BRANDON, MB – Canada West Universities Athletics Association (CWUAA) is pleased to announce that David Larkins of the Brandon Sun is the 2010-11 Fred “Gus” Collins Award winner and conference nominee for the CIS Fred Sgambati Media Award. Larkins is the beat-writer for the Brandon Bobcats as well as the reporter for all Canadian university, college and high-school level sports for the Brandon Sun, western Manitoba’s largest daily newspaper. His contributions reach across the country and cover all sports.
“Locally he is one of the strongest supporters of amateur sports in our community,” said Kirk De Fazio,
Athletic Director at Brandon University. “David has built a community support base for all school sports in
our region so that it has become one of the strongest in the country.”
‘Larks’, as he is commonly referred to around campus, is well-known to all student-athletes, coaches andadministrative staff affiliated with the Bobcats. His hard work and commitment reach far beyond what is
asked of him.
“It goes without saying that being recognized for the Fred (Gus) Collins Award, an acknowledgment of my
work in a field I truly love, is a tremendous honour,” Larkins commented. “There have been talented and
devoted sports reporters who have won this award before me and to be in that company is humbling. What’s
more, there are many other skilled and accomplished people in Canada West who have yet to be recognized
and knowing that makes me all the more appreciative to have been singled out.”
“I am fortunate enough to work in a community like Brandon, where an importance is placed on local
sports, and also to work at a paper like the Brandon Sun. I would like to thank the coaches, athletes and
administrators at Brandon University, who have always been open and forthcoming with me, even at times
when it might be difficult for them to do so,” Larkins added.
Larkins began his career in 1998 after graduating from Brock University with a degree in Media
Communications, where he wrote for the school newspaper and hosted a weekly sports-talk radio show
dedicated to university and college sports. His first professional experience came when he started reporting
for the Niagara Falls Review.
In 2003 Larkins moved to Brandon. Since then he has covered all university athletics, where he also
volunteers for WCGtv as the play-by-play host for all Bobcat basketball and volleyball home games.
“David has provided readers with some of the most in-depth coverage of university sports in the country,
regularly breaking major stories and providing insight into issues of both local and national importance,”
stated Brandon Sun sports editor James Shewaga. “David also regularly goes beyond basic scores and
statistics by telling human interest stories in his profiles of CIS student-athletes. His work has continued to
make university coverage a key component of our sports section and the Brandon Sun the leading source of
information on Bobcats athletics.”
His experiences include traveling to and reporting on all four CIS national championships in which the
Bobcats have participated — men’s basketball in Halifax in 2004 & 2007, men’s volleyball in Edmonton in
2009 and Langley, B.C. in 2011 — during his time in Brandon.
“I think back to the first national championship our team attended in my time here (Edmonton in 2007). We
were the only city with a local sports reporter at the event. The fact that he wanted to be there to promote
Brandon on a national stage clearly shows the dedication he has to his work,” added De Fazio.
Larkins also creatively finds new ways to promote university athletics, such as this past September, where
he completed a feature series in which he took part in basketball practices with the Bobcats men’s basketball
team.
“It’s great to have someone who treats it like more than just work,” says Gil Cheung, head coach of the
Bobcats men’s basketball team. “He takes time out of his personal schedule to participate in practices and
events and it’s evident that he does more than his job requires. We are lucky to have coverage like this, and
it’s not just the amount, but the quality of work that he provides. This award is very well-deserved.”
The award is named after the late Fred “Gus” Collins, a long-time contributor to the development, success
and promotion of Canada West Athletics, notably his endless effort to produce updated, accurate statistical
information to all media in an era long before laptops, social media, email and spreadsheets. The recipient
becomes the conference nominee for the CIS Fred Sgambati Media Award, which is handed out by the
CIS.
