Come Out to the Cloverdale Rec Center's Wheelchair Basketball/ Wheelchair Tennis Try It Day

The New Year is a great time to add some physical fitness into your life. That's why the Cloverdale Recreation Center is offering a Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Tennis "Try It" Day on January 14th. Everyone over the age of 8 is welcome!

Where: Cloverdale Recreation Center 6188 176 Street
When: Jan 14th, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Ages: 8+
To register: See the poster below for registration codes and details.

Third Annual Wheelchair Tennis Holiday Festival A Success

10 players participated in yesterdays annual BCWSA Holiday fun tennis tournament at the Delta Town and Country Courts. Competition was played in a doubles round-robin event. The pairing of Chris Nichols (Victoria) and Ken Bartel (Surrey) narrowly edged out Kirsten Sharp (Vancouver) and partner Ross MacDonald (Surrey). All participants shared in the holiday spirit with festive music, cookies, pizzas and presents.

To finish off a fun day of tennis, Tennis Canada National Coach Kai Schrameyer and BC provincial coach Steve Manley held a beginner intro clinic for six participants, introducing beginner concepts of wheelchair tennis.

“ This year’s fun holiday tennis tournament was a huge success! “ said Lisa Myers, BCWSA program coordinator” We had over twenty people attend the event, including family and friends who all got in the holiday spirit with us. It was great to see the range of beginner to experienced players at the same event having fun and playing tennis together. Wheelchair tennis continues to grow in British Columbia and BC Wheelchair Sports is excited to keep expanding our wheelchair tennis family through Bridging the Gap events like this. A huge thank you  to the Delta Town and Country Tennis Club for having us and thank you to all who attended this year!"

BCWSA Congratulates Winners of the CWSA Awards

BCWSA congratulates four members of our community who were honoured at the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association Awards night for their incredible contributions to the wheelchair sports community.  

Female Athlete of the Year: Sarah Hunter

Sarah Hunter recently returned to the international stage in wheelchair tennis after spending a year rehabbing an injury. This year, she’s won 5 international titles. On the ITF Tour, she placed in 19 quarter finals, 7 semi-finals and 5 finals, and is now ranked #6 in the world in singles and #3 in the world in Doubles, making her the top-ranked Canadian. She’s also a passionate athlete mentor who regularly takes part in BCWSA and BTG events. 

 

 

CWSA Volunteer of the Year: Gerry Kripps

As a volunteer photographer, Gerry Kripps has spent hundreds of hours documenting wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis at all levels, producing thousands of photographs. Gerry allows us to acquire high-quality images of events that BCWSA would never be able to afford a professional photographer to document. His amazing photographs have been used on websites, in press releases, in the media, in grant applications, on social media, in brochures and on pop-up banners and no much more. In essence, Gerry allows us to showcase our success and promote our sport to others, and we're so pleased he was recognized for his achievements.

 

 

Dr. Robert W. Jackson Award winner: Joe Higgins

Joe races with our Let's Play kids.

Joe Higgins is a passionate coach, mentor, community champion and builder of wheelchair basketball. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone more passionate about wheelchair basketball than Joe. For over 30 years, he's been a tireless motivating force from the grassroots to the high-performance level. He's willing to do whatever it takes to grow the sport, whether it's driving a new athlete to practice, creating a partnership with another organization, or equipping provincial and national team athletes with the skills they need to take their game to the next level. The partnerships, sports festivals, and other unique initiatives like the Kelowna Wheelchair Basketball Jamboree have been instrumental in providing more competitive opportunities to athletes of all levels.

 

 

Stan Stronge Award (for an athlete with a sense of fair play and dedication to excellence): Byron Green

Wheelchair rugby athlete Byron Green recently experienced success on the international level when he represented Canada at the Denmark Wheelchair Rugby Test Event and the 2013 Americas Zone Qualification Tournament. He is best known, however, for his friendly personality and his incredible dedication to the sport both on and off the court. He's the President of his rugby club, on the board of the BC Wheelchair Rugby Association, and he does it all while working as an engineer. Byron also collaborated with Duncan Campbell to create a wheelchair rugby skills program to give beginning athletes a strong start.

