TORONTO, ON, January 30, 2019 – Nominations for the 2019 edition of the 5 to Watch – Canada’s Sports Business Awards are now being accepted. The awards are presented annually to sports business professionals who have achieved remarkable career success prior to the age of 40.
Sports business professionals from all sectors of the industry are eligible for the competition. Canadians working outside the country are also eligible. The competition is open to Canadian citizens who have five or more years of experience in the business of sport and were under the age of 40 as of December 31, 2018. “Field of play” staff (e.g. coaches, players, general managers) and sports journalists (e.g. reporters, commentators, writers) are not eligible.
The awards are sponsored by the Sport & Event Marketing Program at George Brown College. Any member of the public may submit a nominee although candidates may not nominate themselves. Candidates may receive multiple nominations provided they are from different individuals. Nominations will remain open until noon EST on Friday, March 1. Candidates may only be submitted through the awards website at www.5towatch.ca. After nominations close, the entire candidate pool will be screened by a review committee in March. Award winners will be determined by a selection committee comprised of senior sports business executives from across the country.
A well written nomination is critical for candidates to be considered for an award. The most important element in the evaluation process will be whether the nomination demonstrates that the candidate’s actions have driven identifiable results for their organization. Judges will look for detailed information on each nominee’s accomplishments including awards, success metrics and examples of creative problem solving and innovation. Nominees should be regarded as leaders and have uncommon influence for a person their age in both their workplace and industry sector. Full details on edibility and the nomination process can be found at www.5towatch.ca.
The 2019 winners will be announced in May and celebrated at an awards show in June 2019 at the Waterfront Campus of George Brown College. Past winners have come from a wide variety of backgrounds since the awards inception in 2012. A sixth award was added to the 5 to Watch in 2014 to acknowledge outstanding graduates of George Brown’s Sport & Event Marketing Program. The Alumni Achievement Award is voted on by alumni of the program and recognizes a dynamic sports business professional who has also given back to the world of sport through coaching, mentoring or volunteering.
Now in its eighth year, the awards are hosted by George Brown College in partnership with the Globe and Mail. To date, over $300k has been raised for student scholarships and bursaries. Sponsorship plays a critical role in the fundraising initiative with BMO, Canadian Tire, Canadian Football League, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, SDI Marketing and TSN included among the 5 to Watch’s Premier Partners.
About George Brown College
Toronto’s George Brown College has established a reputation for equipping students with the skills, industry experience and credentials to pursue the careers of their choice. The college offers programs from its three campuses located across the downtown core. George Brown offers 167 full-time programs and 191 continuing education certificates/designations across a wide variety of professions to a student body of over 30,000 (full-time enrolment) students, including 23 per cent international students; and over 68,000 continuing education registrants. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships and degrees. www.georgebrown.ca
