroots level and advocating to provide more kids with opportunities through sport as an ambassador for KidSport. Farhan has used his public platform throughout his illustrious career to promote the benefits of sport participation and raise awareness of the impact that the KidSport program provides in helping to level the playing field for underprivileged and marginalized kids. Most recently, Farhan acted as the official ambassador for KidSport’s national Give the Gift of Sport campaign in 2021, and today continues to shine a light on the KidSport program and its role in helping to provide opportunities for kids in sport.
“The Athlete of the Year Awards is a true celebration of sport in our province,” says Sport BC’s President and CEO, Rob Newman. “We are incredibly grateful to Farhan for his many contributions to supporting the KidSport program and for highlighting the positive impact that sport participation can have in the lives of our children and youth. This is a well-deserved honour, and we look forward to celebrating him and the other finalists and award recipients at our upcoming Athlete of the Year Awards on March 9.”
“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the KidSport program, which was first established by Sport BC’s staff and board back in 1993. Since then, the organization has become a truly national entity helping nearly 1 million kids across the country participate in organized sport,” says KidSport BC’s Fundraising Manager, Angela Crowther. “Recognizing Farhan for his long-standing support and continued contributions as a KidSport ambassador is a perfect fit as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the program.”
Tickets for Sport BC’s 55th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards are available through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/55th-annual-athlete-of-the-year-awards-tickets-506714866807