-submitted by KYSA
KAMLOOPS, BC –The Kamloops Youth Soccer Association has just received news that former Kamloops soccer referee Michelle Pye has been nominated for the 2016 Sport BC Official of the Year Award.
Michelle now lives in North Vancouver, but grew up in Kamloops. She comes back to her home town often to officiate and visit her parents, as she did two years ago to referee a Kamloops All-Star Team vs. FC Edmonton (NASL) exhibition game to mark the 50th Anniversary of the KYSA.
Michelle was one of a handful of Canadian referees chosen to officiate in the 2015 Women’s World Cup which was held in Canada. She started her refereeing career in Kamloops in the 1990s after responding to a newspaper ad. After many years refereeing locally and eventually on a national level, she was added to the FIFA (world soccer governing body) referee list in 2007. Since becoming a FIFA official she has traveled the world to referee international matches and high level FIFA competitions.
Her husband, Alain Ruch, is also a Canada Soccer national referee. Michelle and Alain are parents of three young children, so juggling referee assignments and travel is a major challenge for the couple.
The two other nominees for the award are Louise Kennedy (Brentwood Bay) – Synchronized Swimming and Howard Hum (Burnaby) – Volleyball.
The recipient of the Sport BC Official of the Year Award will be announced at Sport BC’s 50th Annual Awards Ceremony and Gala dinner on March 10th, 2016 in Vancouver.