Tugrul Özer emphatically earned this award as he clinched the gold Medel in Men’s 10m Air Pistol, securing a Paris 2024 quota spot for Canada all while setting a new Pan Am Games record of 240.5. (The previous record was 237.3 set in 2019.) A truly exciting performance by Tugrul as he narrowly edged out James Hall of the USA in the final shot.

The SFC is very proud of Tugrul and is excited to see what the future holds. The entire county will be cheering for him as he sets his sights on upcoming challenges!

Female Athlete of the Year / Athlète féminine de l'année

This year the Female Athlete of the Year has been awarded to Shannon Westlake. Shannon has proven that dedication and hard work pay tangible dividends. Some people dream of success while Shannon makes it happen through determination, dedication, and persistence. Her accomplishments did not happen by chance or overnight but through commitment and from years of practices. Shannon Westlake deserves female athlete of the year because she is a triple threat.  She not only won prone at the Nationals; but did it with a new Canadian record.  She also won both 3P and air events - including the final in each event.  She has learned the value of hard work by working hard and as such, is an inspiration to a great many other athletes in Canada.

Shannon Westlake has put in many years into her shooting. As such it is not a complete surprize that she won bronze in Women’s 3P Rifle at the recent Pan Am Games and secured a Paris 2024 Olympic quota spot for Canada. And this fantastic win was a real nail-bitter, coming down to the last shot, medaling with a score of 446.5 in the final. America won gold (458.4) and silver (457.2); both beating the previous old Pan Am Record of 454.9. 

Some other notable accomplishments include:

Naomi Tucker is awarded the Eddy Mark Shaske Memorial Award / Prix en mémoire d'Eddy Mark Shaske (Forte représentation du pays aux compétitions internationales par un tireur junior)

Naomi is recognized as the top athlete in Newfoundland and Labrador who competed in various Canadian events in 2023. At the Canadian Junior National Championships, she shot a personal best in air rifle and achieved a qualifying score for the Identified Junior Air Rifle Team. In Saskatoon she competed in her first 3P event at the High-Performance Team Trials and went on to the 2023 Canadian National Rifle Championships in Trois Rivieres, QC where she won a gold medal, set a new Canadian Junior National record, and earned a spot on the Junior National Team. Naomi also won a bronze medal in the Air Rifle Women-Expert Class for Air Rifle. She has also won the Premier’s Athletic Award for the past three years in recognition as a top performing youth in all Provincial sports. Her athletic abilities, combined with her dedication to sportsmanship and continued development sets her apart. As such she exemplifies and embodies the values and spirit that the Eddy Mark Shaske Memorial Award seeks to promote

Ernie Sopsich Memorial Fund (Junior shooter) is awarded to Yvette Young / Bourse en l'honneur d'Ernie Sopsich (tireur junior)

It is a distinct honour to award the Ernie Sopsich Memorial Fund Award to Yvette Young.
A perfect role model and a clear example what all junior shooters should aspire to. Yvette contributes to a collegial atmosphere and contributes to a positive atmosphere of any event she attends. Already a committed volunteer she is ready to offer her help wherever it is needed. This promising athlete won a gold medal at the Grand Prix, a bronze medal at the National Junior Championship and she participated in the InterShoot

competition in Holland.

Sincere congratulations on behalf of the SFC and the entire shooting community. Dedicated rising athletes like Yvette, serve as important role models to a new generation of Canadian target shooters that will allow our sport to thrive and prosper for years to come.

Coach of the Year / Entraineur de l'année - Yulun (Alan) Zhao and Miya Song

Alan Zhao and Miya Song have been jointly awarded the 2023 SFC Coach of the Year Award. Dedicated coaches like Alan and Miya help ensure that Canada will see a new generation of target shooters emerge to allow our sport to thrive and prosper for years to come. As stated by the SFC Rifle Council Chair Guillaume Paré:

“The future of our sport needs a lot of junior athletes, and proactive coaches like them, are exactly what we need.”

Their professionalism, commitment and hard work make them exemplary role models for everyone around them. Their sense of teamwork, their polite assistance and genuine dedication to success that help not only their own athletes but also match directors and any other participants who are fortunate to cross their path. Their enthusiasm, generous behavior and kind treatment of others leave lasting impressions wherever they go. SFC looks forward seeing these two extraordinary coaches spread their formula for success across Canada.

Official of the Year / Officiel de l'année

This year Manon Normandin was awarded the Official of the Year. Manon Normandin has truly earned the nomination of Official of the Year. In the words of one of her nomination letters: “She never hesitates to help educate athletes, parents, coaches and volunteers on the rules for the events in a positive and understanding way.” And these sentiments are a recurring theme: “Every match she officiates is well run and the athletes come away with a positive experience.”

Some of Manon’s recent accomplishments for include: