Celebrating the Leaders, Builders, and Champions of Canada’s Cross-Country Skiing Community
From trail groomers to jack rabbit coaches, Canada’s cross-country skiing community is built on individuals who go above and beyond for the sport we love. Every year, Nordiq Canada receives nominations from our 66,000-strong community, sharing stories of the volunteers, coaches, officials, groomers and more who make our sport possible. These individuals are the heart of our trails, and their impact reaches far beyond the snow. The annual Nordiq Canada Awards are a chance to recognize and celebrate the people who go above and beyond to support and grow cross-country skiing across the country.
This year, we’re proud to recognize the following recipients:
Dirk Van Wijk – Dave Rees Award
Leigh Heie – Firth Award
John Cameron – Distinguished Volunteer Award
Fred Bushell – Distinguished Volunteer Award
Daniel Bellerose – Distinguished Volunteer Award
Mathieu Laberge – Media Recognition Award
Polar – Sponsor of the Year
Leaving Tracks and Planting Loonies: Dirk Van Wijk’s Enduring Legacy in Canadian Skiing
This year’s Dave Rees Award goes to Dirk Van Wijk, a lifelong contributor whose influence spans more than five decades. Dirk’s impact is wide-reaching: from his own years as a national-level athlete, to his role in building Nakkertok Nordic into a foremost ski club, to his leadership as a world-renowned snow groomer.
Dirk has personally invested in land, trail-building, and snowmaking infrastructure, transforming Nakkertok into a high-performance venue and daily training ground for Eastern Canadian athletes. He has led grooming at three Olympic Games and multiple World Cups, elevating Canada’s reputation for world-class event hosting. He’s also mentored countless volunteers and officials across the country, always sharing his time and expertise to build capacity. Dirk’s vision, generosity, and humility have left an indelible mark on the Canadian ski landscape.
“Skiing was always a big part of my life growing up,” Dirk shared. “I skied with my parents when I was five or six, then got into racing and competed at the World Junior Championships in 1979. Years later, when my own kids started skiing, I felt Ottawa was missing a true Nordic centre. I had a vision for lit trails, a stadium, buildings…a place to build community and performance.”
In 2003, Dirk and his wife Claudia purchased the land that would become the home of Nakkertok South. “It’s been an ongoing project built on love of the community. Nakkertok’s members and volunteers are some of my best friends. I still love getting out and working on new trails.”
Dirk also played a key role at the 2010, 2018, and 2022 Olympic Winter Games, where he served as a lead groomer and also posted about his adventures through a blog. “I was so surprised with how many people were reading the blog,” he said, referring to the posts he and his wife Claudia wrote during the Games. “A lot of people didn’t know how much goes on behind the scenes. It’s not what you see on TV.” The story resonated with Canadians, with multiple news articles and a CBC News segment featuring his Olympic grooming journey. Watch it here.
At the Games in Korea and China, Dirk buried a loonie under the finish line for good luck, but in China it needed to be a quiet gesture carried out mid-groom, in the dead of night. “In China, I just opened the window and threw the loonie out of the machine,” he laughed. “It was a good luck thing to do.”
Dirk’s efforts remind us that a single person’s vision can leave a legacy. That same spirit of care shines in the work of our next award recipient.
From Jackrabbits to a National Movement: Leigh Heie’s Journey of Joy and Empowerment
The Firth Award, named after Olympians Sharon and Shirley Firth, is presented to a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to Canadian cross-country skiing. This year’s recipient, Leigh Heie of the Camrose Ski Club, exemplifies that legacy through her 15+ years of coaching and leadership.
Leigh’s path to coaching began when her children were in Jackrabbits and another mom asked if she’d help coach. “I said, ‘I don’t even know how to ski,’ and she said, ‘It’s fine, it’s fine… just come out for one night. You just fall and get back up and have fun.'” Leigh went out that evening. It was dark, cold, and wintery, but everyone was smiling, the kids were having fun, and parents were pitching in too. That night, something clicked and she was hooked. That intro grew into a coaching career that has guided athletes from Bunnyrabbits to the Youth Olympic Games.
“I think it’s my superpower that I didn’t grow up skiing,” she explains. “It helps me connect with people who find it intimidating. I can take that away and help them feel like they belong.”
Creating belonging is at the core of everything Leigh does, especially in her work with young athletes. “My role is to believe in them and then help them build that same belief in themselves and in each other,” she says. “Teens especially struggle with self-doubt, figuring out who they are and where they belong. If you can create that sense of belonging, the results will follow.”