Dates for the January - March Monday Night Roller Sessions Announced

 

Dates have been announced for the Winter Monday Night Roller session. Whether you're looking to improve your performance on the track or you just want to improve your fitness and work off that Christmas Eggnog, come on out to our roller session.

FYI, for those who are attending our Fall session, Dec. 9th is cancelled and Dec. 16th will be the last one before Christmas.

Michelle Stilwell Named BC Athletics Female Para-Athlete of the Year

For the eighth year in a row, Michelle Stilwell has been named the BC Athletics Female Athlete with a Disability of the Year. The wheelchair racing powerhouse was awarded the honour for winning three gold medals and setting one World Record at this year's 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships.

"Michelle shows no sign of slowing down," said BC Wheelchair Sports Association Executive Director Gail Hamamoto. "She's an excellent role model for up-and-coming wheelchair athletes in BC."

This year was one of many milestones for Michelle Stilwell both on and off the track. Despite winning a seat as the Parksville-Qualicum MLA, Stilwell had a stellar performance at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France. She set a world record in the 800m (2:14.79) and a championship record in the 200m (25.71) for the T52 classification. In all, Stilwell finished with gold medals in the 200m, 400m and 800m and regained her position as the most dominant athlete in her class after losing the 100m at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

In addition to her World Record performance at the World Championships, Stilwell also set a World Record in January this year in the 200m at the Summer Down Under in Canberra, Australia with a time of 33.19. In that series, she won gold in the 100m, 200m, 400m and even the 10k.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Arley McNeney
Communication Manager
BC Wheelchair Sports Association
Cell: 778-788-9091
Email: arley@bcwheelchairsports.com

Help Neil Squire Learn How People With Disabilities Handle Their Banking Needs

The Neil Squire Society would like to gain a greater understanding of the way people with disabilities handle their everyday banking and payment needs. As part of this project we are seeking people with different disabilities who are willing to complete a short survey about the barriers they face when doing their banking and paying for items and services.

For more information about the Neil Squire Society survey please visit

http://www.neilsquire.ca/financial-transaction-survey/ .

2013 Vancouver Invitational Wheelchair Rugby Tournament Details Released

Information about this year's Vancouver Invitational Wheelchair Rugby Tournament has been released and all Div 1 and Div 2 wheelchair rugby teams are invited to apply.

Teams:  10 team Div 1 and Div 2 tournament.

Tournament Dates: Mar. 14 - Mar. 16 2014

Venue:  Richmond Olympic Oval

6111 River Rd
Richmond, BC

V7C 0A2

*Short wheeling distance to the host hotel, only 1km

Registration:  Tournament Registration Deadline: Friday February 14 2014

Team registration fees will be $850
Cheques can be made payable to ‘BCWSA
Hotel: Sheraton Vancouver Airport
7551 Westminster Highway
Richmond, BC
V6X 1A3
604-273-7878
Please ask for the sales department in order to access the booking block. Group hotel block under ‘Vancouver Invitational Wheelchair Rugby Tournament." Room rate at $120.00 (plus taxes) per night. *accessible king rooms are available. Group reservation rate deadline: Wednesday Feb 12 2014

Transportation:   Transportation will be provided between the airport and host hotel. Shuttle service between the host hotel and the tournament venue will also be provided in case of emergencies.

-Please contact Kevin Bowie to provide your flight arrival and departure times. *Please include number of Day Chairs and Number of Sport Chairs

Contact Info: kevin@bcwheechairsports.com or 604-333-3520 Ext 205

Please send completed registration form and registration fee to:

Kevin Bowie
BC Wheelchair Sports Association
780 SW Marine Drive
Vancouver, BC
V6P 5Y7

BCWSA Release 2013-2014 Athlete Assistance Program Information and Application Forms

BC Wheelchair Sports Association is releasing the 2013-2014 Athlete Assistance Program information and application forms. The AAP Handbook describes the program and outlines the athlete eligibility requirements.  

 

Please read the Handbook carefully before completing the application form. 

