Ontario University Athletics (OUA) has announced that Erica Basso of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s soccer team will be recognized as one of the top female scholar-athletes from across the province at the seventh annual Women of Influence Luncheon on Friday, April 30.
The event, to be held from 12-2 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building at 255 Front Street West in Toronto, Ont., honours female student-athletes who have excelled in their chosen sports and fields of study. This year's guest speaker will be former prima ballerina and arts advocate Karen Kain.
Erica is an outstanding student-athlete who has proven on the field and in the classroom that she is a natural leader and all-star. Over her five years at U of T, the King City, Ont., native has developed into an outstanding all-Canadian soccer player as well as a remarkable urban studies student, who has made many contributions to her community at school and at home.
A four-time OUA all-star and twice named a CIS all-Canadian, Erica is extremely talented and a threat at both the midfield and striker positions. She led her team in goals scored in two consecutive seasons, was honoured the OUA East MVP in 2008 and also had the opportunity to play at the national level while at the University of Toronto.
“My proudest athletic achievements include being name the OUA East MVP in 2008 and representing Canada at the 2009 FISU world university championships,” said Basso. “Being a member of Team Canada and travelling to France and Serbia to play against other national teams was amazing.”
When not on the field or in the classroom, Erica volunteers with the Salvation Army in Newmarket, Ont. and with Good Shepherd in Toronto, assisting with food preparation and cleaning beds. She was an assistant coach with the York School's girls under-12 team and when on campus, Erica volunteered with Jane's Walk and at the March Break open house, advocating the urban studies program to prospective students.
A recipient of the Helen Gurney award, U of T's Guinness award and the St. George's Society award, Erica’s plans post-graduation include trying out for a professional soccer team in Italy and pursuing a Master’s degree in environmental planning.
Acknowledged as one of the leading classical ballerinas of her time, Kain is also one of Canada's foremost arts advocates, bringing the same passion and dedication she exemplified as a dancer to her roles as a spokesperson for Canadian culture and as the artistic director of The National Ballet of Canada.
Tickets to the luncheon are $88.20 each (taxes included) and can be purchased by calling Stephanie White at 416-923-1688 ext. 21 or via e-mail at info@womenofinfluenceinc.ca.
Source: OUA