Previous Canada West Fred “Gus” Collins Award recipients (Fred Sgambati Award winners in Italics):
2009-10: Esther Madziya, Global Television Saskatoon
2008-09: Howard Tsumura, the Vancouver Province
2007-08: Jason Pires, Victoria’s A-Channel
2006-07: Neil Shewchuk, Saskatchewan’s CK750/CJVR
2005-06: Howard Tsumura, Vancouver Province
2004-05: Ian Hamilton, Regina Leader-Post
Source: http://www.gobobcats.ca/2011/04/07/brandon-sun-reporter-wins-gus-collins-award/
“Locally he is one of the strongest supporters of amateur sports in our community,” said Kirk De Fazio,
Athletic Director at Brandon University. “David has built a community support base for all school sports in
our region so that it has become one of the strongest in the country.”
‘Larks’, as he is commonly referred to around campus, is well-known to all student-athletes, coaches andadministrative staff affiliated with the Bobcats. His hard work and commitment reach far beyond what is
asked of him.
“It goes without saying that being recognized for the Fred (Gus) Collins Award, an acknowledgment of my
work in a field I truly love, is a tremendous honour,” Larkins commented. “There have been talented and
devoted sports reporters who have won this award before me and to be in that company is humbling. What’s
more, there are many other skilled and accomplished people in Canada West who have yet to be recognized
and knowing that makes me all the more appreciative to have been singled out.”
“I am fortunate enough to work in a community like Brandon, where an importance is placed on local
sports, and also to work at a paper like the Brandon Sun. I would like to thank the coaches, athletes and
administrators at Brandon University, who have always been open and forthcoming with me, even at times
when it might be difficult for them to do so,” Larkins added.
Larkins began his career in 1998 after graduating from Brock University with a degree in Media
Communications, where he wrote for the school newspaper and hosted a weekly sports-talk radio show
dedicated to university and college sports. His first professional experience came when he started reporting
for the Niagara Falls Review.
In 2003 Larkins moved to Brandon. Since then he has covered all university athletics, where he also
volunteers for WCGtv as the play-by-play host for all Bobcat basketball and volleyball home games.
“David has provided readers with some of the most in-depth coverage of university sports in the country,
regularly breaking major stories and providing insight into issues of both local and national importance,”
stated Brandon Sun sports editor James Shewaga. “David also regularly goes beyond basic scores and
statistics by telling human interest stories in his profiles of CIS student-athletes. His work has continued to
make university coverage a key component of our sports section and the Brandon Sun the leading source of
information on Bobcats athletics.”
His experiences include traveling to and reporting on all four CIS national championships in which the
Bobcats have participated — men’s basketball in Halifax in 2004 & 2007, men’s volleyball in Edmonton in
2009 and Langley, B.C. in 2011 — during his time in Brandon.
“I think back to the first national championship our team attended in my time here (Edmonton in 2007). We
were the only city with a local sports reporter at the event. The fact that he wanted to be there to promote
Brandon on a national stage clearly shows the dedication he has to his work,” added De Fazio.
Larkins also creatively finds new ways to promote university athletics, such as this past September, where
he completed a feature series in which he took part in basketball practices with the Bobcats men’s basketball
team.
“It’s great to have someone who treats it like more than just work,” says Gil Cheung, head coach of the
Bobcats men’s basketball team. “He takes time out of his personal schedule to participate in practices and
events and it’s evident that he does more than his job requires. We are lucky to have coverage like this, and
it’s not just the amount, but the quality of work that he provides. This award is very well-deserved.”
The award is named after the late Fred “Gus” Collins, a long-time contributor to the development, success
and promotion of Canada West Athletics, notably his endless effort to produce updated, accurate statistical
information to all media in an era long before laptops, social media, email and spreadsheets. The recipient
becomes the conference nominee for the CIS Fred Sgambati Media Award, which is handed out by the
CIS.
Previous Canada West Fred “Gus” Collins Award recipients (Fred Sgambati Award winners in Italics):
2009-10: Esther Madziya, Global Television Saskatoon
2008-09: Howard Tsumura, the Vancouver Province
2007-08: Jason Pires, Victoria’s A-Channel
2006-07: Neil Shewchuk, Saskatchewan’s CK750/CJVR
2005-06: Howard Tsumura, Vancouver Province
2004-05: Ian Hamilton, Regina Leader-Post