 

The AAP Athlete Questionnaire (which includes the BCWSA Code of Conduct) must be completed, signed, and returned (by email, fax, or mail) to Lisa Myers (lisa@bcwheelchairsports.com), no later than Monday, December 9th, 2013. 

 

To determine if you are eligible for this assistance program, please contact your coach. 

 

Click on the following forms to download them.

 

Athlete Assistance Program Handbook

 

 AAP Athlete Questionnaire

Help the Active Living Alliance's Strategic Planning By Taking This Survey

 

In anticipation of celebrating 25 years in 2014, the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (ALACD) will be engaging active living, sport and  recreation leaders in a series of conversations on the quality of programs and services for Canadians with a disability. Thank you to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for supporting this important process.

 

As a progressive organization, the ALACD is undergoing a strategic planning process to identify the goals it wants to achieve over the next four years. An important aspect of this includes engaging Canadians and partner organizations through a national survey, webinars, interviews, and a national workshop.

 

ALACD would like to hear from you. We have developed 4 separate surveys.  Please choose the most appropriate one for your use. (Person with a disability, Sport  Organization, Active Ling Organization, Education Sector). The survey will take only  10-15 minutes to complete. Your responses, along with the findings from interviews and focus groups, will be analyzed and presented in a series of reports that will help guide the strategic future of ALACD. We want your opinion in a number of different areas. Your responses will be anonymous and all of the questions are optional. We also encourage you to distribute the survey through your networks.

 Survey close date is December 6, 2013.

 

Active Living Organizations English - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ALOrgs

Active Living Organizations French - http://fr.surveymonkey.com/s/ALOrgsFR

Sport Organizations English- http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SportOrganizations

Sport Organizations French - http://fr.surveymonkey.com/s/SportOrgFR

Education Sector English - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EducationSector

Education Sector French - http://fr.surveymonkey.com/s/EduFR

 

Persons with Disabilities English - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ALAPeople

Persons with Disabilities French - http://fr.surveymonkey.com/s/PersonnesFR

Thank you in advance,

Team BC Wheelchair Rugby To Host Selection Camp Jan 10 - 12

Team BC will be hosting a selection camp on the weekend of Jan 10 - 12 at the Richmond Olympic Oval for the BC A and B teams. All wheelchair rugby players across the province are invited to attend. The selection process will start at noon on Friday the 10th with Objective Testing. Your performance during the wheelchair rugby league play on the 11th and 12th will also be a deciding factor. 

The BC provincial team pool will consist of 16 athletes. Of that pool, Coach Adam will be entering two teams into both the Nationals and the Vancouver Invitational. The provincial A team will consist of 6 - 8 athletes, depending on what line-ups will give us the best chance of winning a medal at Nationals. Athletes named to the development squad will be selected based on their potential, not necessarily what level they are at today. To see all the selection criteria, click here to download the selection document.

If you are not already in the provincial team pool and would like to attend try-outs, please contact Adam Frost at 778-772-9492 or adam@bcwheelchairsports.com. He will be happy to answer any questions you might have about the process. Please be advised that he is out of the country until Nov. 25th and will have limited access to email and no access to phones for that period. 

BCWSA Congratulates Duncan Campbell on Being Awarded The International Paralympic Order

Duncan works on his trash-talking skills on members of BC's provincial B team.

BCWSA congratulates Duncan Campbell (Vancouver, BC), the co-creator of wheelchair rugby, on being awarded the most prestigious prize in the Paralympic movement: the International Paralympic Order. The honour, which is bestowed by the International Paralympic Committee, is reserved for those who make an important, life-long contribution to the Paralympic movement.

“It’s a huge honour,” said Campbell, “but the game has given me more than I’ve ever given it.”

Campbell, who is nicknamed the “Quadfather,” invented wheelchair rugby along with four friends in a gym in Winnipeg in 1976. They called their new sport “murderball” because of its high-contact nature. Since its humble Canadian beginnings, “murderball” has evolved into wheelchair rugby: a popular Paralympic sport played in over 30 countries worldwide.

