Register Now for the Port Moody Have a Go Day

In preparation for their new wheelchair basketball program, Port Moody will be hosting a wheelchair basketball Have a Go Day. If you've always wanted to try wheelchair basketball, or if you have played the sport before and want to give it another shot, here's your chance! The event is completely free and wheelchairs will be provided for those who need them.

Wheelchair basketball is an excellent sport for a wide range of disabilities, including spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, amputation, and even knee/hip/leg injuries. As long as you can use a manual wheelchair, there's a place for you in wheelchair basketball. Since wheelchair basketball is an integrated sport, able-bodied players are also welcome.
Bring your family and friends and get ready for a night of fun!

Date: Monday, Sept. 9th.
Time: 5 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Port Moody Recreation Complex, 300 Ioco Road
Cost: free! Age: 13+
To sign up, click here to download and fill out the form, then email it to makiko@bcwbs.ca .

Discover Opportunities For Your Child With A Disability at the Abbotsford Child & Youth Health Fair

If you're a parent of a child with a disability, you might be struggling to connect with the resources your child needs to live a happy, well-balanced life. If you're in the Abbotsford area, you might find the answers to your questions at the Abbotsford Child & Youth Health Fair. This info fair will have representatives from many organizations and businesses that provide support and services to families and children with varying levels of disabilities.

All proceeds go to Matthew's House and the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre. BCWSA and The Let's Play Program will be on hand to help introduce kids with disabilities to the power of sport.

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 18th
Time:  7 - 9 pm
Address: 35192 DeLair Road, Abbotsford BC (Cascade Community Church)

Surrey to Host Fall Wheelchair Tennis Program

Just because the sunny weather is disappearing doesn't mean that it's time to hang up your tennis racket. The City of Surrey will be hosting a Fall wheelchair tennis program at Fraser Heights Recreation Center. The program, which is a partnership between BCWSA, the City of Surrey and Tennis Canada, will introduce athletes aged 8 to 25 to the basics of wheelchair tennis through fun games and drills.

When: Sundays, Sept. 29 - Dec. 1st
Time: 1 - 2:15 pm
Where: Fraser Heights Recreation Centre, 10588 160 Street, Surrey
Cost: 8 sessions for $69.50
To register: Phone 604-501-5100, register online at www.surrey.ca/register, or visit any Surrey Parks, Recreation and Culture facility. The registration code is 4334772

For more information, contact Ross MacDonald at 604-502-6231 or rmacdonald@surrey.ca.

ViaSport Now Accepting Grant Applications

ViaSport is now accepting applications for several grant opportunities. If you are an athlete, coach, community champion, or organizers, read on to find out how you can take advantage of these excellent funding opportunities.

ViaSport Grants

Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund

The Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund (AYSLF) supports programs which encourage BC's Aboriginal youth to participate in physical activity and sport.

BC Ferries Sport Experience Program

Recognizing that travel is often a barrier to athletes and teams seeking competitive opportunities, the BC Ferries Sport Experience Program was founded by Sport BC to provide travel support to not-for-profit, amateur sport organizations and their eligible athletes.

Funding for Girls and Women in Sport

Founded by ProMOTION Plus, the Girls Only and Forever Active Bodies (FAB) 55+ grants are part of an overarching funding program geared towards the development of sport opportunities that inspire girls and women to get active in British Columbia. A program with two available categories, Girls Only focuses on supporting girls and women of all ages, while FAB 55+ is limited to women aged 55 and above.

Local Sport Program Development Fund

The Local Sport Program Development (LSPD) Fund allows community sport to be more accessible to people of all abilities by providing funding support to sport programs initiated by municipalities, sport organizations and Aboriginal communities.

Hosting BC Grant Program

The Hosting BC grant program provides funding to sport event organizers to facilitate sport, economic, social and community development. Since 2004, over $4 million has been invested in 470 sport events in communities across BC developing a legacy of sport hosting expertise.

New Wheelchair Basketball Junior Program to Launch in Surrey

The City of Surrey and BC Wheelchair Basketball Society will be launching a new junior wheelchair basketball program at the Cloverdale Recreation Centre this Fall. The program is open to kids aged 8 - 18 years old of all experience levels and abilities and will run from on Tuesdays from October 1st to November 19th. Participants will learn the basics of wheelchair basketball through fun games and drills.

