Canadian Olympic sprinter tops national poll for Air Canada Athlete of the Year Award

MONTREAL, Dec. 8, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today announced that Canadian Andre De Grasse has been voted the winner of the Air Canada Athlete of the Year Award in a national on-line poll. The winner is chosen by a public vote from a short-list of finalists selected by a committee representing Air Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee, athletes, the government, media and also last year's Award winner.

"The Air Canada team extends its heartfelt congratulations to Andre De Grasse, who was voted by Canadians to be the 2016 Air Canada Athlete of the Year. This award allows us all to celebrate Andre as he flies the flag every day for our country, both literally and emotionally. He represents the best of Canada with his ongoing commitment and ambition to excel on the World stage," said Andrew Shibata, Managing Director, Brand at Air Canada. "We take great pride in all of Team Canada athletes and also congratulate Rosie MacLennan and Derek Drouin who were the runners-up for this award. We also thank the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who took time to vote for their favourite athlete in our national poll."

Andre will receive two Business Class tickets to anywhere in the world Air Canada flies, as well as Super Elite™ 100K status in Air Canada's Altitude program for one year.

Air Canada Athlete of the Year Award was presented last year to kayaker Mark de Jonge, in 2014 to freestyle skier Alexandre Bilodeau, in 2013 to short track speed skater Charles Hamelin and in 2012 to soccer player Christine Sinclair.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline with more than 400 routes, serving more than 200 airports on six continents.  Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2015 served more than 41 million customers.  Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 64 airports in Canada, 57 in the United States and 90 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,330 airports in 192 countries.  Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax.  For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook.

SOURCE Air Canada