Summerland’s Claire Boothe was recently honoured at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame Gala Event Evening at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
At a special reception directly prior to attending the Banquet of Champions, Boothe was presented with the Jack Farley Youth Sports Achievement award.
The $2,000 scholarships are awarded to one outstanding male and one outstanding female amateur athlete graduating from a B.C. secondary school. Awarded for demonstrating high athletic ability, leadership, community service and a high academic standing, these students excel in a particular sport and exemplify the values, commitment and contribution to the community held by Jack Farley, an honoured member of the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
Claire has trained with the Taneda Karate Dojo for 11 years.
Winning more than 80 career karate medals, including three gold and four silver world championship medals, Boothe is also an eight-time provincial champion.
She recently brought home the 2012 Karate Canada Nationals gold medal for her age and weight category, thereby earning a spot on Team Canada.
In August, she represented Canada at the Junior Pan-American Karate Championships in Cancun, Mexico.
In addition to her own training, she also found time to instruct children’s karate classes, act as a certified Karate B.C. regional judge, coach dojo members at local, zone and provincial levels, co-captain the Summerland Secondary School volleyball team from Grades 10 to 12 and coach volleyball at Summerland Middle School.
Other community service activities include Summerland Secondary School Leadership projects from 2009-2012, the Get Active Marathon civic action project, Breakfast Club fundraising, and participating in the Me-to-We Club as a student advocate.
The B.C. Sports Hall of Fame logo includes the words, “Honouring the Past. Inspiring the Future.” A highlight of the evening was when Boothe had the opportunity to sit down and talk with 92-year-old inductee Barbara Howard.
In 1938, at the age of 17, Howard represented Canada at the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, Australia.
The two athletes sat together and shared their appreciation and respect for one another. In doing so, they were honouring the past and inspiring the future.