That sense of connection became even more important following the loss of her son Ole, a young athlete on the team. “The team became a family,” she reflects. “We had to support each other, and we had to make it fun again.”
“Everyone came together,” she adds. “The kids were there for me, and my community became my lifeline.”
“Ole was all about encouraging others,” Leigh says. “We bring Ole into our practices and keep him with us, and it helps.” Through the Ski Like Ole Foundation, Leigh and her family have created a movement about joy, encouragement, and community. The annual Ski Like Ole Lapalooza has rallied thousands of skiers across Canada and the world to log kilometres, share stories, and raise funds for skier scholarships. Live Like Ole now extends to Run Like Ole trail nights, Ride Like Ole events, and a message: sport is about empowering others.
Leigh nurtures that same spirit at every practice. Athletes start and end each session by sharing something with the group. “It builds connection,” she says. “There’s a lot of meaning in being able to share and really be listened to.”
On winning the Firth Award, Leigh is humbled. “I didn’t expect this at all…it completely caught me off guard. To be recognized alongside trailblazers like Sharon and Shirley Firth, and so many women I admire, is incredibly meaningful. I’m deeply honoured.”
Leigh’s leadership and commitment to creating spaces where young people feel seen and empowered make her a remarkable coach and a truly deserving recipient of the Firth Award.
Honouring John Cameron: A Champion for Skiing in Nova Scotia
John Cameron has been a driving force in Nova Scotia’s ski community for over two decades. As President of Cross Country Nova Scotia (CCNS) from 2016 to 2022, John helped elevate the organization’s profile, streamline operations, and lead it from Tier 3 to Tier 2 status within Sport Nova Scotia. His legacy includes launching a travelling ski fleet for schools, forging partnerships with municipal rec departments, and co-leading a national pilot program to welcome New Canadians to skiing.
Whether coaching at the club level, volunteering at races, or training new coaches, John’s dedication is unwavering. He continues to be a mentor, builder, and advocate whose impact has helped make skiing more accessible and inclusive across the province.
Fueled by Joy and Dedication: Fred Bushell’s 30 Years of Coaching and Community
A fixture at Rossland’s Black Jack Ski Club, Fred Bushell has been coaching and volunteering in the Kootenays for nearly 30 years. From driving vans full of young athletes across B.C., to organizing dryland camps and multi-day adventures, Fred’s energy and warmth have shaped generations of skiers. He has served as chief of race, zone rep for the B.C. Winter Games, and mentor to many now-coaches.
Fred is known for building strong relationships with his athletes and for creating a joyful, welcoming environment that keeps kids in the sport. Despite his deep commitment, Fred has always refused compensation. He gives his time purely out of love for skiing and community.
Hundreds of Kids, One Passionate Leader: Daniel Bellerose’s Legacy of Youth Skiing
In Lanaudière, Quebec, Daniel Bellerose has been the backbone of youth ski racing for nearly two decades. As the organizer and race director behind the NorAm Youth Championships, Daniel coordinates more than 100 volunteers annually to host one of Canada’s most beloved youth events. The 30th edition in 2025 brought together over 400 young skiers from across Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick.
Daniel has also led the Classique Défi regional final, served in numerous technical official roles across the province, and supported athlete education and inclusion initiatives. He is known for his tireless energy, his attention to detail, and his unwavering belief that every child should have the chance to fall in love with skiing.
Beyond the Finish Line: Mathieu Laberge’s Gift for Storytelling in Sport
A journalist with Sportcom, Mathieu Laberge is this year’s recipient of the Media Recognition Award for his thoughtful, timely, and engaging coverage of Canada’s World Cup skiers. Mathieu consistently goes beyond results to tell the human stories behind the performances, helping Canadians connect with our athletes on and off the trails. His professionalism and passion for sport storytelling make him an invaluable member of the ski community.
Powering Performance, One Heartbeat at a Time: Celebrating Polar’s Impact
Polar has been named Sponsor of the Year for their outstanding support of Team Canada. By providing heart rate watches and monitors to National Ski Team athletes, along with financial backing, Polar equips our teams with the tools they need to train, recover, and compete at on the world stage. Polar’s commitment to high-performance sport is appreciated in every heartbeat of our athletes.
Thank you to all of our 2025 award winners for helping shape the future of cross-country skiing in Canada.