Oakville’s Ciofani recipient of Ontario Soccer Future Leaders Award

Oakville’s Vanessa Ciofani has made an extensive and significant impact in both the soccer and local communities over the last number of years.

Now the St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School graduate is being recognized for her outstanding efforts with the Oakville Soccer Club and the local soccer community.

Ciofani (pictured below) is one of five young people to be presented with a 2021 MilkUP Ontario Soccer Future Leaders Award from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario and Ontario Soccer.

Handed out to students in their graduating year of high school, the Future Leaders award is given to those who have made an impact on their local soccer community as a leader, player, coach, match official or administrator.

The award, the Dairy Farmers of Ontario and Ontario Soccer says in a media release, celebrates “the outstanding achievements of youth in the soccer community, the award acknowledges the selfless display of civic care, pride in one’s sport and leadership, an attitude of resilience and strong work ethic, and a constant desire for impact and improvement.”

Along with Ciofani (Central West — Oakville), the other recipients included Kaya Martin (Eastern Region — Eganville), Massimo Marrone (Northern Region — Sudbury), Karina Bolla (Central East Region — East Gwillimbury), and Patrick Ansell (Western Region — Chatham).

Each recipient will receive a $2,500 education bursary to help offset some of their post-secondary education costs.

Ciofani played at the Oakville Soccer Club since 2007 and has given back to the sport as both a coach and a match official.

She has officiated over 100 recreational and competitive games for both her club and throughout the Peel Halton Soccer Association.

She has also been a mentor for other match officials and community volunteers, while helping with the development of youth focused programs and acting as a convenor for a number of major festivals.

The first-year Bachelor of Criminology program student at Ryerson University has also made an impact by getting involved in a graduate studies research project about effects of peer mentorship on performance and turnover at grassroots levels.

Another example of her innovative thinking was The Headset Research Project, which sees officials at all levels receive live mentoring at festivals.

Being NCCP accredited to teach professional development courses, her immense skills and constantly growing mentorship experience has also led to her being invited to present at the Coaching Association of Canada Conference 2021.

Ciofani was selected as Assistant Team Leader to supervise more than 400 youth and adult individuals at age of 17 with education modules and training workshops developed.