When: Tuesdays, Oct. 1 - Nov. 19th
Time: 6:15 - 7:30 pm
Where: Cloverdale Recreation Centre, 6188 176 Street
Cost: $49.50 for 8 sessions
To register: phone 604-501-5100, visit any Surrey Parks, Recreation and Culture Facility, or visit www.surrey.ca/register. The registration number is 4332553



If you have any questions, please contact Ross MacDonald at 604-502-6321 or rmacdonald@surrey.ca

Important Information About the 2013 Birmingham National Wheelchair Tennis Championships

2013 BIRMINGHAM NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION (DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 26, 2013)

DATE: October 17 – 20, 2013

VENUE:
Sani-Sport Brossard
7777 Marie-Victorin
Brossard, QC J4W 1B3
Phone: (450) 655-7220
Sani-Sport
Brossard, Quebec

DIVISIONS:
Men’s Open – Compass format singles, Doubles
Men’s A-Compass format or regular draw singles depending on entries, Doubles
Women’s Open –Singles, Doubles
Quad Open - Singles, Doubles
Junior Open-Singles, Doubles

Entries will be accepted in order of ranking based on Tennis Canada rankings as of the entry deadline. The acceptance list will be distributed 72 hours following the entry deadline. Each Division will include Singles, Doubles and Consolation when appropriate. Round robin formats may also be used.

PRIZE MONEY: $15,000

ACCOMMODATION:
ALT Hôtel - Quartier DIX30
6500, boulevard de Rome
Brossard (QC), Canada,
J4Y 0B6
Phone: 450-443-1803
1-877-343-1030

Rate: $144 + tax/. Multiple occupations for 2 (max 4 with addition of 20$ for each person over 13years old)

There are a limited number of designated wheelchair accessible rooms in the hotel. Please indicate if you require one of these rooms. The remaining rooms are large, with ample space in the bathrooms. Bring a bath seat if you need it. To make your hotel reservation, please specify the event name: Wheelchair Tennis Nationals when reserving your room.  Phone (direct): 450-443-1803
1-877-343-1030
Group ID Number: Parasports Québec

ENTRY FEE:
$100.00 Entry Fee
Cheque payable to Parasports Québec

Includes: (Airport Transfers, Banquet, Tournament Lunches and Player Package).

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: The registration deadline is September 26. An acceptance list with the entries for each division will be distributed September 30, 2013.

TOURNAMENT CONTACT:
Martin Gadouas, Tournament Director
Parasports Québec
4545 Pierre-de Coubertin
Montréal, QC H1V 0B2
Phone: (514) 252-3108 ext : 3647
Fax: (514) 254-9793
Email: martingadouas@parasportsquebec.com
Website: www.parasportsquebec.com

Apply Now for a Birmingham Nationals Wheelchair Tennis Grant

Tennis Canada is pleased to offer travel grants to attend the 2013 Birmingham National Wheelchair Tennis Championships October 17-20 at Sani Sport Brossard in Brossard, Quebec. The travel grants are available, courtesy of the Birmingham family, to Provincial Team athletes to assist with the cost of travel to the event. Grants are available in the following amounts:

Atlantic Region: $250
Ontario: $200
Quebec: $100
Manitoba/Saskatchewan: $300
Alberta: $350
British Columbia: $400

To be eligible for a grant athlete’s must:

o Be nominated by their Provincial Wheelchair Sport Association or Provincial Tennis Association
o Be in good standing with their Provincial Association

To obtain the application form please contact Janet Petras at
jpetras@tenniscanada.com.

Application deadline is October 1st, 2013.

Canada Games Wrap Up

The Closing Ceremonies have wrapped up, and we say goodbye to the 2013 Sherbrooke Canada Games. Our six athletes racked up four medals: one gold, one silver, and two bronze!

Here's a recap of how our athletes performed:

• Eddy Solla: 7^th in 200m and 7^th in 1500m
• Djami Diallo: 4^th in 200m,  4^th in 400m, 4th in 1500m
• Tristan Smyth: Silver in 400m, Gold in 1500m
• Andrew Davis: 4th in shot put, 5th in discus.
• Jessye Brockway: bronze in shot put, bronze in discus.
• Colin Morrow: 6th in discus, 6th in shotput.

Congratulations to all our participants and a big thank you to all of the staff and volunteers who made it happen, especially our Program Coordinator Lisa Myers! Way to go, everyone!

To see photos from the event, click here.

Tristan Smyth Wins Gold!

He's already racked up a silver medal in the 400m. Last night, however, Tristan Smyth won gold in the 1500m in a photo finish. He slipped past the finish line just 0.03 seconds faster than silver medalist Michael Kahn.

"I took the lead with 500m to go, but then Michael put on an unexpected surge and it was a close fight to the finish line," he said. "I had to wait until the results were posted before I knew I had the win."

According to Tristan, the 2013 Sherbrooke Canada Games have been memorable.

"I'm honoured to represent BC here and proud of my performance at the Canada Summer Games," he said.

Way to go, Tristan! We're so proud of you!

Tristan Smyth Wins Silver!

Congratulations to Tristan Smyth, who won silver in the men's 400m today at the 2013 Sherbrooke Canada Games with a time of 52.44. This is BCWSA's third medal at the games. Jessye Brockway won two bronze medals in discus and shot put.

