Athlete of the Year

Overall High School Female Athlete of the Year & AAAA Girls

Payton Durand of Collège Jeanne-Sauvé – An outstanding multi-sport athlete and dedicated leader, Payton exemplifies the spirit of school sport through her passion, talent, and commitment both on and off the field of play. Payton has made an exceptional mark in her senior year, participating in volleyball, hockey, track and field, badminton, and softball.

On the ice, Payton had a dominant season with the Olympiens girls hockey team, serving as assistant captain and leading her team to a division 1 MWHSHL league championship. She was named a league all-star, playoff top scorer, and Division 1 Most Valuable Player. She also earned multiple first-star game honours and was ranked No. 4 in the Winnipeg Free Press’s list of top 10 female high school hockey players.

Payton was equally impactful in volleyball, contributing to her team’s SCAC championship title and a silver-medal finish at the AAAA Provincial Championships. Her success extended to the track, where she claimed bronze in indoor shot put, silver at the Westman Meet, and gold at the SCAC championship. She also secured a second-place finish in SCAC mixed doubles badminton, advancing to the Provincials where she placed fifth.

A true all-around student-athlete, Payton was named Collège Jeanne-Sauvé’s Athlete of the Month in December and helped lead the school’s softball team to an SCAC title. Beyond athletics, she has been actively involved in student life and community service — volunteering at MHSAA events, with Habitat for Humanity, the LRSD hockey ambassadorship program, and Relay for Life. She also served on the school’s leadership and grad committees and played a key role in organizing her school’s Remembrance Day ceremony.