Awards

GENERAL AWARDS

The Trumpeter Swan is Awarded each year to the winner of the Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championship.The Brenda Speirs Award is presented to the top Canadian at the Canadian Balloon Championships.

CBA SAFETY AWARD

This award in memory of Bill Traynor, is sponsored by the Standard Life Insurance Company and is awared on an annual basis to an individual, club, or business who have contributed to the safety of ballooning in Canada.

JOAN MARTIN AWARD

he purpose of the award is to recognize the outstanding contribution of certain individuals to the sport of hot air ballooning in Canada. Individuals can be nominated in several areas.

COMPETITION SUPPORT AWARD

This award is presented by the Canadian Balloon Association Events Committee. The receipients of this award have dedicated much time and effort to organizing and managing events.

OTHER AWARDS

These awards are presented to balloonists and team members in various areas from FAI awards and support, to various other competitive awards and suport. Records are also recorded for your viewing.

 

1. TECHNICAL Candidates will have contributed significantly to the development/modification of balloon systems. Innovation is central to nomination under this section. We should not consider simple classification changes that can be obtained from Transport Canada, but instead we should look for real leadership and innovation.

Candidates will have contributed significantly to the development/modification of balloon systems. Innovation is central to nomination under this section. We should not consider simple classification changes that can be obtained from Transport Canada, but instead we should look for real leadership and innovation.

2. COMPETITION Candidates will have demonstrated success both domestically and in the international sphere. In addition to having significantly contributed to the development of competition flying in Canada we should also look for leadership. The winner of the Award will have been near the top in major events, both in Canada and Internationally. He or she will have also played a significant role as an organizer, ambassador or innovator in competition.

Candidates will have demonstrated success both domestically and in the international sphere. In addition to having significantly contributed to the development of competition flying in Canada we should also look for leadership. The winner of the Award will have been near the top in major events, both in Canada and Internationally. He or she will have also played a significant role as an organizer, ambassador or innovator in competition.

3. CONTRIBUTION TO CANADIAN BALLOONING Under this heading we should consider the contribution of candidates, from Balloon Clubs, Associations or the general balloon pilot population. We could recognize specific things done by an individual for our sport. They could include outstanding contributions to such things as Pilot Training, Safety Seminars, Teaching and organizing non-competitive rallies.

Under this heading we should consider the contribution of candidates, from Balloon Clubs, Associations or the general balloon pilot population. We could recognize specific things done by an individual for our sport. They could include outstanding contributions to such things as Pilot Training, Safety Seminars, Teaching and organizing non-competitive rallies.

4. ADVANCEMENT OF OUR SPORT – RECORDS Internationally, Canadian balloon pilots are recognized by our successes in breaking records and winning international competitive events. Under this section we should recognize individuals who have established significant international records.Canadian balloon pilots are recognized by our successes in breaking records and winning international competitive events. Under this section we should recognize individuals who have established significant international records.

5. OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS OR ACHIEVEMENTS There may be cases where an individual’s contribution to our sport is very great but will not fall easily into any category. The Joan Martin Award jury may grant the award under an open grouping.

There may be cases where an individual’s contribution to our sport is very great but will not fall easily into any category. The Joan Martin Award jury may grant the award under an open grouping.

The Joan Martin Award jury is composed of previous winners of the award. Nominations can be submitted to any one of the previous winners or the CBA awards committee.

 

CANADIAN CHAMPIONS
1979 – Dale Lang
1980 – Harold Warner
1981 – Harold Warner
1982 – Dan Balisky
1983 – Alastair Russell
1984 – Hokan Colting
1985 – Del Michaud
1986 – Garry Lockyer
1987 – David Gleed
1988 – Stan Wereschuk
1989 – Dale Ritchie
1990 – John Davidson
1991 – Dan Balisky
1993 – David Gleed
1993 – Ray Ewing
1994 – Dale Ritchie
1995 – Denis Unsworth
1996 – Albert Devries
1997 – Denis Unsworth
1998 – Bill Whelan
2000 – Denis Unsworth
2001 – Mary Anne Stevens
2002 – Marvin Schultz
2003 – Guy Lussier
2004 – Mark Lang
2005 – Dale Ritchie
2008 – Dale Ritchie
2011 – Jason Adams
2013 – David Gleed
2015– Dale Ritchie
2016– Cliff Skocdopole
2017 – Jason Adams
2021 – Jason Adams

