Special Olympics BC British Columbia Winter 2013 SOBC’s largest Provincial Games a hit in Langley AFTER walking into the Opening Ceremonies of the 2013 Special Olympics BC Summer Games with her Region 6 team, at 375 members the largest-ever team to attend an SOBC Games, Special Olympics BC – Cowichan Valley athlete Kara Summer sat in her seat listening to the cheers and smiling with tears in her eyes. The 10-pin bowling athlete was moved to be a part of her first-ever Provincial Games. “It means a whole lot,” she said. “I’ve been practicing really, really hard.” Kara started to feel choked up even before she got to the Games, and in the Opening Ceremonies she said she felt “emotional and excited” to be there with her team. continued on next page Region 1 team members walk proudly into the Opening Ceremonies with Teya Aasen, Silver Wheaton Director of Communications, and Vancouver Whitecaps Captain Jay DeMerit. Special Olympics BC — An Accredited Chapter of Special Olympics Canada continued from previous page How to reach us By the end of the Games, nearly 600 medals Dan Howe, President & CEO were awarded to deserving and proud Direct Line: 604-737-3079 recipients who went home thrilled about their Email: [email protected] achievements. One of many great examples Christina Hadley, Vice President, Fund was seeing medal-winning 10-pin bowling Development & Communications athlete James Newman of SOBC – Coquitlam Direct Line: 604-737-3073 at the Closing Ceremonies. Asked how the Email: [email protected] Games went, he pulled out the score sheet Lois McNary, Vice President, Sport that showed that in one game he bowled eight Direct Line: 604-737-3117 straight strikes, an incredible achievement that Email: [email protected] electrified everyone watching. Farhad Abi, Manager, Fund Development & While Special Olympics Games are about LETR Liaison Direct Line: 604-737-3056 sport, achievement, and pride, they are also Email: [email protected] about friendship, connections, acceptance, and sportsmanship. Mackenzie Drescher, Fundraising Coordinator In between taking team members through Direct Line: 604-737-3059 Healthy Athletes stations, SOBC – Vernon Email: [email protected] powerlifting coach Glen Schwebbach summed Rachel Borer, Manager, Community up what so many of us were thinking. Development (Regions 3, 4, & 5) “It’s been the most incredible experience Direct Line: 604-737-3125 Email: [email protected] I’ve ever had,” Glen said. The largest SOBC Games yet, the 2013 Bobby Debrone, Manager, Community The infectious mood of the Development (Region 6) Provincial Games received vital support from athletes, their enthusiasm and Cell Phone: 250-208-5402 1,200 enthusiastic volunteers, many of whom Email: [email protected] dedication to their sport, the shared how moved and inspired they were by camaraderie and their sheer joy Shawn Fevens, Manager, Sport the athletes they met. at competing—win OR lose—has Direct Line: 604-737-3055 Accommodations volunteer Lisa Gibbs took Email: [email protected] been inspiring and completely to SOBC’s Facebook page to share how much heartwarming. Cyra Frisk, Manager, Community Development the athletes inspired her. Lisa Gibbs (Region 1) “The infectious mood of the athletes, Cell Phone: 250-919-0757 Accommodations volunteer Email: [email protected] their enthusiasm and dedication to their sport, the camaraderie and their sheer joy at during these Games! Thank you to everyone Megan Grittani-Livingston, Manager, Communications competing—win OR lose—has been inspiring who let me serve them these past three days— Direct Line: 604-737-3077 and completely heartwarming,” she wrote. it was an experience I will NEVER forget!” Email: [email protected] “I have had THE most wonderful experience The 2013 Games Organizing Committee Cari Henri, Manager, Sport wanted the Games to leave a legacy, including Direct Line: 604-737-3082 increased involvement and interest in Special Email: [email protected] Olympics especially in Langley. That was in Eliot James, Communications Coordinator evidence already, judging by the number of Direct Line: 604-737-3042 people who approached SOBC Chair Pam Keith Email: [email protected] throughout the Games to ask how they can Josh Pasnak, Manager, Finance & stay involved. Administration “I think the 2013 SOBC Summer Games was Direct Line: 604-737-3180 Email: [email protected] a great success. The athletes and volunteer coaches were so inspiring both on and off the Leslie Thornley, Manager, Community playing fields, and we so appreciated the 1,200 Development (Region 2) Cell Phone: 250-317-1272 volunteers who worked so hard to deliver such Email: [email protected] a rewarding and memorable