Athletes with Paris ties in the running for National 'Athlete of the Year' honour.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor 

Olivia Millar’s fearless goaltending earns her a spot among Canada’s top young athletes

A 12-year-old with deep Paris roots is making a name for herself on the national stage — and now she’s in the running for Athlete of the Year.

Olivia Millar, of Mitchell, Man., is the great-granddaughter of the late Ted and Shirley Pelton, lifelong residents of Paris, and the only great-great-granddaughter of Pete Lavoie, founder of Paris Little League Park. Her family’s sporting legacy runs deep, and she’s carrying it forward in her own way.

A ringette goaltender with the AA Eastman Flames, Millar was encouraged by a skills camp instructor to try lacrosse. The transition was seamless. “There was a need for more girls in the growing sport, and ringette goalie and lacrosse goalie have very similar skills,” she said.

She tried out for the Manitoba provincial U13 boys A program — the only female to do so — and made the team. From there, her confidence soared. She played an undefeated season with her club team, the SouthMan Saints, winning the city championship and the Jim Hunt Memorial Tournament.

Millar was recruited by both the U13B and U15G provincial teams to play in the Prairie Cup. As an underage player with the U15 girls, she helped the team win the tournament for the first time in Manitoba history.

That weekend she played 10 games in 72 hours, shuttling between boys’ and girls’ teams. In one bronze-medal boys’ game, she was supposed to play only the first period, but an injury to the other goalie kept her in net through double overtime. She was named MVP of the boys’ division, then whisked away by golf cart to the girls’ gold-medal game — which her team won.

“It’s a feeling I’ll never forget,” she said. “The support from both teams was incredible.”

Millar is just as competitive on the ice. Playing for a Winnipeg-based team this ringette season, her squad finally beat its long-time rival in the provincial final after losing to them all year.

The nomination for Athlete of the Year came as a shock. “It’s a feeling of pride that others believed in me enough to support and nominate me,” she said.

The award comes with a $25,000 prize and a feature in Sports Illustrated. For Millar, the recognition would go beyond personal achievement. “As a female in sports that aren’t the popular choices like hockey, football and baseball, to bring awareness and equality to all players would be an honour,” she said.

Her mother, Julie, said Olivia has always gravitated toward fast, physical sports — excelling in football, shot put, ball hockey, ringette and now lacrosse. “Her mental strength sets her apart in high-pressure situations,” she said. “When the doubters are quieted by her achievements, it’s special.”

From her pre-game Twix bar ritual to words of encouragement scrawled on her goalie stick, Millar’s passion is clear.

“Winning this would be life-changing,” Julie said. “It would allow her to follow her dreams of competing at the national level, and maybe even in the Olympics.”

Millar credited her coaches — Matt Girardin, Jay Isfjord and Kirk — for their belief in her. “They helped me become a better goaltender and share their passion for lacrosse,” she said.

The voting for the first round closes tomorrow, August 7th. You can cast your vote for Olivia by visiting https://athleteoftheyear.org/2025/olivia-e7ca

Aaliya Allen’s soccer success earns her spot in Athlete of the Year race

An 11-year-old Brantford soccer player who found her competitive stride with Paris FC is making waves on the pitch — and now she’s among the nominations for Athlete of the Year.

Aaliya Allen began her soccer journey in 2019, joining a house league before moving up to grassroots play the following season. “I needed a sport for my energy, and mom noticed I had a good kick,” she said of her early start.

Her love for the game runs deep. “I love scoring goals and winning games. I also like to assist my teammates and see them celebrate their achievements,” she said. That unselfish style has paid off. In late July, she was called up to play with the Paris FC U14 Girls Regional Team at the Summer Sizzler tournament in New Jersey, where she led the team in goals and assists, helping secure a gold-medal finish.

Allen joined Paris FC last summer after seeing a post for an open U13 practice on Instagram. She impressed coaches and teammates right away. “The girls were all friendly, it was competitive and a year above my age bracket,” she said. “Most of all, Coach Cosimo De Santis accepted me to the team immediately.”

Her mother, Lori, nominated her for the Athlete of the Year competition after seeing an ad on Facebook. The award comes with a $25,000 prize, and Allen already has big plans. “The win could help me enter the ‘Surf Cup’ in Barcelona, Spain, where I was invited to play with Kaptiva Sports Academy’s U14 girls’ team against professional academies from Europe,” she said. “And I would save some of it for my future.”

Allen admits the nomination still feels surreal. “I will have to see if I win,” she said. But the opportunity is meaningful. “This award would be another step towards me reaching my goals — and it would help my mom with the costs.”

Lori said her daughter’s passion for soccer was evident by age five. “It all started as a hobby but it’s turned into her future goal to play professionally,” she said. A highlight came this past June when Aaliya travelled to Madrid to train with Real Madrid and Kaptiva Sports Academy coaches on Real Madrid’s training fields. Competing with all boys, she won the “Self Esteem Award.”

Her mom takes a hands-off but supportive approach. “I attend every game but let her reflect before we talk about it. I make sure she’s comfortable and never force her. She’s confident in her plays and determined to succeed.”

Allen’s ability to play above her age group is no accident. Her skill level, vision and confidence make her a standout. She’s a natural competitor who makes those around her better.

The voting for the first round closes tomorrow, August 7th. You can cast your vote for Aaliya by visiting https://athleteoftheyear.org/2025/aaliya-aec0