Study Participants Needed

For What?

¨   A research study investigating the participation of youth athletes with physical disabilities in sport.

¨   1-hour interviews will be conducted with each participant

Who is eligible?

¨   Families who have members who are:

o  An athlete with a physical disability (age 12-18)

o  An older, able-bodied sibling of the athlete (no more than 5 years older)

o  At least one parent of the athlete with the physical disability

How do I get involved?

¨   Contact Natalie Lambert at lambernd@mcmaster.ca

  

COMPENSATION IS PROVIDED

Want to Coach Para-Athletics? Here's Your Chance!

If you want to give back to your community as a para-athletics coach or learn more about club coach throws, para-throws or wheelchair racing, register now for the Para-Athletics NCCP Course. The course will take place from March 7 - 9th at the Minoru Park Stadium and Brighouse Park Meeting Room in Richmond.

 BCWSA coach James Hustvedt is teaching the wheelchair racing component and former national team coach Ken Hall is teaching the Para-Throws component. Interested coaches can register for the entire course to work towards a Club Coach certification or just the Saturday and Sunday morning for the para-sport specific instruction.  

For more info, click here or contact jennifer.schutz@bcathletics.org or 604-333-3558

 

You're Invited to the Richmond Olympic Oval's Exclusive Use Track

You are invited to an Open House for the Richmond Olympic Oval’s Exclusive Use Track program!  The Open House will allow you to train for sprints, hurdles, high jump and shot put in the Lower Mainland's only indoor training environment dedicated to high performance athletics. Coaches are welcome to supervise their athletes' full session and take advantage of world class equipment, including weight training facilities, over the cold winter months.  Date: Tuesday, February 18th, 2014  Time: 4pm-8pm  Facility/Activities: 4pm-7pm: 110m for sprints, hurdles, etc  6pm-7pm: Court 9 and Court 10 for throws, jumps, etc  7pm-8pm: High Performance Center for strength and conditioning training  ** For more information around Para-Throws and Para-Athletics contact Lisa Myers**  Program Coordinator with BC Wheelchair Sports  lisa@bcwheelchairsports.com, 604-333-3520, ext. 209

  

Register Now for the Winter Athletics Clinic

Get ready for the upcoming athletics season (or discover a whole new sport) at our Winter Athletics Clinic. BC Wheelchair Sports Association and the WC Race Series are partnering to create this fun, multi-sport event that will help athletes shake off the rust and get ready for the start of the season. The clinic is appropriate for beginners, intermediate and advanced athletics participants.

When:
Saturday, Feb 22:
9:30 am - 4 pm: Sessions at BC Wheelchair Sports Association
12 pm - 4pm: Para-throws at the Richmond Olympic Oval

Sunday, Feb. 23
9:30 am - 2:30 pm: Sessions at BCWSA
noon - 1 pm: WC Race Series AGM

Where:
BC Wheelchair Sports office (780 S.W. Marine Drive) and the Richmond Olympic OVal

Cost: $10 per day (subsidies are available for out-of-town participants)

Registration deadline: Feb. 17th

Contact:

James Hustvedt: 604-616-7106 or james@bcwheelchairsports.com
Alex Wilson: 604-333-3520 ext. 208 or coordinator@bcwheelchairsports.com



Thank you to Choices Market on 57th avenue for generously providing the food for the event.

BCWSA and BCWBS Host Recognition Night

BC Wheelchair Sports Association and BC Wheelchair Basketball Society celebrated the achievements of its members with a special awards night on Friday. Held in conjunction with the BC SCI Community Services Network conference and the BCWSA/BCWBS Regional Planning Workshop, the awards night brought together key members of the wheelchair sports community for an evening of celebration.

The ceremony was held at the BC Wheelchair Sports Association/ BC Wheelchair Basketball Society office and served wine and desserts.