experience for everyone,” Pam said. Joanna Verweel, Manager, Health and Sport Science “I was also really pleased to see how many Direct Line: 604-737-3081 Games volunteers came up to me afterward Email: [email protected] to ask how they can continue being involved Kristin Webster, Manager, Community with Special Olympics. In addition to being an Development (Regions 7 & 8) amazing experience in itself, I think this Games Cell Phone: 250-570-1455 Email: [email protected] will leave a great legacy of appreciation and awareness for Special Olympics.” Find Special Olympics BC online Our sincere thanks to each and every www.specialolympics.bc.ca athlete, coach, volunteer, sponsor, family Facebook: specialolympicsbc member, friend, and supporter who made this Twitter: @sobcsociety experience possible and memorable. We won’t soon forget the four days in Langley. 2 Special Olympics BC Bulletin Platinum Sponsors: Gold Sponsors: Provincial Sponsors: Silver Sponsors: Event/Area Sponsors: Bronze Sponsors: Canadian Horizons Land Investment Corp. Cascades Casino Resort Aldergrove Financial Group Christian Life Assembly Ron Lloyd BC Insulators CUPE 403 Bonetti Meats Health Med Distributors Inc. JD Farms Northwest Tank Lines Inc. Eric Woodward Scotiabank Preston Chevrolet Buick GM Cadillac Ltd. Draft an Athlete Saanich Police Department Bull Houser Langley Liquor Store Superstore Pharmacy, Langley Sports Celebrities Festival Canada Bread Langley Mustangs Track & Field TELUS Supporters Draft supporters Can-Am Marketing Langley Slow Pitch The Stevens Company Ltd. Abbotsford Police Department Surrey RCMP Detachment Cedar Rim Nursery Lucy Clothing Tiara Foods Aldergrove Rotary Transit Police Department Cranberries Naturally Lynch Foods Tourism Langley British Columbia Association UPS Canada Margaret Roberts Township of Langley of Chiefs of Police D&S Tactical Van Tel/Safeway Credit Union Metro Mobile Radio Professional Fire Fighters Coquitlam RCMP Detachment Dead Frog Brewery Legacy Fund Mission Springs Brewery Local 4550 Cranbrook RCMP Detachment Debbie Froese Travelhome RV in Langley Vancouver Police Department Nestle Foods Delta Police Department Ella’s Valley First Aid Ltd. Victoria Police Department Otter Co-Op Goldcorp Invitational Golf Frosting Cupcakery Well Seasoned Wesik Construction Penske Truck Rental Tournament Draft supporters Hemlock Resort West Central Building Products Whistler RCMP Detachment Precision Auto Service Gord Kelly Scholarship Fund Home Depot Westminster Savings Price Smart Langley Interior Savings Payment Ignite Café Whitecaps Friends of the Games Ralph and Sharon Caravetta Services Dept. Impact Canopies Willowbrook Lanes McElhanney Consulting Abbotsford School District Inform Brokerage Redwoods Golf Course Services Ltd. Aldergrove Soccer Innovative Fitness Rich Coleman Port Moody Police Department Arne and Lucy Olsen Kruger Products L.P. Roy Heaps Prince George RCMP Arrow Tech Graphics Kwantlen Polytechnic Staples White Rock Detachment Bob’s Bar and Grill University Starbucks Special Olympics BC Bulletin 3 2013 Special Olympics BC Summer Games 4 Special Olympics BC Bulletin Provincial Games Around the world with Regional Team Matthew Williams Celebrity Supporters AS a Special Olympics Sargent Shriver Global Matt’s spring included rigorous training Messenger, Chair of the Global Athlete for the 2013 SOBC Summer Games in Congress, and member of the Special Olympics his hometown of Langley. Matt and the International Board of Directors, SOBC – hardworking and talented Langley Warriors Our thanks to the sports stars Langley athlete Matthew Williams has had basketball team captured gold, and qualified and sponsor representatives another busy year making a difference for for the Team BC 2014 Training Squad. The who joined the Regional teams Special Olympics athletes through his advocacy Provincial Games experience was “fantastic,” for the exciting walk into the and participation in events worldwide. Matt said, and the Langley team will be ready 2013 SOBC Summer Games In January 2013, kicking off the third year to play with pride in basketball’s National Opening Ceremonies! of his four-year term as a Global Messenger, Games debut at the 2014 Special Olympics Matt headed to the Republic of Korea to take Canada Summer Games in Vancouver. Region 1: part in the first-ever Special Olympics Global This year Matthew also took part in the Jay DeMerit, Vancouver Development Summit, staged alongside the 2013 Athlete Leadership Programs Summit in Whitecaps captain, and Teya 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Philadelphia. It was good, Matt said, “to know Aasen, Silver Wheaton Director of There, he also took part in