WATERLOO, Ont. - Laurier's former director of athletics and recreation, Kate McCrae Bristol, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Ontario University Athletics Woman of Distinction Award.
The prestigious honour recognizes a woman - including administrators, coaches, staff, or student-athletes - who has made tireless contributions to the OUA community while demonstrating outstanding leadership, exceptional service, and a commitment to advancing equity and athletic support within Ontario university sport.
McCrae Bristol becomes just the fourth recipient of the award since its introduction in 2023.
"Being recognized by the OUA means a great deal to me," said McCrae Bristol.
"This award celebrates people who are working to create more opportunity, equity, and excellence in university sport, and I feel very lucky to be included - especially given my short tenure and being surrounded by such amazing trailblazers."
"This recognition really belongs to so many people - teams I've had the privilege to be part of, and the students who make this work meaningful every single day," she said. "The team at Laurier is the reason this community is what it is."
McCrae Bristol has been a key leader at Laurier since joining the university as dean of students for the Waterloo campus in 2019.
In 2022, she became the first woman to serve as Laurier's director of athletics and recreation, helping guide the department through a period of modernization and renewal while championing student-athlete success and inclusive programming.
During her tenure, she played a leading role in advancing the university's multi-phase Seagram Drive Project, including developing a new funding and partnership model with the Wilfrid Laurier University Students' Union and the Graduate Students' Association.
This past January, McCrae Bristol again made history when she became the first woman to hold the role of vice-president, student affairs at Laurier.
The OUA Woman of Distinction Award highlights the impact women have on the success, development, and inclusivity of university athletics programs across Ontario.
