OTTAWA (CIS) – Windsor Star sports reporter Mary Caton was honoured by Canadian Interuniversity Sport on Wednesday night with the Fred Sgambati Media Award in Ottawa.
 
The awards reception was held at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel as part of CIS' annual general meeting.
 
Caton received the Fred Sgambati Media Award, presented annually to a member of media in recognition of his/her major contribution to the development and growth of Canadian university sport.
 
“It's important that we take time to celebrate and show our sincere appreciation for the outstanding careers of these four individuals,” said CIS president Leo MacPherson. “Each of the award recipients has made significant and meaningful contributions that have led to the growth and development of CIS and university sport in Canada.”
 
Also highlighting the awards reception was guest speaker Mike Babcock, head coach of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. Babcock, who led Detroit to the Stanley Cup in 2008 and Team Canada to gold at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, left his mark on CIS hockey in the 80s and early 90s. As a player, he spent four seasons with McGill (1983-84 to 1986-87), where he was a team captain and MVP, and a two-time all-star defenceman. A few years later, in 1993-94, he guided Lethbridge to the University Cup national championship in his only campaign at the helm of the Pronghorns.
 
FRED SGAMBATI MEDIA AWARD
 
Born and raised in Windsor, Ont., Mary Caton graduated from Ryerson University with a BAA in journalism in 1979. While at the Toronto school, she played for the Rams' volleyball team for two seasons before switching to basketball in her third year. In her final campaign with the hoops squad, in 1978-79, she was named team MVP and received the G.L. Dobson Trophy for greatest contribution to sport, campus and community life by a Ryerson female student-athlete.
 
Immediately following graduation, she was hired by The Windsor Star as a summer intern in the sports department. A few months later, in December of 1979, she was hired full time to work as a news reporter in the Star's Chatham bureau. She moved back into sports the following year and was assigned to cover the local scene, including the University of Windsor Lancers.
 
Caton has covered the Lancers ever since, with a focus on basketball, volleyball, and track and field. With four major professional teams competing only 20 minutes away in Detroit, her efforts have helped to ensure that Windsor student-athletes have remained relevant and received fair coverage throughout the years. In 2009-10, she received the Lancers 'A' Award presented annually to an individual who has made a special contribution to Lancer Athletics, as well as the OUA Media Award, becoming the first-ever female recipient.
 
In addition to local sports, Caton has covered a number of professional and international events over the course of her career at The Star, including the Detroit Tigers, Pistons and Lions, PGA and LPGA tournaments, the Pan Am junior championships, and the Detroit Grand Prix Circuit (auto racing).
 
“Mary is exceptional in her coverage of university sport in our community,” said Gord Grace, director of Athletics at the University of Windsor. “Not only is she there for the high-profile sports but she also makes a concentrated effort to cover the sports and the athletes that are not always 'top of mind' with the readers. She has taken the time to develop personal relationships with the coaches and staff, and has been a tremendous asset to our department. Mary continues to be a devoted supporter of the Lancers and university sport in Canada.”
 
PAST CIS AWARD RECIPIENTS

Fred Sgambati Media Award:

2012 Mary Caton (The Windsor Star)
2011 Monty Mosher (The Chronicle Herald - Halifax)
2010 Tim Micallef (The Score Television Network)
2009 Howard Tsumura (The Province - Vancouver)
2008 Pierre Durivage (Productions Rivage - Montreal)
2007 Bill Sturrup (CHML Radio - Hamilton)
2006 Serge Vleminckx (Journal de Montréal)
2005 Ian Hamilton (Regina Leader-Post)
2004 Jean-Paul Ricard (La Tribune - Sherbrooke)
2003 John Short (Edmonton Journal / CJCA Radio)
2002 Wayne Kondro (The Ottawa Citizen / Southam News)
2001 Phil Lachapelle & Ken Welch (CHTV - Hamilton)
2000 CHRW Radio (University of Western Ontario - London)
1999 Christine Rivet (Kitchener-Waterloo Record)
1998 Robert MacLeod (The Globe and Mail)
1997 Paul Hendrick (ONtv - Hamilton)
1996 Ken Newans (CFCN-TV - Calgary)
1995 Not awarded
1994 Bruce Perrin (TSN)
1993 Not awarded
1992 Serge Vleminckx (Journal de Montréal)
1991 Not awarded
1990 Ken Fathers (The Windsor Star)
1989 Ken Newans (CFCN-TV - Calgary)
1988 Norm Marshall (CHCH-TV – Hamilton)
1987 Peter Watts (TSN) & Don Lovegrove (The Hamilton Spectator)
1986 Pete James (CFPL TV – London)
1985 Scott Mathews (Atlantic Television Network)
1984 John Hancock (CBC Radio - Montreal)
1983 Al Ryan (The Toronto Star)
1982 Scott Taylor (Winnipeg Free Press) & Normand Légère (L'Évangéline – Moncton)
1981 Mike Murray (The Hockey News) & Henry Pasila (CHCH-TV – Hamilton)
1980 Wally Sears (Sackville Tribune Post)
1979 Henry Viney (CFCN-TV – Calgary)
1978 Not awarded
1977 Randy Phillips (The Gazette - Montreal)
1976 Bill Johns (Kitchener-Waterloo Record)
1975 Jim Crerar (Victoria Daily Times)
1974 Hugh Townsend (The Chronicle Herald – Halifax)
1973 Jim Vipond (The Globe and Mail)
1972 Bob Gage (The London Free Press)