Newmarket Sport Awards & Sports Hall of Fame

Athlete of the Year - Sponsored by The Chris Cartwright Team

Recognizes an individual athlete(s) who has demonstrated exceptional performance, dedication, and sportsmanship throughout the year in their chosen sport. This award celebrates excellence in athletic achievement and contribution to their team or sport community.

Coach of the Year - Sponsored by Signarama

Honours a coach who has made a significant impact on their athletes and sport community through leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to athlete development.

Team of the Year - Sponsored by Riverwalk Wealth

Celebrates a team that has demonstrated outstanding achievement, unity, and sportsmanship over the past year, both in competition and in community involvement.

Youth Athlete of the Year

Acknowledges a young athlete (under 18 yrs of age) who shows exceptional promise, commitment, and sportsmanship, both on and off the field.

Herb Cain Memorial Award

Recognizes an individual whose volunteer contributions have significantly enhanced the local sporting community. This person may serve as an organizer, administrator, event helper, or supporter behind the scenes.

Community Spirit Award - Sponsored by Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home

Honours an individual, group, or organization that embodies the values of community, inclusion, and support through sport in the Town of Newmarket. This award recognizes those who make sport a force for connection and positive change.

Inclusive Sport Award

Recognizes an individual, team, or organization that has made outstanding efforts to remove barriers and create inclusive opportunities in sport — including para sport — for people of all abilities, backgrounds, and identities. This award celebrates those who champion equity, accessibility, and belonging across all levels of participation.

A Sport shall be an athletic activity deemed so by the Newmarket Sports Hall of Fame Induction Committee (which is comprised of Town staff).  The Committee will primarily refer to sports recognized by National and International governing bodies to determine what will be deemed as eligible.

Eligibility

Athletes and Teams - An individual or team that has excelled in sport(s) in competition with peer athletes or teams.

Builder - A builder is an individual whose interest in and work for sport resulted in a climate which benefited sport in Newmarket.

Nomination Process

Nominations to the Sports Hall of Fame will be open once every two years. During the nomination period, nominations may be submitted by athletes, media and any member of the community with an interest in sport in the Town of Newmarket.  Nominators are encouraged to supply as much supporting detail as possible while completing the nomination.  The Committee will be responsible to obtain any additional research and validate the factual basis of each submission.

Level of Achievement

An athlete or team's level of achievement in competitive sport, more than any other consideration should determine their candidacy for the Hall of Fame.  Those admitted to the Hall must have a proven record of excellence in competitive sport, taking into consideration such factors as the level of competition (local, provincial, national or global), the classification (open, senior, intermediate, masters), the records set, the number and significance of awards won, the skill and ability levels, and the standards achieved.

A Builder will be viewed not on the level of achievement, but most importantly on the significance and importance of their contribution to sport.  The variety and the level of positions held, the importance of work done, awards and honours earned, advancements made and their role in provided opportunities are all important factors to consider

Residency
 

Eligibility is restricted to Newmarket athletes and builders of sport.  The athlete/team or builder involved must have been a resident of Newmarket at the time of performance, or have performed outside of Newmarket while still being considered a resident or product of Newmarket.  In addition, the athlete or builder may be considered if from an outlying area, if it can be documented that they were viewed by the province or nation as being from Newmarket, and thereby having conferred honour upon Newmarket.

Active Status

Athletes nominated must have concluded their careers in the sport, or at the level, for which nominated, at least five years prior to nomination, or have reached the age of fifty years.

Builders may include officials, sponsors, executives, trainers, owners, coaches, etc, whose work over an extended period has been outstanding in providing a consistently high level of contribution to the sports community.  Any person nominated in the builder category shall be eligible at any time, as that person might be active in their role over an entire lifetime.

Nominations to the Newmarket Sports Hall of Fame will be open once every two years. During the nomination period, nominations may be submitted by athletes, media and any member of the community with an interest in sport in the Town of Newmarket.  Nominators are encouraged to supply as much supporting detail as possible while completing the nomination.  The Induction Committee will be responsible to obtain any additional research and validate the factual basis of each submission.

Nominations for Newmarket Sports Hall of Fame Inductees will be open from January 26 – February 27, 2026.

Successful Hall of Fame Inductees will be notified by the Induction Committee and provided with further details regarding the induction ceremony to be held in April 2026.

Nomination Process Information

All nominee files which are not selected for induction will be reconsidered the following induction period (nominations to the Hall of Fame take place every two years).

The Sports Hall of Fame Induction Committee will be comprised exclusively of Town of Newmarket staff in the Recreation and Culture Department.

The Induction Committee reserves the right to review and make changes to the selection criteria as deemed necessary. All decisions of the Induction Committee will be final.

Each newly elected member of the Newmarket Sports Hall of Fame shall be formally inducted at an official ceremony, along with recipients of the Newmarket Sport Awards. This will take place in the Spring, once every two years.

Commemorations in the Newmarket Sports Hall of Fame shall be in a fashion deemed appropriate by the Induction Committee.  Photographs and documentation may be placed in the Hall of Fame display at the Magna Centre at the discretion of the Induction Committee.