Learning, growth, and friendship highlight 2023 Athlete Leadership Summit

May 26, 2023

Athlete Speakers Bureau 2 graduates showing off their certificates!

Special Olympics BC athletes from all over the province came together from May 5 to 7 for the 2023 Athlete Leadership Summit! Participants learned new skills and ways to be empowering voices in their communities, as they took courses in public speaking, reporting, health, and anti-bullying. Everyone did an amazing job in their courses, and we can't wait to see them all be active leaders in their communities!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this empowering event!

Special Olympics BC Athlete Leadership programs help athletes build skills and confidence to become leaders, mentors, and advocates in their communities and throughout our movement. They take on a range of leadership roles including public speaking, participating on Local Committees and Athlete Input Councils, and assisting as fundraising and program athlete representatives.

Learn more about SOBC Athlete Leadership

Congrats to the Summit course graduates!

We sincerely congratulate these athlete leaders on their accomplishments and thank all the volunteer facilitators and peer mentors for making these opportunities possible!

Athlete Speakers Bureau 1

Athlete	Mentor	Local
Amanda Arnet	Kendal Alston	Victoria
Carmela Klassen	Audrey Fowler	Fort St. John
Carol Erika	Sean Ryder	Richmond
Drew Rhodes	Kate Wood	Victoria
Gary Wong	Phoebe Lau	Richmond
Lindsay Atkinson	Leslie Bowling	Abbotsford
Lisa Hunter	John Hunter	Vancouver
Mark Chudleigh	Dan Fainstein	Victoria
Nathan Hudson	Phoebe, Sean, and Sharon	Richmond
Samuel Hall	Jannie Hall	Abbotsford
Sandra Malku	Sharon	Richmond

Facilitators: Jackie Lowrie and Sarah Howe

Watch their inspiring speeches

“I love Special Olympics because of my great friends who encourage me and support me and my coaches who help me get better at my sports.”

- Lindsey Atkinson, SOBC – Abbotsford

Athlete Lisa Hunter and facilitator Jackie Lowrie — SOBC – Vancouver’s Lisa Hunter and facilitator Jackie Lowrie celebrating Lisa’s completion of Athlete Speakers Bureau 1!

Athlete Speakers Bureau 2

Athlete	Mentor	Local
Claire Lemaire	Corinne Lemaire	Creston
Jennifer Ferrier	Monika Miskiew	Victoria
Josh Trudell	Allie Blades	Kamloops
Lauren Philley	Shawn Philley	Northshore
Susan Wang		Surrey

Watch their inspiring speeches

Facilitator: Tess van Straaten

“What I like about Special Olympics is that it gives me purpose. When I started I was shy. Special Olympics gave me more confidence and let me come out of my shell. Special Olympics helped me be the person I am today, and who I was meant to be.”

- Joshua Trudell, SOBC – Kamloops

Athlete Reporters

Athlete	Mentor	Local
Chelsea Kaake	Jodi Cobden	Delta
Crystal Rousseau	Barb Giesbrecht	Port Alberni
James Clifford	Edna Clifford	Abbotsford
Kimberly Giesbrecht	Barb Giesbrecht	Port Alberni
Levi Fowler	Kathy Turney	Fort St. John
Mark Hamblett		Surrey
Paige Norton	Donna Bilous	Abbotsford
Paula Prough	Alan Prough	Trail
Sheenagh Morrison		Victoria
Torben Schuffert	Sandra Schuffert	Smithers

Facilitators: Andrea Boyes and Megan Pollock

“My favourite thing about being a part of Special Olympics is being able to meet all the new people and being able to compete the same as all athletes. I think it’s important to get involved in Special Olympics to give back to your community and it’ll give you a different perspective in life.”

- Chelsea Kaake, SOBC – Delta

Health Messenger

Athlete	Mentor	Local
Andrea Conkin	Lynette Gula	Fort St. John
Sarah Brown	Nel Kurta	Vancouver
Nellie-Jo Kurta	Nel Kurta	Vancouver
Alex Pang	Jessica Chapelski	Vancouver
Julie Black	Jacki Sheng	Nanaimo
Laila Currie	Duncan Currie	Creston
Carmel Hashemi Dahaj		Surrey
Amanda Manzardo	Sandra Manzardo	Coquitlam
Lester Niody		Richmond
Marni Zimmerman	Heather	Richmond
Jason Gubbels	Evy Gubbels	Richmond
Vincent Li		Richmond
Ryland Mallari		Surrey

The participants in the Athlete Speakers Bureau 2, Health Messenger, and Athlete Reporter workshops also completed the SOBC Safe Sport Anti-Bullying and Harassment Workshop. Thanks to all for their dedication and inspiring participation!

Learn more about Safe Sport and Anti-Bullying

Join the SOBC Athlete Leadership Academy

In order to help athletes get the most out of their courses, and to inspire and recognize ongoing commitment and achievements, Special Olympics BC has launched an Athlete Leadership Academy! The SOBC Athlete Leadership Academy includes and links all of the courses that SOBC has traditionally offered, and will add new opportunities as determined by athlete interest.

In the Athlete Leadership Academy, athletes are invited to register for a specific stream that matches their interests. After completing the required number of courses in their stream, athletes will be recognized as program graduates and will receive an Academy diploma and swag!

READ ALL ABOUT IT AND COMPLETE THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITMENT FORM