CALGARY – Jaityn LaBelle of the University of Calgary Dinos women's rugby team has won the 2026 U SPORTS student-athlete community service award, U SPORTS announced Thursday at its All-Canadian awards ceremony in Guelph, Ont.

LaBelle, a fifth-year arts student from Calgary, was recognized for her work supporting Indigenous youth participation in rugby and wrestling. She competes in both sports for the Dinos.

She coached with Brave Rugby's Indigenous youth sevens program, travelling to Lac La Biche, Alta., and other remote communities to introduce young people to the sport. In wrestling, LaBelle coached at Branton Junior High School and with the Dynomites Junior Dinos wrestling club.

Her community work extends beyond the field and the mat. LaBelle has taught ribbon skirt, shirt and bag making, shared Indigenous cultural and dance demonstrations at schools and community events, and volunteered at Bar JO Ranch.

On the pitch, LaBelle played four games at scrum half this season before suffering an injury which kept her out of the Dinos final two regular season games. She scored one try and made 25 tackles with a 92.6 per cent completion rate, and she added two jackals. 

LaBelle receives her first U SPORTS rugby honour, and becomes the third Calgary player to win the award, following Tarin Arndt in 2013 and Willow Beyea in 2024.

Other nominees were Drew Bell of the STFX X-Women, Bronwen Earle of the Ottawa Gee-Gees and Melanie Swain of the Brock Badgers.

-UC-