Among those recognized were:

• Joe Higgins – CWSA Robert W. Jackson Award, BCWBS Coach of the Year
• Laurel Crosby – CWSA Service Award – 35 years
• Sarah Hunter – CWSA Female Athlete of the Year
• Gail Hamamoto - CWSA Service Award (20 years)
• Dean Mackinnon – CWSA Service Award (25 years), Basketball BC Hall of Fame Inductee
• Sean Bevan – CWSA Service Award (5 years)
• Steve Campbell – CWSA Service Award (20 years)
• Debbie Carnaby – CWSA Service Award (25 years)
• Byron Green – CWSA Stan Stronge Award
• Gerry Kripps – CWSA Volunteer of the Year
• Trevor Hirschfield – Sport BC Athlete of the Year
• Peter Lawless – Sport BC Coach of the Year
• Tim Frick – CPC Hall of Fame Inductee, 2013 Community NCCP Coach Developer Award
• Jennifer Krempien _ CPC Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2012 Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team (Bo Hedges, Richard Peter) – inducted into Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame
• Michelle Stilwell – CPC Best Female Athlete Award, CAAWS 2013 Women of Influence List
• Duncan Campbell – IPC Paralympic Order
• Justin Johnson – WCBC Junior Athlete of the Year
• Janet McLachlan – WCBC Female Athlete of the Year
• Jim Campbell – BCWBS Official of the Year
• PISE – BCWBS Outstanding Community Service
• Mitch Kosterman – BCWBS Volunteer of the Year
• Erin Higgins – BCWBS Junior Athlete of the Year
• Wendy Jansen – BCWBS Female Athlete of the Year
• Richard Peter – BCWBS Male Athlete of the Year

We also honoured the decades of contributions of Pat Harris, who has stepped down as BCWSA President. Chris Samis, who served for over 20 years as the BCWSA Treasurer, was also recognized.

To view photos of the event, please click here.

Wheelchair Tennis Star Sarah Hunter Wins the Harry Jerome Comeback Award

(Vancouver, BC) – BC Wheelchair Sports Association congratulates wheelchair tennis player Sarah Hunter (Surrey, BC) on receiving the Sport BC Harry Jerome Award, which is given annually to an athlete who has overcome adversity to make an amazing comeback.

“We are so proud of Sarah Hunter not only for her impressive results on the tennis court, but also for the tenacity and determination it took to come back from what could have been a career-ending injury,” said BCWSA Executive Director Gail Hamamoto. “She’s very deserving of this award.”

After a collision with her doubles teammate that resulted in serious injury and a significant time away from the court, Hunter worked hard to get back to peak physical condition. This year, she returned to the international scene in dominant form. She is currently ranked 4^th in the world in singles and 3^rd in doubles. On the ITF tour, she appeared in 19 quarterfinals, 7 semifinals and 7 finals, winning 5 titles. With signature wins at the Salzburg Open in singles and the British Open in doubles, Sarah has re-established herself as Canada’s highest-ranking international wheelchair tennis player.

Nationally, Hunter is just as impressive. At this year’s Birmingham Wheelchair Tennis National Championships, she was undefeated and won both the singles and doubles titles. She is currently the number-one-ranked Canadian quad single and doubles player. Despite her hectic schedule, Hunter still finds time to give back to the sport she loves. Not only is she a long-time athlete mentor for BC Wheelchair Sports Association and the Bridging the Gap program, but she also recently entered into a more formalized mentorship assignment through Tennis Canada with up-and-coming athlete Mika Ishikawa.

Hunter will receive her award at the Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards Ceremony on March 5^th.

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

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

Register Now for the Fun St. Patrick's Day Wheelchair Tennis Tournament

Register now to experience the luck o' the Irish at our Fun St. Patrick's Day Wheelchair Tennis tournament. The event will take place Saturday, March 15 from 4-8pm at the Delta Town and Country Courts (6005 Hwy 17 in Delta, BC) and will have a St. Patrick's Day theme.
The tournament will feature "Steve's Crazy Mixed-Up style." 

All levels are welcome and food, drinks, snacks, and necessary equipment will be provided. There will even be a costume contest, so channel your inner leprechaun to win some prizes. There is only space for 12 people to play in the tournament, so register early!

To register, download the registration form by clicking here and return it to Alex Wilson at coordinator@bcwheelchairsports.com

If you need more info, contact Alex at 604) 333-3520, ext. 208 or coordinator@bcwheelchairsports.com