Campbell remains a driving force in promoting and professionalizing the game and has been especially important to its development in BC. He is active in the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation and is also the Director of Development for Wheelchair Rugby Canada, where he spearheads new initiatives to recruit and retain athletes. He is also the National Coordinator of the Bridging the Gap program: a first-contact initiative that gets people with newly acquired disabilities active in wheelchair sports. 

“I can’t think of anyone who’s had a bigger impact on wheelchair sports in Canada than Duncan Campbell,” said CWSA Executive Director Cathy Cadieux. “He’s never content to rest on his laurels. He’s always looking for new ways to grow wheelchair rugby, and new ways to get people with disabilities involved in wheelchair sports.”

Campbell’s biggest impact, however, comes from his direct impact on the lives of hundreds of people with disabilities, especially here in BC. He is a mentor to many BC Paralympians, including wheelchair rugby national team stars Garett Hickling, Ian Chan, and Trevor Hirschfield. The game he created has gone on to improve the lives of thousands of people worldwide.

“It's so much more than a sport,” says Canadian wheelchair rugby national team member Miranda Biletski.” Through this sport, Duncan has helped so many people with new injuries gain independence and confidence in their new lives.”

Campbell’s International Paralympic will be presented on November 23 at the 2013 Paralympic Awards in Athens, Greece.

For more information, or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Arley McNeney
Communications Manager
Wheelchair Rugby Canada
Cell: 778-788-9091
Email: arley@cwsa.ca

Tristan Smyth Participates in 33rd Oita International Wheelchair Marathon

Photo credit: Tristan Smyth Fan Page / Jannemarie Elizabeth Widenham Smyth

Congratulations to Tristan Smyth, who traveled to Japan to compete in the 33rd Oita International Wheelchair Marathon. The Oita Marathon is one of the most well-known wheelchair marathons and draws the top para-athletics talent from around the world.

Tristan placed 26th out of 63 racers in his category with a time of 1:41:17. Congratulations, Tristan! It's exciting to see you break out into the international racing scene.

Try Wheelchair Curling at CAN Curl's Try It Day

Looking for a fun, super-Canadian sport that's perfect for people of all ages, fitness levels and disabilities? Why not give wheelchair curling a try?

Curl BC is hosting a CAN Curl More: Discover Wheelchair Curling day on Monday, November 25th from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm. It's open to first-timers or first year wheelchair curling and it's completely free. The clinic includes in-class and on-ice sessions, so dress in layers and make sure to remember gloves and mittens.

When: Nov. 25th
Time: 11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Where: Coquitlam Curling Club, 633 Poirer Street
Cost: Free!

Space is limited, so register now at http://curlbc.ca/programs/wheelchair-program/
Contact: Audrey (awong@curlbc.ca or 604-333-3622) for further details.

Register Now for the Fall Wheelchair Tennis Winter League

Registration for the 2013/14 Fall Wheelchair Tennis League is now open! Whether you're a beginner, a competitive player or a former player looking to get back in the game, this league will offer you great competitive opportunities in a fun, sociable environment.

The league will run every Monday starting on November 25^th to January 27^th (with 2 weeks off in December) from 7:00 – 9:00pm at the Burnaby Tennis Club (3890 Kensington Ave in Burnaby). Please note that the registration deadline is November 18^th, 2013. League fees are $30 for BCWSA members and $40 for non-BCWSA members (this will include your 2014 membership fee). Format of the league will be determined once final registration numbers are in.

Please click here to download the registration form. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Lisa Myers at programs@bcwheelchairsports.com or 604-333-3520 ext. 209.

Don't Let Bad Weather Stop Your Workout. Come to our Tuesday Night Roller Sessions

When the weather is great, it's easy to handcycle on the Seawall or take your athletics chair outdoors for a push. During the Fall and Winter, however, the cold and rainy weather makes it easy to give into the lure of the couch and let your fitness goals fall by the wayside. The good news is, however, that you don't have to trade your workout gear for a Snuggie. Come on our to our Tuesday night gym and roller session!

