Squash Ontario Announces 2022 Recognition Award Winners
Each season Squash Ontario asks our community to nominate deserving players or volunteers across the province who exemplify the special qualities associated with each of our awards. We are exceptionally fortunate to attract dedicated, committed and enthusiastic people to the squash community, and it is our honor to acknowledge these exceptional recipients.
The following award winners were recently recognized at Squash Ontario’s Annual General Meeting and we are pleased to now share our 2022 recipients with you all!
Special Achievement Award
Presented to those who have made very significant contributions to the game of squash, not only in Ontario but also on a national and international basis. It is Squash Ontario’s highest and most prestigious honour.
Hollie Naughton
The board would like to recognize Hollie Naughton (Oakville, ON) for making history as the first Canadian woman to make it to the Commonwealth Games final. This summer Hollie captured the silver medal after defeating the top seed in the semi-finals. She has been climbing up the PSA rankings year after year and currently sits in the top 20 in the world!
Outstanding Achievement Award
The game of squash thrives when there is growth at the local and regional levels. The Outstanding Achievement Awards program was created by the Board of Directors to recognize the contributions made by volunteers, corporations, officials, coaches and players at all levels of the game.
Jay Nash
For his ongoing commitment to organizing and hosting the Nash Cup Amateur & PSA events in London. Going into it’s 14th year, the Nash Cup provides a platform for Canada’s top players to showcase their talents on home soil against players from around the world. In addition to the PSA draw, Jay runs a large amateur event that is the highlight of many players’ season!
Peter Hall
Aside from a 5-decade formidable record on the doubles court, which includes numerous Ontario, Canadian and US titles, Peter has made an extraordinary contribution to the Ontario Squash Hall of Fame. In less than 10 years, he has almost single handedly raised close to $50,000 for the Hall of Fame. He has acted as MC at the last 4 induction ceremonies, preparing for his role with care and determination to do the inductee justice.
Ray Kerslake
Ray is extremely passionate about squash and has been playing for 45+ years! As a builder of the sport, Ray was one of the founders of the Peterborough Squash Club. He has coached countless numbers of juniors and adults in his area for the past 40 years. In addition to chairing many squash tournaments, he took over as lead of the Kawartha Squash League in 2010. As an accomplished player, Ray is still very active on the tournaments scene.
Barbara Cooper Award
The Barbara Cooper Award will be awarded each year to an individual in Ontario who has over the years built, promoted and enhanced the game of women’s squash. This person exhibits fair play. The individual should demonstrate leadership and achievement in both their competitive and social life. This person is an inspirational role model for others to follow.
Alison Le Ber
Alison has been a huge recruiter and influence in women’s squash both at the Pickering Squash Club and throughout the province. She recently won a grant and supported the Women in Squash encouragement program where she helped introduce over 50 new women to the sport. Alison is huge supporter of the T&D league both as a volunteer and a player. She always supports the women's team tournaments throughout the city and works very hard as a volunteer to coach beginner programs at her home club in Pickering. Her love for the game is very obvious as she is always willing to help and has a huge smile on her face the minute she walks into a squash club!
Simon Warder Officiating Award
In the memory of Simon Warder, this award is given to an Ontario official who has earned the respect of the players and their peers; who seeks opportunities to upgrade their skills; who is committed to mentoring others, and who represents the game and profession of officiating with integrity and fairness.
Darrin Manley
Many of his peers agree Darrin is the perfect recipient for this award. He is extremely keen, hard working and has been a great addition to our amazing group of Ontario officials. Over the past few years, Darrin has acted as Tournament Referee for many Provincial and National events. His knowledge of the sport shines through his excellent call making and is respected amongst his peers, tournament chairs and any players who are lucky enough to encounter him.