BRENDA SPEIRS MEMORIAL TROPHY
1985 – Brenda Speirs
1986 – David Kinsella
1987 – Rick Bobroske
1988 – Bill Lester
1989 – Leigh Spicer
1990 – John Davidson
1991 – Trevor George
1992 – Jamie Kinghorn
1993 – Sebastien Msuya
1994 – Jason Adams
1995 – Julie Giles
1996 – Albert Devries
1998 – Sandra Shannon
2000 – Jacques Brouard
2001 – Guy Lussier
2002 – Marvin Schultz
2003 – Sebastien Marcoux
2004 – Mark Lang
2005 – Gary Fehr
2011 – Brant Leatherdale
2015 – Hal Cooper
2016 – Jonathan Gates
2017 – Sean Campbell
2021 – Martin Unsworth

CBA SAFETY AWARD RECIPIENTS 
1990 – Dennis Myrthu
1991 – Liz Beilby
1994 – Stan Wereschuk
1995 – Joe Scoles – Transport Canada
1999 – Malcolm McLeod
1990 – Dennis Myrthu
1991 – Liz Beilby
1994 – Stan Wereschuk
1995 – Joe Scoles – Transport Canada
1999 – Malcolm McLeod

JOAN MARTIN AWARD RECIPIENTS
1982 – Brian Hval
1984 – Tom Sheppard
1985 – Wayne Metler
1986 – Harold Warner
1987 – Debbie (Sobb) McCormick
1989 – Garry Lockyer
1992 –  Alex Nagorski
1996 – Cathy Knuchel
1998 – Mary Anne Stevens
2001 – Danielle Francoeur
2001 – Leo Burman
2002 – Karen Rosenthal
2004 – Dennis Myrthu
2012  – Sandra Rolfe

FAI AWARD RECIPIENTS
1987 – Montgolfiere Diploma – Harold Warner
1991 – FAI Airsport Medal – Garry Lockyer
1991 – FAI Airsport Medal – Karalee Coleman
1991 – FAI Bronze Medal – Rhoda Hache
1998 – Tissandier Diploma – Alex Nagorski
2002 – Santos-Dumont Gold Airship Medal – Hokan Colting
2014 – Montgolfiere Diploma Sandra Rolfe
2016 – Montgolfiere diploma Sebastien Msuya

CBA SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
1998 – Tara George
1999 – Kathleen Andersen
2000 – Ken Rolland

CBA COMPETITION SUPPORT AWARD RECIPIENTS
1980 – Carole-Lee Eckhardt and Ron Lessoway
1981 – Carole-Lee Eckhardt and Ron Lessoway
1982 – Tim Earle
1983 – Garry Lockyer
1985 – Joan Gunn
1986 – Karalee Coleman
1987 – Bud Thropp
1988 – Leigh Spicer
1989 – Alberta Free Balloonist Society
1990 – Malcolm McLeod
1991 – City of Saint – Jean-sur-Richelieu
1994 – Murray Schultz
1995 – Cathy Knuchel
1998 – Grande Praire Hot Air Balloon Events Association
1999 – Carolyn Connolly
2000 – Lucien Desbiens
2012 – Lory Desrosiers
2021 – Jonathan Perron-Clow
2022 – Debbie Sobb

 

Past Champions left to right- taken at 2017 Canadian Championship:Dale Lang-1979, Bill Whelan-1998, Del Michaud-1985, Cliff Skocdopole- 2016, David Gleed-1987,1992,2013,  Jason Adams- 2011,2017, Dale Ritchie-1989, 1994, 2005,2008, 2015, Garry Lockyer-1986, Stan Wereschuk-1988