Ottawa, ON – September 11, 2026 – Archery Canada is incredibly proud to announce the recipients of the Annual Awards for 2025. The awards help Archery Canada recognize the outstanding contributions of volunteers, athletes, and community members throughout archery. A total of eight awards were given out. Information on all awards can be found on the Archery Canada website.

Judge of the Year Award: 

Ralph Schimanke is being recognized for his outstanding commitment and service to officiating in Canadian archery. Throughout his years as a certified judge, Ralph has consistently demonstrated professionalism, fairness, and integrity while supporting competitions at the regional and national levels. His commitment to upholding high officiating standards and mentoring fellow officials has made a lasting impact on the judging community. Through his leadership, experience, and willingness to support the development of new judges, Ralph has helped strengthen officiating across Canada and continues to make a meaningful contribution to the sport.

Coach of the Year:

Dawn Groszko has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the development of compound archery in Canada through her leadership, expertise, and commitment to athlete success. As a member of Archery Canada’s Technical Advisory Committee for Compound, she has played an important role in supporting the continued growth of the discipline at the national level. In 2025, Dawn also served as a Team Coach at the World Archery Youth Championships, where she helped guide and support Canada’s young athletes on the international stage. Her commitment to athlete development, teamwork, and excellence makes her a deserving nominee and a valued leader within the Canadian archery community.

3D Builder of the Year: 

Monica Higgins is being recognized for her longstanding dedication to the growth and development of 3D archery in Canada. As both a former member of Canada’s National Team and a passionate advocate for the sport, Monica has made a lasting impact through her leadership, experience, and commitment to the archery community. She has been a respected voice for archery at both the national and provincial levels, working to promote the sport and support its continued development. Her passion, perspective, and willingness to contribute have earned the respect of her peers and helped strengthen the future of 3D archery in Canada.

Volunteer of the Year Award: 

Sean Murray has been a driving force behind several important initiatives that have strengthened archery in Canada. His leadership in developing the inaugural ASA Indoor Championships helped establish a successful new event for the Canadian 3D community, while his work with the World Archery Youth Championships and Archery Canada’s National 3D Committee has supported the continued growth of the sport. Sean consistently gives his time and expertise to improve opportunities for athletes and organizers alike, and his willingness to take on new challenges has made him a valued volunteer within the Canadian archery community.

Male Senior Athlete of the Year:

Dan Comeau and Kyle Tremblay are being recognized for their outstanding performance at the World Archery Para Championships, where they earned a fourth-place finish in the Men’s Compound Open Team event. Competing against the world’s top para archers, they represented Canada with determination, teamwork, and resilience. Their performance reflects the continued growth of Canada’s para archery program and highlights their commitment to excellence on the international stage.

Female Senior Athlete of the Year: 

Janna Hawash enjoyed an outstanding 2025 season, successfully making the transition to the senior ranks while continuing to compete as a junior. She captured bronze at the South American Open and silver at the Junior Pan American Games, while also earning a team bronze medal alongside teammate Kylie Oliver at the Junior Pan American Games. Janna also represented Canada at the World Archery Championships, finishing 17th overall. Her success across both junior and senior competition demonstrates her talent, consistency, and promising future on the international stage.

Male Junior Athlete of the Year: 

Harkunwar Teja had an impressive 2025 season, representing Canada at the World Archery Youth Championships in the U18 Compound division. Competing against many of the world’s top young archers, he finished 8th overall, demonstrating consistency and composure on the international stage. His performance reflects his hard work and continued development, establishing him as one of Canada’s rising young compound athletes with a bright future.

Female Junior Athlete of the Year: 

Khushreet Sandhu had an outstanding 2025, continuing to establish herself as one of Canada’s top junior archers. At the World Archery Youth Championships, she finished 5th in the qualification round against a strong international field and set multiple Canadian records throughout the competition. Her performances highlighted both her consistency and potential on the world stage, making her one of Canada’s standout junior athletes this season.

For other inquiries, please contact:

Karl Balisch
Executive Director
Archery Canada
kbalisch@archerycanada.ca