This year marks a milestone in the journey of cycling in the Northwest Territories, and with it, the introduction of a new recognition: the Cycling NWT Award.
The Cycling NWT Award was created to celebrate those who go above and beyond in supporting, growing, and advocating for the sport of cycling in the North. It is intentionally broad in scope—allowing us to recognize individuals, groups, or moments that have meaningfully contributed to cycling in any form. Whether it’s coaching, organizing, mentoring, advocating, or just quietly making things happen, this award is about celebrating impact, not categories.
For the inaugural year, a special nomination was made to honour the founding board members who helped launch Cycling NWT as a recognized Territorial Sport Organization. This was no small feat. It involved over two years of planning, community consultation, policy development, and coordination with Cycling Canada. Through their dedication, persistence, and teamwork, the groundwork was laid for a thriving future for the sport in the North.
We are proud to recognize the following individuals as the 2025 recipients of the Cycling NWT Award:
- Lisa McShane
- Chris Bruckner
- Lillith Brook
- Tim Van Dam
- Thorsten Gohl
Thanks to their efforts, Cycling NWT now stands as a member of Cycling Canada and an officially recognized sport body in the territory. Their work has led to countless “firsts” over the past year: first Territorial Championships, first officially recognized Canada Games team, first trained coaches, and more.
And we’re only getting started. As we look ahead to more rides, races, and riders, we know this is just the beginning. Here’s to our first award, our first champions, and our first steps forward. And here’s to the second ones, too.