Nominations open for the 2025 Joe Smallwood Memorial Recognition Award

Premier Rob Lantz announced today that nominations are open for the 2025 Joe Smallwood Recognition Award.

The award is in memory of longtime horseman Joe Smallwood and was established to recognize individuals who have made a positive impact on the harness racing industry on Prince Edward Island at the grassroots level. The award was created in 2019, and previous recipients of the award have been Clarkie Smith, Ron Gass, the late Earl Smith, Ralph Annear, the late Lowell Stead and the late Kent Oakes.

“Joe was a grassroots industry builder whose lifetime of dedication helped shape a strong and vibrant harness racing industry here on Prince Edward Island. It’s an honour to open nominations for the 2025 Joe Smallwood Memorial Recognition Award.”

- Hon. Rob Lantz, Premier of Prince Edward Island

There are two ways to nominate a candidate:

• Submit a nomination form online at www.peiharnessracing.ca; or
• Mail nominations to the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association office. (Suite 204A, 420 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7Z5)

The deadline for nominations is Friday, September 12, 2025.  Nominations will be reviewed by an independent selection committee, and the recipient will be announced during Atlantic Breeders Crown weekend.

For more information and to review the criteria of the award, visit: Joe Smallwood Memorial Recognition Award.

Media contact:
Emily Blue
Office of the Premier 
emilyblue@gov.pe.ca