There are 5 rollers and 6 handcycles available for two time slots (5:00 - 6:00, 6:00 - 7:00). All of the sessions will be coach-led and you'll get technical feedback your progress. This year, we also have a universal gym. An orientation session is required for use. And the best news of all: it's only $2 per session.

To register, check out the contact info on our poster below.

BC Athletes Post Great Results at 2013 Birmingham Wheelchair Tennis National Championships

 Congratulations to the BC athletes and Coach Steve Manley who achieved stellar results in the 2013 Birmingham Wheelchair Tennis National Championships in Brossard, Quebec this weekend. BC sent three athletes and one coach.

Our athletes achieved the following results:

Mika Ishikawa: Winner of quad doubles with Sarah Hunter, 4th in quad singles.
Sarah Hunter: Winner of both quad singles and doubles.
Misha Biletski: 7th in men's singles, semi-finalist in men's doubles.

Great work, everyone!

Check out InterFit's Spooky Spectacular Fundraiser

BC Athletes Represent Team Canada at the ParaGames In Wheelchair Floorball

Several BC athletes made history this weekend when they represented Canada at the ParaGames in  floorball and became the first North American team to compete internationally in the sport. Adam Frost, Jamie Borisoff, Hilary Brown, Roberto Molina, Shaun Mills, Kyle and (former BC resident) Pat Anderson traveled to Breda, Netherlands to compete in the prestigious tournament.

Though floorball/ ball hockey has been a BCWSA sport for decades, it's only recently gained popularity in Europe and has become an internationally recognized sport. Despite having never played at the international level before, the Canadians placed 4th out of 8 teams. The team was put together by Adam Frost and Hilary Brown with the help of the BC Floorball Association.

"BC Floorball is proud to have kickstarted a new movement of Floorball action for athletes of varied abilities, and we will continue to support and encourage athletes of all abilities to get ‘playing hockey’ via Floorball," said BC Floorball's Greg Beaudin.

Congratulations to our members for kicking off what will hopefully be a successful international legacy in floorball! If you are interested in getting involved in floorball, contact Kevin Bowie at kevin@bcwheelchairsports.com.

For more information on this story, check out BC Floorball's article here.

Kelowna Offers Wheelchair Badminton For Fall/Winter

Thanks to the hard work of our community champions, wheelchair sports athletes around the province are getting more and more opportunities to get active. Case in point: Kelowna. Wheelchair tennis athlete and organizer Pat Ryan hosted a successful wheelchair tennis program over the summer. Now that the weather is getting chillier, he's moving the tennis chairs indoors to make room for a new sport: wheelchair badminton.

Wheelchair badminton offers excellent cross-training for wheelchair tennis players, and is a great sport to work on hand-eye coordination. New athletes and veteran players alike are welcome. Sports chairs and rackets are provided.

What: Wheelchair badminton Program
When: Wednesdays, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Where: Kelowna YMCA, 375 Hartman Rd.
Contact: Pat Ryan at 250-491-9838

Thanks to Pat Ryan for organizing this great program!

New Adaptive Sports Club Launched In Kamloops

People with disabilities officially have a new way to stay active with the launch of the Kamloops Adaptive Sports Association (KASA), which took place this Saturday at the Tournament Capital Center. The launch party, which coincided with a Have a Go Day, was attended by twenty people, including representatives from BC Wheelchair Sports, BC Wheelchair Basketball and Adaptive Snowsports at Sunpeaks.

Participants had a great time trying wheelchair racing, handcycling, para-throws and more. In addition to bringing out newcomers, the event was also attended by Paralympians like Jessica Vliegenthart (who started KASA along with her husband Jon) and Paul Clark, who attended the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Paralympics and won five medals.

Congratulations to KASA on their successful launch! To see photos of the event, check our KASA's photo album here.

BCWSA and BCWBS Express Condolences On the Passing of Gord May

BC Wheelchair Sports Association and BC Wheelchair Basketball Society express our condolences on the passing of Gord May. Gord helmed the Coaches Association of BC from its inception in 1993 and was valued friend to both of our organizations. 

