The City of Airdrie is looking to Airdrie residents to nominate people who are deserving of the term, "Elite Athlete." 

The 2018 Elite Athlete Awards program hopes to honour athletes in Airdrie who have made exceptional contributions to their sport, as well as having significant community involvement, all while being tied to Airdrie.

Community Developer Kim Harris says the city started the program in 2010 to recognize the elite athletes in various sports coming from Airdrie.  She says there are three main criteria for the awards.

"They have to be living in Airdrie for a minimum of three years, they have to have given back significantly to the community with some type of contribution and the other thing is they must have obtained an exceptional level athletic achievement at a sanctioned national or international competition."

The 'contribution to the community' criteria is the most important one in Harris' mind.  "I think that's a really important piece.  How we get a legacy of people being in sport is from the people giving their time and help that sport progress.  We feel that's a really important way for sport to grow in and within Airdrie as well as produce other athletes at the level that these elite athletes are at."

Harris says that last year they didn't receive any nominations for the awards but they've had some world-class athletes who have won previously.

"We had Eric Pothier who was an Olympian in doubles luge.  We also had Keely Brown who was born and raised in Airdrie and was the Canadian Inter-University curling champion in 2014, the Canadian Junior Curling Champion and in 2014 she was the World Junior Curling Champion.  That's the kind of standard we're looking for."

The nomination deadline is tomorrow (January 15).  Go here to fill out an online nomination form on the city's website.  The winners will be announced in the spring and will take their place on the wall honouring Elite Athletes at Genesis Place.  

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com