HAMILTON, Ont. - Ontario University Athletics (OUA) will recognize the top female scholar-athletes from across the province at the eighth annual Women of Influence Luncheon on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (South Building – Hall G), 255 Front Street West in Toronto.
The event honours female student-athletes who have excelled in their chosen sports, fields of study and community involvement. This year's guest speaker will be tennis star Venus Williams. The legendary tennis star is a winner of five Wimbledon titles, seven Grand Slams, 41 WTA tour titles and three Olympic gold medals. Off the court, Williams excels in a variety of areas including interior design, fashion and authoring two books.
Today’s honoured female athlete is York University’s Amber Aquin. Amber has been an engaged student-athlete at York University for the last five years as a women’s rugby player, sport council representative, community and fan development intern, and a member of the promotions team.
She joined the women’s rugby team in her second year at York and missed her entire second season because of a concussion. After being cleared to play last year, Amber was one of the most dedicated athletes on the team, arriving at practice early to work on her individual skills while also seeking feedback from the coaching staff to improve her game. She saw some playing time, mostly rotating into games along with other members of the team. Amber worked hard in the off-season to continue to improve and became a starter and a leader this year, finishing among the OUA’s top 20 in scoring on a vastly improved Lions team that made the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
In addition to success on the field, she is also strong in the classroom and has made the academic all-Canadian list in two consecutive years.
Away from the field and her studies, Amber is the women’s rugby representative on the sport council and works hard to get her teammates out to support other Lions teams. She has also been actively involved in charity events organized by the team, including a blood drive last year where she secured the most donors of anyone on the squad.
Amber is so passionate about the Lions that she chose to do her internship for her sport administration certificate with the events and communications team, and she has spent the last number of months organizing charity games and other special events as the community and fan development intern. The Hamilton, Ont. native has also been a member of the Lions promotions team for five years.
Join OUA as Williams speaks about her career on and off the courts, and how she set a new standard for all female athletes around the world. Tickets to the luncheon are $168.37 (taxes included) at the early bird price and can be purchased by registering at https://register.womenofinfluenceinc.ca/woi/register.aspx.
OUA recognizes the following sponsors for their support of this event; belairdirect., Centaur Products, Pioneer Petroleums and Wilson Sports Equipment of Canada.
Name: Amber Aquin
School: York University
Sport: Rugby
Academic Program: Sociology and Sport Administration
Hometown: Hamilton, Ont.
Q: What is your proudest academic achievement?
A: My proudest academic achievement has probably been maintaining my marks to achieve CIS Academic All-Canadian for multiple years after my mom suffered a brain aneurism. Her aneurism has completely changed our lives and the dynamic of our family and it was very hard to not only stay in school but also play a varsity sport and keep my marks up while my family was going through such an ordeal. It has been incredibly difficult to remain focused and to achieve success during the last few years. I am very proud I not only still have my mom but that I have accomplished this.
Q: What is your proudest athletic achievement?
A: My proudest athletic achievement has been fighting back from a severe concussion a few years ago to finishing my last season off in the Top 20 Scoring Leaders in the OUA. This concussion caused me to sit out an entire season and I worked really hard to get back on the field. I am proud that I started and played every game this season and that I finished in the Top 20 for points in the OUA.
Q: What is your most memorable community related moment?
A: One of the most memorable community related moments actually just occurred this past Sunday December 5th. I helped to organize the York Lions 3rd annual Roar for a Cure Women’s Hockey game against University of Toronto. The goal of this event was to raise awareness and education around cancer, and we managed to raise over $1500 in 3 hours for the Canadian Cancer Society. There was a large athlete and community presence, and it was such an amazing feeling to be able to talk to people about cancer and open their eyes to what we can do to help. I organized for Jessica Turi, a York women’s hockey alumnus and former captain, to speak with girls minor hockey teams before the game about her experience with having and beating cancer. It is a very rewarding feeling to create awareness among younger children and help them understand things that they may not have understood before.
Q: What woman has most influenced you, and why?
A: By far, one of the woman that has most influenced me has been my Aunt Sandi. My aunt has always been a rock in my life. When I was experiencing those typical teenage issues, I could always count on her to make me feel better and tell me that “someone always has it worse off then you.” When my mom had her aneurism, my aunt took care of my brothers and I. I had a bond with her that is indescribable. We found out my Aunt Sandi had cancer last year, and I thought there was no other option but for her to beat it. Unfortunately, we lost my aunt a couple months ago. Her loss has been devastating but I cannot help but think of everything she taught me. She was the most positive, enthusiastic, energetic woman in I have ever met. Her laughter and smile was contagious, so much so that she was known in our sports community for her personality. She taught me to love life and enjoy every moment, and I will never forget that no matter how bad things are going for me. She has influenced me in ways that have changed my life and who I am, and I thank my Aunt Sandi for that.
Q: If you could sit down to dinner with any woman, who would it be, and why?
A: This question is one that I have been thinking about for days. I tried to think of an influential woman in sport or one who has had an impact on this world that I most relate to and the woman that came to mind was again my Aunt Sandi. She was a role model in life and in athletics for me and I would give anything to be able to sit down and share another meal with her.
Q: What are your future plans?
A: My future plans are to work in the area of Community Development for a sports team or organization. Community Development through sport is my passion, and I get such fulfillment in bringing children experiences that they may not have been able to have before. I believe sport is a way to build and unite communities and I plan on having as much influence in this area as possible.