Orienteering Nova Scotia 2024 Awards Voting

It worked last year so let’s try it again this year!

Rather than voting for the Orienteering NS Awards at our AGM, we are opening up online voting for the rest of this week. This will give members who are not attending the AGM a chance to vote.

Below are the nominations we received in each category. To vote, go to the link below and make your selections by February 16, 2025.

Click Here to vote for 2024 ONS Awards!

(Tip: Open the link in a separate window so you can review the paragraphs as you go)

2024 Orienteering NS Award Nominees:

Female Athlete of the Year (Sr)

Pam James: Pam was this year’s overall winner of the Nova Scotia Orienteering Series, winner in the Sr female division, as well as in the 55-64 age group. She competed in 13 of 16 races and won 5. All that while competing outside the province at the Canadian (COC), North American (NAOC) and US championships. Her COC results 2nd Middle 3rd Long, NAOC Middle 3rd Long 3rd Sprint 4th.

Cheryl Smith: Cheryl was just behind Pam in the Sr Female Nova Scotia Orienteering Series, and won the 45-55 age class, competing in 12 of 16 races and winning 6. She competed at the NAOC and Canadian Orienteering Championships as well, with a gold medal in the F35-45 sprint, a bronze in the F45-55 long, and a sixth place finish in the F45 middle at COCs.

Male Athlete of the Year (Sr)

Mats Wallberg: Mats took fifth this year in the Nova Scotia Orienteering Series and second in the M21-34 age group, competing in 9 events and winning 7 series races. This included the Bluenose Classic, our Nova Scotia Provincial Orienteering Championship. Mats showed excellent performance again this season, as well as consistent sportsmanship through sharing route choices and encouragement with athletes following events.

Paul Bottomley: Paul was this year's first place male, won the M45-54 class and placed third overall in the Nova Scotia Orienteering Series. Paul competed in 8 races this year winning three of them. While not racing, he may have put on an event or two as well.

Ed James: Ed took 12th in this year's Nova Scotia Orienteering Series but first in the M55-64 age group, competing in 7 events and winning 2 series races. Ed was the 7th place male in the NSOS series and attended this year's US Championships finishing 7th in the Sprint, 5th in the Middle, and 4th in the Long.

Geoff Marjoram: Geoff took fourth in this year's Nova Scotia Orienteering Series and first in the M21-34 age group, competing in 10 events and winning 4 series races. Additional to being a force on course, Geoff took on event organizing this year contributing event directing and course planning skills to our McDonald Park event.

Female Athlete of the Year (Jr)

Sophie Kent-Purcell: Sophie was the junior leader of the Nova Scotia Orienteering Series for the second year in a row, placing 9th overall and again winning the F17-20 age group. This year Sophie competed nationally and Internationally attending the Junior World Orienteering Championships, and Canadian and North American Orienteering Championships. In doing so Sophie ran the longest and hardest courses of our three local Females at the COC's and NAOC's, was the top of the three in the Knock out sprint. Sophies results: At COC long and middle 3rd, Sprint 3rd CAN, 4th NAOC, NAOC middle 4th and long 3rd. She continues to be eager to learn and grow in the sport, and shows sportsmanship through offering volunteer assistance.

Male Athlete of the Year (Jr)

Kaiden Brown: Kaiden was the M15-16 winner in the Nova Scotia Orienteering Series, first junior male and 11th overall. He competed in 9 races, with several wins in the intermediate categories. Kaiden placed first on the Intermediate course at the Bluenose Classic Provincial Championship. He continues to show steady improvement in his skill level, and has been seen readily volunteering his time to assist at events.

Official of the Year

Paul Bottomley: Paul took on the role of president this year in addition to organizing a 5 of our 16 Nova Scotia Orienteering Series events, and volunteering assistance at several others. In addition, he continues to be involved in mapping, figuring out tech such as Route Gadget and anything else needed to help grow our sport. Attended or participated in every event this year.

Pam James: Pam missed attending only one event this year, and put on a well received and very educational training course at Irishmans in the Spring. Pam was also the course planner for this year's Bluenose Classic, which was a successful return to Camelot Park. Pam can always be found mentoring upcoming Juniors, or at the center of great “How did you do” conversations at the end of events.

Cheryl Smith: In addition to attending or participating in every event this year, Cheryl organized 4 events this year and helped with Registration or just about everything else at a lot more. A highlight, Cheryl applied for and received a grant for a new map and development program at the Asitu'lisk education site; beginning a relationship with ONS and Nova Scotia's Mi'kmaq community that included the commissioning of the original artwork that now graces our team equipment.. Larger than all of that, Cheryl took on the Event Director position for the 2026 COC's to be held here in Nova Scotia.

Volunteer of the Year - Bob Kaill Award

Paul Bottomley: This is Paul’s second nomination for this year. As stated above, Paul took on the role of president this year in addition to organizing a 5 of our 16 Nova Scotia Orienteering Series events, and volunteering assistance at several others. In addition, he continues to be involved in mapping, figuring out tech such as Route Gadget and anything else needed to help grow our sport. Attended or participated in every event this year.

Jim Blanchard: Jim led the way this year in redeveloping old maps (bringing us back to Camelot Park), led the way in the development of new maps (continuing work on Centreville, Brigadoon, and Hobby Horse Farm). More significantly Jim is essential to helping beginners into the sport where his beginner clinics are regularly the first step into Orienteering. All that and he won the M65-74 class.

Cheryl Smith: This is Cheryl’s second nomination for this year. As stated above, in addition to attending or participating in every event this year, Cheryl organized 4 events this year and helped with Registration or just about everything else at a lot more. A highlight, Cheryl applied for and received a grant for a new map and development program at the Asitu'lisk education site; beginning a relationship with ONS and Nova Scotia's Mi'kmaq community that included the commissioning of original artwork that now graces our team equipment.. Larger than all of that, Cheryl took on the Event Director position for the 2026 COC's to be held here in Nova Scotia.