Two-time North American Indigenous Games Chef de Mission Mike Tanton, dual-sport athlete in wheelchair racing and wheelchair basketball Kyrell Sopotyk and University of Saskatchewan assistant soccer coach Amy Prokop will highlight the Inclusion in Sport Breakfast hosted by celebrity guest emcee Hazel Mae.
The Inclusion in Sport Breakfast is set for Friday, Feb. 2 at the Queensbury Convention Centre in Regina. A breakfast buffet will begin at 8 a.m., with the panel to follow at 9 a.m.
Mae will lead the group of panelists in a discussion on how sport has impacted their lives and what it means to ensure the community is an inclusive and safe space.
The breakfast follows the Saskatchewan Sport Awards, which will be held the night prior on Feb. 1. The annual awards program celebrates the achievements and dedication of individuals in Saskatchewan’s amateur sport community in 2023. Six Excellence Awards will be handed out, including Male and Female Athlete of the Year, as well as 12 Recognition Awards for deserving recipients who show dedication to volunteering, coaching and having a voice that inspires through sport.
Tickets to attend both the Inclusion in Sport Breakfast and the 2023 Saskatchewan Sport Awards are $45.
Emcee Hazel Mae
Hazel Mae is an award-winning broadcaster and fashion designer. A pioneer in her industry, Mae was one of the first females to break into the sports broadcasting industry in Canada. Her baseball knowledge and insight stem from her experience working with NESN and the MLB Network before returning home to her Canadian roots to join the Toronto Blue Jays as a sideline reporter on Rogers Sportsnet.
Mike Tanton, 2023 North American Indigenous Games Chef de Mission and 2023 Volunteer Dedication recipient
Starting his volunteer journey in 2002 at the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), Mike Tanton has attended the Games on five occasions, volunteering as a basketball coach in 2002, 2005, 2008 and as Chef de Mission in 2017 and 2023. In 2016, Mike helped co-found One Love Basketball and Living Skies Basketball League in 2019, he continues to coach teams and youth camps to this day for both foundations. His dedication to basketball was recognized in 2023 through the Role Model Campaign for the Toronto Raptors, celebrating his advocacy and support for the sport over the last 30 years.
Kyrell Sopotyk, Sport. It’s More Than A Game. Ambassador and dual sport athlete in wheelchair basketball and wheelchair racing
After a snowboarding accident changed his life, Aberdeen’s Kyrell Sopotyk, a former Western Hockey League player, has found sport again through wheelchair racing and wheelchair basketball. Kyrell has won bronze at the 2022 Canada Summer Games and three gold medals at the 2023 Canadian Track & Field Championship. He has also competed internationally for Canada in wheelchair basketball.
Amy Prokop, University sport soccer assistant coach and proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
For the past eight years, Amy has been assistant coach with the Huskie women’s soccer program. During her University athletic career, she helped the Huskie women’s basketball team win their first Canada West Championship and earn consecutive appearances at the USPORTS championships. She has helped start a grassroots Junior Huskie program, spearheaded alumni engagement initiatives, established a yearly kickoff event and helped the program raise over $250,000.