Ontario Volleyball holds a bi-annual awards banquet to honour those volunteers and corporate partners that have distinguished themselves through the years by providing their time, effort and support to the promotion and development of volleyball in the province. The next banquet will take place in 2011. The OVA also presents other awards on a yearly, or interim basis. The awards presented are all described below.

Scarborough Solars Award
Awarded annually to a minimum of two (2) Ontario athletes (equal number of male and female athletes) who have been selected to, or who have the ability to, represent Ontario/Canada in international volleyball or beach volleyball competitions. Applications are due January 31st of each year.

For more information on the Scarborough Solars Award, including selection criteria, and to view the application form, click here.

Volunteer Awards

Quarter Century Club
Presented bi-annually at the OVAtion Awards Banquet to individuals who have contributed a minimum of 25 years of services to the OVA. Click here for the full story.

Doug Robbie Volunteer of the Year Award
Presented bi-annually at the OVAtion Awards Banquet to the individual who had the greatest impact on the promotion and development of volleyball for the OVA at the regional or provincial level in the past year.

Special Achievement Award
Presented bi-annually at the OVAtion Awards Banquet to an individual to recognize an outstanding contribution to volleyball at the provincial level for 15 years or more.

Achievement Award
Presented to bi-annually at the OVAtion Awards Banquet to an individual who has had an impact on volleyball development at the regional or provincial level for 10 years or more.

Recognition Award
Presented bi-annually at the OVAtion Awards Banquet to an individual who has been involved in the development of volleyball at the club or local community level for 5 years or more.

Corporate and Partner Awards
Awarded to a corporation, or partner of the OVA that has made significant contributions to the Association and/or its programs.

Club Recognition Awards
Presented bi-annually at the OVAtion Awards Banquet to clubs that have had a significant impact on the development of volleyball in the Province for a period of at least 10 years.

Athlete / Coach / Officials Awards

History:The Ken Davies Memorial Award is one of the most prestigious awards given by the OVA, and the one that is closest to our hearts. As the years go by Ken Davies remains in our memory as powerful as ever. A native of Kendal, Ontario, Ken's outstanding athletic abilities allowed him to excel in many sports. He was an MVP on his soccer, basketball and volleyball teams, as well as Athlete of the Year at Clarke H.S. in Newcastle. He was chosen to Team Ontario for the 1989 Canada Games in Saskatoon which, as he put it, "was the dream of a lifetime". According to his coach, "he was a quietly intense and dedicated worker. He was one of the most unselfish and coachable players I have ever worked with." Shortly after the Canada Games Ken was returning home from a tournament when his life was tragically taken from him by a drunk driver. Click here for an athlete’s prayer that was found by Ken Davies bedside when he died.

Click here   for a list of past Ken Davies Award Recipients.

Evelyn Holick Award
Presented annually at the Ontario Championships to a female Youth Division athlete who demonstrates the qualities of determination, leadership, athletic ability, sportsmanship and fair play.

History:Throughout her years on the volleyball scene, Evelyn Holick (1930-2006) accomplished many firsts in her life. Evelyn was the first female "National" level official in Ontario. She was the Head Coach for Ontario's first Women's Provincial Team in the first Canada Games. Her accomplishments and commitment to volleyball established Evelyn as the first role model for female players, coaches and officials in the Province.

Click here  for a list of past Evelyn Holick Award Recipients.

Mike Bugarski Coach of the Year Award
Presented bi-annually at the OVAtion Awards Banquet to two outstanding coaches (one female, one male) for their success in the previous season and for their contribution to the development of our sport in the province.

History:Mike Bugarski (1936-1992) was a club coach, National Official, Provincial Official’s Chair, clinician, and high school coach. He was a volunteer that unselfishly contributed thousands of hours to the development of athletes and leaders in the sport for over two decades.

Developmental Coach of the Year Award
Presented bi-annually at the OVAtion Awards Banquet to two outstanding coaches (one female, one male) for their history in developing athletes/ teams within the OVA and for their contribution to the development of our sport in the province.

Officials' Committee Award of Merit
Established in 1998 and presented biannually at the OVAtion Awards Banquet by the Officials' Committee in recognition of dedicated service to volleyball in Ontario.

Child and Heese Trophy

Presented annually to the Men & Women Provincial Champions in Beach Volleyball Tier I.

History:John Child and Mark Heese are two Ontario athletes that were bronze medalists in beach volleyball at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and competed in the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics. They developed their interest and skills in volleyball through the OVA indoor club program and went on to great success on the beach and continue to present their Province and country internationally in beach volleyball. 

For a complete listing of past OVA awards recipients, select the link below:

Ontario Volleyball - List of Past Award Recipients

Ontario Olympic Athletes

Click here for a list of Ontario Olympic Athletes