Special Olympics BC British Columbia Winter 2015 Awesome achievements by Special Olympics Team Canada 2015 Special Olympics Team Canada returned home from the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games laden with hardware, having earned 144 medals and achieved many goals and personal-best performances. “There is no better word to describe Team Canada’s performance at the World Games than awesome. We shattered expectations, set a new standard for National Team excellence and represented our country with great class,” said Johnny Byrne, Team Canada Chef de Mission. “I could not be more proud of our athletes and coaches and how they performed on and off the playing field. We return home knowing that we achieved our goals and honoured our great country.” Held July 25 to August 2, the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games saw more than 6,000 athletes from 165 countries converge to compete in Los Angeles. Team Canada 2015 included 57 athletes and 18 coaches and mission staff members from B.C. The athletes thrived in their nine sports, earning 39 of the team’s 144 medals Joanne Bunnin of SOBC and representing their province and country – Chilliwack jumps for joy after successfully with great skill, sportsmanship, and dignity. completing all of her World Games lifts. continued on page 6 Special Olympics BC — An Accredited Chapter of Special Olympics Canada How to reach us Celebrating 35 years of Special Olympics BC Dan Howe, President & CEO Direct line: 604-737-3079 Email: [email protected] In 2015, the Year of Sport in Canada, Special with me,’ and that’s what guys did.” Christina Hadley, Vice President, Fund Olympics BC turned 35! We were excited to – Colin MacKinnon speaking on then- Development & Communications celebrate this birthday and are so grateful to Vancouver Canucks player Tiger Williams who Direct line: 604-737-3073 the amazing athletes, coaches, volunteers, started the Tiger Williams Golf Classic for Email: [email protected] family members, sponsors, supporters, and SOBC in 1982 and hosted the fundraiser for Lois McNary, Vice President, Sport fans who have helped SOBC change lives 20 years. The tournament eventually became Direct line: 604-737-3117 through sport for three and a half decades. the Goldcorp Invitational Golf Tournament, Email: [email protected] Back in 1980, Special Olympics was just a one of SOBC’s most successful fundraisers Michelle Cruickshank, Manager, Community concept in B.C., with two annual track and today. MacKinnon has been a key member of Development (Region 6) Cell phone: 250-208-5402 field events in Prince George and Kamloops, the organizing committee for the fundraiser’s Email: [email protected] an independent track team in Burnaby, various incarnations since 1983, has worked Shawn Fevens, Manager, Sport and several floor hockey teams in Greater tirelessly as the second-longest-serving SOBC Direct line: 604-737-3055 Vancouver, all operating separately from each Board member, and has served as Chair of the Email: [email protected] other. Board for both SOBC and Special Olympics Charlene Flood, Manager, Community SOBC officially incorporated in November Canada. Development (Regions 7 & 8) 1980, and Cell phone: 250-570-1455 Email: [email protected] 35 years later, we now provide year-round, “People kept coming, and it seemed like it high-quality sport programs and competitions was meant to be. Some of those coaches Megan Grittani-Livingston, Manager, Communications for more than 4,400 athletes in are still involved, and some of those young Direct line: 604-737-3077 57 communities around the province, thanks to student volunteers. I couldn’t have done Email: [email protected] the vital efforts of more than 3,400 dedicated it without all those people who coached Jill Harris, Manager, Community Development volunteers and the support of generous and volunteered and travelled. There were (Region 1) Cell phone: 250-919-0757 sponsors. always people there when I needed them. It Email: [email protected] was in the universe to happen.” Reanne Holden, Manager, Community “We were for the most part young and keen – Cherald Tutt, who gave much of her time Development (Region 2) and willing to do whatever it took to get and energy as the SOBC – Kelowna Local Cell phone: 778-581-0511 programs established. We really learned Coordinator getting the Local started in 1985 Email: [email protected] from each other and many of the volunteers until 1990. Morgan Hunter, Manager, Health and Sport Science were teachers and Parks and Recreation Direct line: 604-737-3081 personnel.” “The push came from the parents and Email: [email protected] – Marilyn McLean, one of the founding relatives of Special Olympics athletes. I Eliot James, Communications Coordinator champions of Special Olympics in this attended the first meeting they had in Direct line: 604-737-3042 province and current SOBC – Kamloops Local Campbell River in a little restaurant. There Email: [email protected] Coordinator. was about 50 people there. They wanted Carolyn McCarthy, Manager, Fund my help because I was doing broadcasting Development & LETR Liaison Direct line: 604-737-3056 “It was a cause Dave [“Tiger” Williams] all over the country, and they wanted me to Email: [email protected] was passionate about, and with Dave’s find a personality they could hang their hat Lauren Openshaw, Office Administrator personality others wanted to get involved. on, who would be with Special Olympics for Direct line: 604-737-3078 He very much stepped up and said, ‘we’re years to come, but everyone was busy.” Email: [email protected] doing great things with the athletes, come – Howie Meeker, who has been a staunch Josh Pasnak, Manager, Finance & Administration Direct line: 604-737-3180 Email: [email protected] Charlotte Taylor, Manager, Fund Development Direct line: 604-737-3059 Email: [email protected] Leslie Thornley, Manager, Sport Cell phone: 250-317-1272 Email: [email protected] Sarah Wall, Manager, Community Development (Regions 3, 4 & 5) Direct line: 604-737-3125 Email: [email protected] Emma Woo, Manager, Sport Cell phone: 604-616-1342 Email: [email protected] Find Special Olympics BC online www.specialolympics.bc.ca Facebook: specialolympicsbc Twitter: @sobcsociety The first-ever Team BC in 1981. 2 Special Olympics BC Bulletin Celebrating 35 years of Special Olympics BC Government of supporter of SOBC – Campbell Hockey Hall of Fame, and an inductee River for nearly three decades into the Order of Canada. B.C. a vital backer became that personality, giving his name and presence to the Special “We’ve come a long way, a long way of SOBC youth, Olympics Howie Meeker Classic golf indeed.” tournament, now in its 27th year. – Anne Tilley, a member of SOBC’s health programs, Meeker is the winner of four Stanley first Board of Directors speaking at Cups and a Calder Trophy with the the 2015 SOBC Leadership Summit. competition Toronto Maple Leafs, a member of the Thanks to the support of the Government of B.C., Special Olympics BC is the place where young athletes such as Katie Oliver can take centre stage. “Special Olympics gives her the opportunity to train and compete as an athlete, just as she has watched her brother in his own activities. With Special Olympics, she feels like the star of her own show,” the Oliver family said after the 2015 SOBC Youth Sports Day. The Government of B.C.’s longtime support has allowed SOBC to offer more life-changing experiences and programs to athletes of all ages. Financially, between the government’s funding of sport and funds received through Community Gaming Grants from the Gaming Policy Enforcement Branch, SOBC received more than $445,000 in 2015. SOBC Locals also received gaming grants to support their year-round programs. This significant level of funding is much appreciated and put to good use in expanding opportunities. Funds received help reduce costs of programs and competitions, host sport camps and events, transport athletes and coaches, and create new opportunities for Special Olympics athletes and coaches. Tiger Williams with Special Olympics athletes. SOBC has also been able to expand its Healthy Athletes screenings with financial support from the B.C. government, helping address the unique health needs of people with intellectual disabilities. The program has huge benefits for SOBC athletes like Corey Yee, who used to resist going to dental and medical appointments because of discomfort and unfamiliarity. At the 2015 SOBC Healthy Athletes Screening Day in Vancouver, Yee’s aunt was astounded to see him agreeably letting practitioners take his blood pressure, clean his teeth, and check his feet, encouraged by the positive environment and the practitioners trained to work with people with intellectual disabilities. The Government of B.C.’s Sport Branch has also been a tremendous source of assistance and resources to SOBC. Understanding and supporting SOBC’s goals, Sport Branch staff have been working hard to open doors and inform us of other resources, contacts, and opportunities. This is invaluable as we grow programs, reach out to more athletes, increase the number and quality of competitions, and create opportunities. SOBC is extremely grateful for the support of the Government of B.C. If you have a moment, thank your local Longtime supporters Marilyn McLean, Anne Tilley, and Marnie Carter at the MLA for this support as it truly makes a difference. 2015 SOBC Leadership Summit. Special Olympics BC Bulletin 3 2015 Special Olympics BC award winners Athletic Achievement Award – Vancouver), Kellie Robertson (SOBC – Surrey), programs possible—on the weekends she Ashley Rosenberger (SOBC – Abbotsford), can be found at fundraising events such as Special Olympics BC – Abbotsford athlete Mike Darien Tielemans (SOBC – Cowichan Valley), the Safeway campaign with the bowling Palitti has trained and competed hard to win and Cullen Yee (SOBC – Richmond).