‘Beautiful feeling’ motivates Special Olympics Manitoba coach for 20 years
Howard Ashdown started his Special Olympics journey in 2006, when he signed up his son Connor for a local 10-pin bowling team. “Neither my wife or I wanted to sit on the sidelines and watch,” he said, “so we got involved.”
While Connor unfortunately could not go to this year’s Nationals due to health concerns, he did bowl in two previous Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, including one where his dad travelled with him as a coach. Howard said it was “awesome” getting to coach his son, and that he continued to coach other athletes from Manitoba due to that same enjoyment.
“When I’m at a competition,” said Coach Howard, “and see my athletes so excited when they get to see their friends from other chapters, that’s a proud moment.”
"The group of volunteers here [in Medicine Hat] are so welcoming,' he continued, "this has been a beautifully organized Special Olympics National Games. A lot of moving pieces. Nothing's ever perfect, but there's far more tremendously positive things than the few that are not so much."
Talking about how he tries to offer mentorship to some of his athletes by listening to their problems and providing guidance where he can, Howard was escorting his team to a Healthy Athletes clinic providing free auditory health screenings.
“When [my athletes] recognize and meet their goals,” Coach Howard said, “they’re excited, they’re happy and they take-home ribbons. The joy in their faces, that’s why I do this.”