Mitchell Family U SPORTS Alumni of the Year

Launched in 2021, the Mitchell Family Alumni of the Year Awards are presented annually to former male and female varsity athletes who have shown outstanding post-graduation leadership in their communities and continued contributions to their universities.

Honouring the legacy of Lois and Doug Mitchell, long-time supporters of the U SPORTS Athlete of the Year Program, this award celebrates the contributions of Canadian university alumni. The Canadian Athletic Foundation, a not-for-profit board founded by Doug Mitchell in 1993, selects the recipients. 

The winners each receive the Jim Thompson Trophy – named in honour of the former President of TSN, and member of the Board of Trustees from its inception until his passing in 2002. Formerly the namesake of the Female Athlete of the Year Trophy, Thompson was responsible for bringing the awards to television. He was not only a strong supporter of the awards but a firm believer in the value of athletics at Canadian universities and of amateur sports.

All-Time Statistics by School and Sport

In 2020-21, the Mitchell Family Alumni of the Year Awards replaced the annual Lois & Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athlete of the Year Awards due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, with male and female nominees selected from each conference.