Special Olympics BC Local
Powell River
When and how did you get involved with Special Olympics?
Officially 11 years ago, but I have started volunteering a few years prior to that helping with softball. I knew several of the athletes from past work and from around the community and it was a sport I love. Just a one-off thing helping that has turned into over a decade of volunteering and competitions.
Will this be your first Special Olympics Canada Games? If not, which other National Games were you part of and in what role(s)?
No, I went to Thunder Bay as a floor hockey coach in 2020. We are now headed to Calgary with many of the same athletes.
What does it mean to you to be part of Special Olympics Team BC 2024?
I’m very grateful to be part of Special Olympics Team BC as participant of the NextGen Coaching Program, and to be part of such an incredible contingent of athletes and coaches!
What is/are your goal(s) for these National Games?
I always feel pretty honoured to move forward with my athletes. Every year, their skills and determination increase and it has just overall been amazing watching this growth first hand. Moving to the next levels of competition really rallies our communities behind us, and it’s the athletes' opportunity to be in the spotlight and represent region.
What is your favourite Special Olympics experience to date?
Way too many to choose from, but when I brought charcoal facemasks and had the entire floor hockey team relaxing with facials in Thunder Bay is in the top memories. We definitely weren’t the team our Chef de Mission was expecting to see when she heard a group was having a spa day!
What does competing at National Games mean to your athletes? (or, if this is your first National Games, competition in general)
Honestly I think it’s the love of the sport. The majority of this team has been together for over a decade, its built everlasting relationships. Absolutely they are ready for a redemption year, they are hungry for that gold medal, but ultimately it’s another year they all get to be together and travel together. Haha and for our crew, getting that icecream stacked sky high on those ferry rides.
What storylines are you excited to see develop in your SO Team BC sport team leading up to the National Games?
For floor hockey, capturing the time and commitment these athletes put in leading up to the National Games. Especially those games we organize with the Powell River Kings, Comox Glacier Kings, and the community games against RCMP and Firefighters. Thanks to these volunteers, our athletes gain some high calibre competition leading up to the games.
What would you say about Special Olympics to encourage someone to get involved?
Just to go out to an event and check it out. We can always use a helping hand at any competitive event and you can see first hand what Special Olympics means to our athletes and how much fun the coaches have doing it. That’s how I started, went to help at a single softball game and here I am over a decade later still volunteering.
(There are more roles then just coaching too!)