Tristan will compete later today in the men's 1500m and tomorrow in the men's 200m.

Congratulations Tristan! BCWSA is cheering for you!

Try Rowing at a Special Event at the Richmond Oval

Here's a great opportunity for those looking for some cross-training or just want to mix up their existing fitness routine. Many of our athletes are already using rowing as an off-season and cross-training sport, and many more have fallen in love with this exciting Paralympic sport. Rowing's adaptable to athletes of many different disabilities, so why not give it a try?

Watch the 2013 Sherbrook Canada Games Live!

The 2013 Sherbrook Canada Games will be webcast, allowing you to cheer our athletes on.

This schedule is current as of August 13th:

Tuesday, August 13
1:50 pm EST: Men's 200m heat
2:45 pm EST: Men's shot put
3:15 pm EST: women's discus

Wednesday, August 14
no competition

Thursday, August 15
2:45 pm EST: Final B Men's 400m
3:15 pm EST: Final A Women's 400m
3:25 pm EST: Final A Men's 400m
4:05 pm EST: 400m medals
8:00 pm EST: 1500m Final Women
8:15 pm EST: 1500m Final Men
9:00 pm EST: Medal presentation

Friday, August 16
1:20 pm EST: 200m Final B Men
2:10 pm EST: 200m Final A Women
2:20 pm EST: 200m Final A Men
4:00 pm EST: 200m Final Medals
5:00 pm EST: Men's Discus final

Spotlight on Canada Games: Jessye Brockway

Our final BCWSA athlete profiled is Jessye Brockway. You may recognize this para-throws athlete's name already. Not only did she recently break a Canadian discus record, but she was also profiled by ViaSport as one to watch at the Canada Games (her profile is at 9:11).

Jessye has already had success at this Canada Games, winning BCWSA's first medal. Today, she won a bronze medal in shot put!

Jessye will compete in discus on August 16th at 3:45 pm EST (12:45 PST).

Keep up the good work, Jessye!

Spotlight on Canada Games: Andrew Davis

Our wheelchair rugby fans are sure to recognize Andrew Davis. He's been a member of the Team BC B and A wheelchair rugby squads for several years.

Two years ago, however, he tried para-throws and quickly discovered his hidden talent in the sport. Since then, he's experienced a great deal of success (despite claiming that one of his sport highlights is falling out of the para-throws chair at Nationals). This year, he won gold in shot put at the 2013 National Championships and he's on track for more medals.

One fun fact about Andrew: He won a math award for being in the top 3% in Canada in elementary school. 

As a quadriplegic, Andrew has a unique sport motto: "No hand function, no problem!"


Andrew will compete:
August 13 @ 2:45 pm EST (11:45 am PST) in shot put
August 16 @ 7:15 pm EST (4:15 pm PST) in discus.

To view the webcasting schedule, please click here.

Good luck Andrew! 

Spotlight on Canada Games: Djami Diallo

Our next Canada Games athlete profiled as part of our Spotlight on the Canada Games series is Djami Diallo. This busy racer loves spending time with her large family, reading, writing, watching TV and taking part in other sports, like wheelchair basketball.

Djami counts reaching the Canada Games as one of her sport highlights.

"I think that reaching Canada Games is the cherry on top of the cake so far!" she said. 

What keeps Djami training at such a high level? Her love for the sport.

"My sport motto is 'live it, love it' because it reminds me to put the effort in for my sport, even if sometimes it's painful," she said. "And because for I love what I do. That's a really big factor for me. I love the speed I can generate in the moments after the gun goes off."

Djami is racing:
August 12 @ 3:50 pm EST (12:50 pm PST) in the 400m prelims.
August 12 @ 8 pm EST (5 pm PST) in the 1500m prelims
August 13 @ 1:50 pm EST (10:50 am PST) in the 200m prelims
August 15 @ either 2:45 pm EST ( 11:45 PST) or 3:25 pm EST (12:25 PST) in 400m finals (depending on results).
August 15 @ 8 pm EST (5 pm PST) in the 1500m final
August 15 @ 8:45 pm EST (5:45 pm PST) - 1500m medal presentation
August 16 @ 1:20 pm EST (10:20 PST) or 2:20 pm EST (11:20 am PST) for the 200m finals (depending on results)
August 16 @ 4 pm EST (1 pm PST) - 200m medal presentation.



To view the webcasting schedule, please click here.


Go Djami Go!

BCWSA Hiring Provincial Wheelchair Rugby Assistant Coach

BC Wheelchair Sports Association is hiring a provincial wheelchair rugby assistant coach.

In collaboration with BC Wheelchair Rugby Association, local wheelchair rugby clubs, Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association, the Canadian Sport Institute, and the provincial team coach, the assistant provincial team coach will be responsible for assisting with planning, implementing, coaching and evaluating wheelchair rugby initiatives.  The goal of this system is to develop athletes and/or teams who have a high probability of successfully representing BC in national & international competitions, including the Parapan American Games and Paralympic Games.  

