July 7, 2010 - The second of the two recipients of the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Awards was presented today at the 2010 Canadian Baton Twirling Championships, being held in Toronto, Ontario.

The CBTF Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize and honour special persons who have been an inspiration to the sport of the baton twirling. Their contributions to the CBTF have played significant roles in the development of baton twirling in Canada, or at the World Federation.

Kim Genton was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Kim's life, for the past 43 years, has involved baton, first as a young athlete coached by Sandi Watt, then as a young coach - forming her first club called Kim's Kittens.

She has coached many athletes to great success, whether it be achieving a personal best, or competing locally, provincially, nationally, and at the world level.

Some of her past students include Rachel Bower, Jennie Smith, and Shasta Gillies Taylor. At present, she is the coach of Pizzazz, and proud of the accomplishments of all of her athletes, including Team Alliance, who will be representing Canada at the World Championships in Bergen, Norway in August 2010.

Over the years, she has, with her athletes, captured numerous provincial and national championships, and Grand National titles. Kim has coached teams to the World Championships in 1997 in Hawaii, and in 2006 in Rome. She has taken two groups to the International Cup first in 2005 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and again in 2007 in Hamilton, Ontario.

Kim gave her heart and soul to the success of the 2007 World Championships taking on three volunteer portfolios: merchandise, accommodation, and opening and closing ceremonies, all with immense success.

Kim is a Level 2 CBTF coach and she has completed her judges Module 5, having been a judge since 1982. She is a long-serving member on provincial and national boards, and is currently our CBTF coaches representative. She was part of the Committee that created the Badge Program, which is now our Skills Development Program.

Kim's family is part of the baton world. Her father Ken, mother Bess, husband Todd, and children Tyler and Amy, were able to be present for the presentation of Kim's Lifetime Achievement Award. Kim's children both had involvement with the sport, with her daughter Amy being a current member of Team Alliance.

For Kim, baton is not about the awards and the accolades. Baton is a part of her life. Her athletes and their families are like family to her. Kim's nomination for this award included letters from many members of her baton family, and a special poem from her students was shared with the audience during the award presentation.

CBTF presented Kim Genton with an engraved crystal clock as recognition of her achievement, and in congratulation of her lifetime of contribution to the sport.

A complete list of recipients of this award is available online.