 

Gord was dedicated to ensuring that BC's coaches have the skills and tools they need to perform at their best.  This year, Gord received the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for his significant contributions to sport in the province. Gord retired from the CABC this February after 20 years of service and was celebrated at an event that also honoured the Coaches Association of BC's 20 year anniversary.  

 

“Gord’s leadership and advocacy on behalf of coaches in the Province of BC has had an immeasurable impact," said Gail Hamamoto, Executive Director of BC Wheelchair Sports Association. " He leaves a legacy of well-educated and valued coaches who will continue his good work throughout our sport system in the years to come.  We will always remember the laughter we shared with Gord and the humour he brought to every situation.  He will be greatly missed.”  

BCWSA Express Condolences On The Passing Of Brian McPhate

BCWSA extends our condolences on the passing of multi-sport athlete Brian McPhate. Brian passed away last Wednesday at the age of 50 and leaves a long legacy of excellence in wheelchair sports.

Brian began his career as a wheelchair rugby player. He was a member of the national team and represented his country at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics when wheelchair rugby made its debut as a demonstration sport. The team won silver.

After leaving wheelchair rugby, Brian had another distinguished career as a wheelchair tennis player. In 2003, he represented Canada in the World Team Cup in New Zealand and contributed to the team's 5th place finish. He then competed in the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games in tennis and was a semi-finalist in quad doubles. In 2005, he was ranked 8th in quad singles and 4th in quad doubles.

To celebrate his life and legacy to sport, BCWSA and CWSA have put together a photo album of Brian. Click here to view the album.  If you would like to contribute photos or memories of Brian, please email them to arley@bcwheelchairsports.com and we will add them to the album.

Kamloops Adapted Sports Association (KASA) Announces Launch Event

Kamloops, BC – Kamloops Adapted Sports Association (KASA) is thrilled to announce its
official launch, Saturday October 5th 6-8:30pm on court at the Tournament Capital Centre
(TCC) in Kamloops. KASA will be showcasing its three sport offerings: wheelchair basketball,
wheelchair tennis and handcycling. Joining KASA that evening will be BC Wheelchair Sports, BC
Wheelchair Basketball and Adapted Sports Sun Peaks. All together, seven different adapted
sports will be showcased.

Started by Jessica and Jon Vliegenthart, KASA is a new multi-sport club whose goal is to
provide adapted sport opportunities in an integrated setting for everyone - people with
disabilities, their friends/families or those just interested in adapted sport. Jessica is a
Paralympian (London 2012, Wheelchair Basketball) and Jon is able-bodied with 16 years of
adapted sport experience (Canada Games 2003 and 2007, Wheelchair Basketball). The club
currently offers wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, and handcycling and has partnerships
with PacificSport, School District 73, the City of Kamloops, the Kamloops Tennis Club and
Adapted Sports Sun Peaks.

KASA is offering a Beginner Wheelchair Basketball session starting October 3 at the TCC. Sport
chairs are provided, and everyone is welcome. KASA is also implementing a school program
this November that integrates sports chairs into high school gym curriculum to introduce new
physical literacy. Schools are encouraged to use the chairs in intramural programs as well!
KASA currently offers wheelchair tennis on Tuesday nights, 7:30 to 8:30 pm at the Kamloops
Tennis Club.

In partnership with the City of Kamloops, KASA currently offers integrated spin classes at the
TCC where users with a disability have access to a handcycle on a trainer.
KASA is proud to open its programs to the general public and we welcome inquiries from all
athletes, disabled and able-bodied. KASA also welcomes inquires from those interested in
coaching adapted sport.

Visit KASA’s website at www.kamloopsadaptedsport.com for more information on upcoming
programs.

Media Contact:
Jessica Vliegenthart
Kamloops Adapted Sports Association
250-571-8800
KamloopsASA@gmail.com

Register Now for the Halloween Wheelchair Tennis Fun Tournament

Want to get your Halloween started with a little wheelchair tennis fun? Put on your costume and head out to our fun 2013 Halloween Wheelchair Tennis Fun Tournament.

