Congratulations to the following individuals for their respective awards and recognition at the SNM Annual Awards Banquet held on November 1, 2026.
Philip Clark Award – Officials
The Philip Clark Official of the Year Award recognizes a swimming official who has demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, professionalism, and service to the sport over the past year.
This individual continues to represent Manitoba at the local, national and international stage. Her commitment to her role not only highlights her personal achievements but also brings significant recognition to Manitoba as a whole.
This award is not just a recognition of her hard work and dedication; it is a testament to the positive impact she has made in her community and beyond, making it well-deserving and a true reflection of her contributions.
Congratulations Michelle Neilson!
Eric Suthon Grassroots – Coach of the Year 2025-26
As a young and energetic coach, this individual connects naturally with the swimmers and becomes not only their coach but also someone they trust and feel comfortable with. She leads by example, often using her own swimming and coaching experiences to encourage the athletes, build their confidence, and motivate them to keep improving.
During the last season, her swimmers showed clear progress in all four strokes, starts, turns, endurance, and overall confidence in the water. Several swimmers advanced from beginner and developmental levels to higher-level groups, while more experienced athletes improved their times and progressed toward provincial standards.
Congratulations Sofia Zhmurska
Developmental – Coach of the Year 2025-26
This coach fosters a positive learning environment by putting relationships at the centre of his coaching. He takes the time to know the person behind the swimmer and creates an environment where athletes understand that their value is not determined by the time on the scoreboard. That trust allows him to maintain high expectations, challenge athletes when they need to be challenged, support them when they struggle, and recognize that what a young person brings to practice on a particular day may have very little to do with swimming.
Congratulations Rob Pehura
Performance – Coach of the Year 2025-26
This award is based on athlete FINA points.
Congratulations Szilvie Carriere – for athlete results: Halle West 760 FINA points
Presidents Award
This individual has made an extraordinary and lasting contribution to swimming in Canada, and to the development of coaching and high-performance sport in Manitoba. His impact spans decades and reflects excellence not only as an athlete, but more importantly as a coach, mentor, and leader within the Canadian coaching community.
He is widely respected as one of Canada’s leading coachbuilders. His long-standing leadership with the University of Manitoba Bisons and his development of integrated high-performance pathways have had a transformative impact on swimming in Manitoba.
Congratulations Vlastik Cerny
On behalf of Swim Manitoba, congratulations to all our award winners.
Special thanks to Canad Inns for supporting our Annual Awards Banquet!
SNM Office