Building skills and sharing perspectives in Athlete Leadership programs

SOBC Athlete Leadership Conference

Leadership skills, public-speaking abilities, health advocacy, and dialogue were enhanced as 39 talented athletes from 15 communities participated in Special Olympics BC Athlete Leadership programs in Richmond in the first weekend of April.

Twenty-five athletes built their public-speaking skills in the Athlete Speakers Bureau 1 and 2 courses, supported by mentors from their home communities who will help them in their ongoing opportunities to give speeches and share their stories. These advocates help raise awareness and support for Special Olympics and for individuals with intellectual disabilities, showcasing their great abilities and achievements.

"Because of Special Olympics, I am more fit and healthy than before. I feel included in my community because without Special Olympics, I would have few friends, few opportunities, and few chances to travel and meet new people," SOBC – Vernon athlete Justin Sigal said in his Athlete Speakers Bureau 1 speech. "I worry that without Special Olympics, three million people [with intellectual disabilities] would be living in their homes gathering dust. Life can be so much more. I love how I am included in the province of British Columbia, and my life is so much richer for it."

Watch a few moments from the great speeches in Athlete Speakers Bureau 1:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A further 14 athletes participated in the Governance course, where they discussed key issues affecting athletes and programs and brought valuable ideas into play. They provided great insights and worked on their abilities to foster dialogue, which will help them as they work with their home communities to share important athlete perspectives.

The Athlete Speakers Bureau 2 and Governance participants also completed training to become certified Sun Safety Health Heroes. As part of our new Healthy Communities initiatives, SOBC is introducing Health Heroes training for athletes who wish to equip themselves to help educate their peers about best practices for healthy living. This will create a wider network of health advocates helping address the ongoing health issues faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The April course focused on sun safety, so these 27 athletes discussed best practices for being outdoors and received tools to share in their communities, helping fellow athletes stay healthy and safe in the sun throughout their spring sports and their active lives outdoors. The participants demonstrated great ideas for how to implement their training at home and enthusiasm to help others.

Congratulations and thanks to all the participants! We look forward to hearing more from these athlete leaders and we understand they are already doing great work back in their home communities!

 

Athlete

Local

Mentor

Athlete Speaker's Bureau 1

Frances Collison

Creston

Paula Harper

 

Sherri Lines

Comox Valley

Arlene Petersen

 

Jessica Lehtonen

Keremeos

Janet Lehtonen

 

Ashleigh Cummings

Keremeos

Carol  Blackmore

 

Justin Sigal

Vernon

Alison Dennis

 

Mathew Schmiing

Vancouver

Natasha Pang

 

Josh French

Abbotsford

Kim Andrews

 

Justin King

Mission

Penny Dobson

 

Tracy Martin

Mission

Ashmita King

 

Shayne Blandin

Oceanside

Barb McLeod

 

Emily Beauchamp

Oceanside

Yvonne Newport

 

Ariel Taylor

Coquitlam

Sam Taylor

 

   

Kyle Eriksen

 

     

Athlete Speaker's Bureau 2

Paige Norton

Abbotsford

Tom Norton

 

Stacey Madden

Vernon

Janny Jung

 

Sheryl Spurr

Vancouver

Jessica Chapelski

 

Gordon Balderstone

Vancouver

Jen Fyfe

 

Marinka Van Hage

Prince George

Wilma Van Hage

 

James Clifford

Abbotsford

Ron Clifford

 

Derek Santema

Abbotsford

Ed Santema

 

Roxy Podrasky

Cranbrook

Barb Jarrett

 

Lindsey Aarstad

Coquitlam

Veronica Aarstad

 

Vincent Li

Richmond

Sameer Janmohamed

 

David Johnston

Dawson Creek

Tracey Heartt

 

Christel Jensen

Sunshine Coast

Cathy Verge

 

Lauren Hogan

Coquitlam

Berna Ho

 

 

 

 

Governance

Jake Hooper

Comox Valley

 

 

Adam Advocaat

Coquitlam

 

 

Ken McLean

Vancouver

 

 

Billy Peterson

North Shore

 

 

Bryce Schaufelberger

Mission

 

 

Suzy Whipple

Cranbrook

 

 

Geoffrey Trimble

Oceanside

 

 

Kerri Lipsack

Oceanside

 

 

Priscilla Dickson

Oceanside

 

 

Brian Edwards

Cranbrook

 

 

Jay (Jeremiah) Brooke

Vernon

 

 

Salaudin Manji

Richmond

 

 

Mike Palitti

Abbotsford

 

 

Nic Strongitharm

Victoria

 

To learn more about SOBC Athlete Leadership programs and opportunities, please contact Jill Harris by email or by phone at 250-919-0757.

About Athlete Leadership

Part of SOBC’s job is to encourage athletes to take part in leadership training programs so they can have a voice within their own communities and become representatives of Special Olympics in B.C., Canada and all over the world.

Through SOBC Athlete Leadership programs, athletes develop the skills and abilities to take leadership positions in a number of roles including public speaking, sitting on Local Committees, and assisting as fundraising and program volunteers. These programs are proven to have a lasting benefit to participants by increasing confidence and self-esteem as well as providing input and insight into athlete issues – a valuable resource to Special Olympics BC.

Learn more