Bridging the Gap, Tennis Canada and BCWSA are teaming up to host the spookiest wheelchair tennis event on the circuit. No experience is necessary and sports wheelchairs and equipment will be provided. Come on our for food, fun and prizes!

When: November 2nd
Time: 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Where: Delta Town and Country Courts
Cost: $10
Contact: Lisa Myers, 604-333-3520 ext. 209 or programs@bcwheelchairsports.com

BCWSA Welcomes Ian Chan and Ryan Schweizer As Wheelchair Rugby Coaches

BC Wheelchair Sports Association is pleased to announce that Ian Chan has been hired to join our staff as Provincial Wheelchair Rugby Assistant Coach. Ian will be working with Head Coach Adam Frost to contribute to the development of wheelchair rugby across the province. Ian is a long-time member of the Canadian Wheelchair Rugby National Team and we look forward to having him share his experience with our up-and-coming athletes.

 We would also like to congratulate Ryan Schweizer on his new role as B Team program coach. Ryan is both a wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis player and has been a valued member of both the A and B team for many years. 

We are looking forward to having both Ian and Ryan on board!

BC Wheelchair Sports Association Heads to Kamloops

The "Tournament Capital of Canada" is about to get even sportier. Thanks to the newly created Kamloops Adapted Sports Association (KASA), Kamloops is primed to become a hotbed of wheelchair sports activity. To give the programs a boost, BCWSA, the Bridging the Gap Program and KASA are hosting a multi-sport Have a Go Day.

People with disabilities in the Kamloops area are invited to come try the exciting sports of wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair track and field and handcycling. The event is free and all sports equipment will be provided.

When: October 5th
Time: 6 - 8:30 pm
Where: Tournament Capital Centre, 910 McGill Rd, Kamloops, BC
Cost: Free!

For more information or to register, contact 
Lisa Myers
Program Coordinator, BCW
604-333-3520 ext. 209
programs@bcwheelchairsports.com

or

Kamloops Adapted Sports Association
kamloopsasa@gmail.com
www.kamloopsadaptedsport.com

Kids With Disabilities Invited to Let's Play Days

Kids with physical disabilities, their families, and their able-bodied siblings and friends are invited to several fun Sunday Let's Play Days. Let's Play is a program that provides kids with disabilities with sports wheelchairs and works with families and schools to help children experience the fun and fitness of physical activity. Even if your child does not use a wheelchair, he or she can still benefit from the freedom of mobility that a sports wheelchair can bring.

Come out for an afternoon of modified wheelchair sports activities and loads of fun! Meet other families of kids with disabilities and share ideas and resources. Sports wheelchairs and equipment will be provided.





When: Sunday Sept 29th, Oct. 27th, and Nov. 24th
Time: 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Where: Mount Pleasant Community Centre, 1 Kingsway at Main, Vancouver, BC
Who: Kids with physical disabilities between 1 - 8 (up to
Contact: Marni Abbott-Peter at 604-333-3532 or email marni@bcwbs.ca
Cost: Free!

Hope to see everyone out for a day of fun!

Hiphop Artist Seeks Wheelchair Rugby Athlete For Music Video

Calling all wheelchair rugby athletes! A popular hip-hop artist is looking for a male wheelchair rugby athlete to appear in a new music video. The athlete will be paid $200 a day and the video will appear on Muchmusic, Muchmore Music, AuxTV, MTV Canada (before and after commercial breaks), Possibly MTV2 (definitely MTV USA website).

Storyline of Music Video
SonReal's "Believe" will be an inspirational music video that will follow four individual stories (A single mom, obese boy, dancer and wheelchair rugby player ) and their struggle to find strength in a world that seemingly works against them. For Believe, production will be using song sections to break up parallel narratives in the story. Each story is linked with their content and each story is defined by sections of the song.

If you're interested, email arley@bcwheelchairsports.com ASAP.

Port Moody Program Boasts Record Numbers

Angela Blacknell of the Port Moody program gives us an update about the great work they're doing:

I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who came out tonight! We had record numbers: 17. We split into 4 teams of 4 and did 3 minute games for the 1.5 hours. We had a mixture of new and now “veteran” players, so keep on spreading the details of the program. The wheelchair sports program is Wednesday from 6:00-7:30. You can register for $20.00 or pay $4.00/night.

