Halifax Tides FC co-captain Syd Kennedy is turning individual recognition into a $5,000 gift for a cause close to her heart, after being named a winner of the 2026 Intact Impact Award.
Presented by Intact Insurance and the Northern Super League, the award honours one standout player from each of the league's six clubs for leadership, integrity and community impact both on and off the pitch. For Kennedy, the choice of where to direct the prize money was easy: Special Olympics Nova Scotia.
"Sport has given me so much throughout my life, two of the biggest being purpose and a sense of belonging, and I wanted to help make sure other athletes have the opportunity to experience those same things," Kennedy said. "I have so much respect for the athletes, coaches, volunteers and families involved, and I love what the organization represents: inclusion, opportunity, community and the pure joy of sport."
The connection runs deep. Kennedy has volunteered with inclusive sport programs since high school, and this year watched a friend live out that spirit on a national stage – Lisa Leuschner competed at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat.
"Knowing athletes like Lisa and seeing what they put into their sport only reinforced how deserving this community is of support, recognition and opportunity," Kennedy said.
The Intact Impact Award is just the latest chapter in a growing legacy of community work for the Tides captain. Late last year, Kennedy organized and ran a soccer camp in honour of Selah Panacci-MacCallum, someone she came to know and be inspired by through the local soccer community. The camp raised $3,360 toward a bursary that will carry Selah's name and spirit of fun, hope and resilience forward for years to come.
For Kennedy, the fight against cancer is personal. She lost her best friend, Noah, to Ewing sarcoma – a loss that continues to shape how she shows up for others.
"His outlook on life continues to influence the way I try to show up for others and make the most of the platform I have," she said.
Kennedy is also on the front lines of growing the next generation of players, helping lead the Soccer in Schools program at Suburban FC – the club that first put a ball at her feet. The program puts soccer into PE classes and equips schools with the tools to keep kids playing, breaking down barriers for those who might never otherwise set foot in a club environment.
"If we can help a child discover a love for soccer during their gym class, whether that eventually leads them into the club system or simply gets them playing more with their friends, that's a win," Kennedy said.
And somewhere in a Halifax-area gym class right now, Kennedy believes, might be a future Tides player.
"It's really exciting to think about where their own journeys might take them," she said.
Ask Kennedy about leadership, and she won't point to a captain's armband or a highlight reel. She points to consistency.
"I don't think leadership always has to be loud," she said. "A lot of the time it's about consistency, how you treat people, the standards you hold yourself to, and hopefully inspiring the people around you to bring the best version of themselves too."
It's that same grounded approach that keeps Kennedy focused on what the platform is really for.
"Soccer has given me an incredible platform and so many opportunities, and I feel a responsibility to use those things for more than just what happens on the field," she said.