 

We also have a Monday night wheelchair basketball program from 6:00-7:30. Basketball includes coaching and refereed games each and every night. Basketball is registered or drop in, drop in is $12.50/night or $10.00 if registering.

 

Hope to you see you out! Family and Friends are ALWAYS welcome!

 

Both programs take place at the Port Moody Recreation Center. If you're interested in taking part in this fun program, don't hesitate to drop in.

Mark Your Calendars for Wheelchair Rugby FunBowl Fundraiser

Here's a great opportunity to raise money for our wheelchair rugby athletes and have a great time doing it.

The BC Wheelchair Rugby Association will be holding their annual FunBowl fundraiser on October 19th from 9 pm to midnight. Tickets are $20, which includes shoes and bowling all night. Drinks will be available. There will also be a 50/50 draw, door prizes, snacks and loads of fun! 

What: Wheelchair Rugby FunBowl Fundraiser
When: Nov 9, 9 pm
Where: Poco Lanes, 2233 Elgin Ave.
Cost: $20

For more information, contact Steve Campbell at pocoskinny@hotmail.com.

BCWSA Launched Fun New Minimal Disability Recruitment Video

If you play wheelchair basketball, you know that many participants are able-bodied or have minimal disabilities that allow them to walk. In fact, 40% of Canadian wheelchair basketball players are able-bodied or minimally disabled. To spread this message, BC Wheelchair Basketball Society teamed up with BC Wheelchair Sports Association and the Bridging the Gap Program to create this fun video. You might even recognize a few of the athletes.

Check out the video below. Enjoy!



And bonus: here are the hilarious outtakes:

BCWSA To Host AGM

780 SW Marine Drive Vancouver, BC  V6P 5Y7 Phone:  604-333-3520 Fax:  604-326-1229

MEMO TO: Member, BCWSA

FROM: Gail Hamamoto, Executive Director

RE: AGM Notice & Proxy vote for the 2013 Annual General Meeting

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Please be advised that the BCWSA 2013 AGM will be held at 6:30pm on Wednesday, Sept 18, 2013 at the BCWSA office, 780 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver.

There are also 4 positions up for election at the AGM.  There are four nominees who are current members of the Board of Directors as follows:

Pat Harris – Pat is a former athlete and coach and has been a Board Member of BCWSA for 18 years.  He is the current President of BCWSA and is the Information Services Manager for Spinal Cord Injury BC.  As a resident of Prince George, Pat is a strong community leader and advocate for persons with a disability living in Northern BC.

Laurel Crosby – Laurel has been involved in Wheelchair Sports in 1979 as a team leader, board member, educational advisor and more.  She is a past board member of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association, and was the Chef de Mission for the Canadian Paralympic Team in Nagano.  Laurel is a principle at an elementary school in Richmond.

Ross Robinson – Ross is an active wheelchair basketball player, past board member of BC Wheelchair Basketball and long serving Board Member of BCWSA.  Over the years, Ross has provided valued guidance and expertise to BCWSA in the areas of harassment, disciplinary proceedings and member relations.  Ross is a Child & Youth Mental Health Clinician with the Coast Fraser Region.

Kelly Smith – Kelly is a Paralympian in the sport of Wheelchair Athletics, having won a silver medal in the Marathon at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.  In addition to serving on the BCWSA Board of Directors for a number of years, Kelly is a high performance coach and mentor in athletics.  When he isn’t on the track or road, Kelly is an Air Traffic Controller.

Enclosed find a proxy form which, as a voting member of this Association, gives you the opportunity to have a vote by designating a member in good standing to vote on your behalf.  This proxy vote is to be used only if you are unable to attend the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, September 18th, 2013.

Please complete, sign and mail, deliver, email or fax your proxy to BCWSA by Tuesday, September 17^th, 2013 to BC Wheelchair Sports, 780 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC  V6P 5Y7

Other supporting documentation includes: Agenda, and nomination form.