 This is a part-time position lasting from September 2013 to June 2014. Please download the application by clicking here and submit it by August 26th by 5 pm PST. If you have any questions, please contact Adam Frost by emailing adam@bcwheelchairsports.com.

Spotlight on the Canada Games: Eddy Solla

Our next Canada Games athlete is Eddy Solla. Eddy is a veteran of the Canada Games. He competed in 2009 and used the opportunity as a learning experience. If his recent results are any indication, Eddy is already on the track to success despite his young age. Last year, he set a Canadian Record in the 800m for his class.

Eddy will be competing at the following times.

August 12th, 4:10 pm EST (1:10 pm PST): Men's 400m Heat
August 12th, 8:20 pm EST (5:20 pm PST): Men's 1500m Heat
August 13th, 2:10 pm EST (11:10 am PST): Men's 200m Heat
August 15th 2:55 pm EST (11:55 am PST) or 3:35 pm PST (12:35 PST): Men's 400m Final (depending on results)
August 15th 8:12 pm EST (5:12 pm PST): Men's 1500m Final (Medal presentation at 8:45 pm EST)
August 16th 1:30 pm EST (11:30 pm PST) or 2:30 pm EST (12:30 PST): Men's 200m Final (depending on results)
August 16th: 4 pm EST (1 pm PST): Medal presentations.

To view the webcasting schedule, please click here.

Good luck Eddy!

Spotlight on Canada Games: Colin Morrow

Next up on our Spotlight on Canada Games series, we're profiling throws athlete Colin Morrow.

Colin has been competing in para-throws for three years and loves the sport because of the people in it. His Canada Games goal is to break the 5m mark in shot put.

Colin will be competing at the following times:

August 13 at 2:45 pm EST (11:45 am PST): shot put final
August 13 at 4:30 pm EST (1:30 pm PST): shot put medal ceremonies
August 16 at 7:15 pm EST (4:15 pm PST): discus final
August 16 at 8:25 pm EST (5:25 pm PST): discus medal ceremonies.

Want to see Colin in action? To view the webcasting schedule, please click here.

Good luck Colin!

Doug Blessin Wins Medals Despite "Worst Trip Ever"

The results of Doug's persistence!

 

Sometimes being a high-performance athlete means achieving your best in the worst conditions. That's what happened to target shooter Doug Blessin, who headed to Ottawa for the Canadian National Team Tryouts this week.

 

First: his flight was delayed. Upon finally arriving in Ottawa, he realized that his bag didn't make the trip and the rental company didn't have a car for him...or the hand controls he needed. After waiting around, the rental car company paid $350 to send him by taxi for a 1.5 hour drive to the competition destination. (According to Doug, this is like "taking a taxi from Vancouver to Manning Park"). When his bag finally arrived the next day, the power in the hotel went out and he was stuck in darkness. 

 

After overcoming all of those obstacles, Doug learned that the equipment check for the competition would be held in a sand parking lot. If you're a wheelchair user, you'll understand that sand + wheelchairs is not a great combination. 

Though shooting is a sport that requires intense mental discipline, Doug was able to refocus and perform at his best. He ended up getting first place in his prone and standing events, and taking first place overall. 

Great work, Doug! Congratulations!

Spotlight on the Canada Games: Tristan Smyth

The first week of the 2013 Sherbrook Canada Games is underway and the excitement is building. We, however, are looking forward to the second day of the competition, which will feature wheelchair athletics. Leading up to the Canada Games, we'll be profiling several BCWSA athletes who are competing in the event.

First up: Tristan Smyth. Tristan is a Bridging the Gap alumni who, after initially starting out with wheelchair basketball, discovered that track was his true love. He's experienced great success in just over two years, competing in National Championships, and attending development camps in Florida.

This talented athlete will attempt to shine in one of the most competitive classifications: the T54 men. Tristan will be competing at the following times.

August 12th, 4:10 pm EST (1:10 pm PST): Men's 400m Heat
August 12th, 8:20 pm EST (5:20 pm PST): Men's 1500m Heat
August 13th, 2:10 pm EST (11:10 am PST): Men's 200m Heat
August 15th 2:55 pm EST (11:55 am PST) or 3:35 pm PST (12:35 PST): Men's 400m Final (depending on results)
August 15th 8:12 pm EST (5:12 pm PST): Men's 1500m Final (Medal presentation at 8:45 pm EST)
August 16th 1:30 pm EST (11:30 pm PST) or 2:30 pm EST (12:30 PST): Men's 200m Final (depending on results)
August 16th: 4 pm EST (1 pm PST): Medal presentations.

To view the webcasting schedule, please click here.

Good luck Tristan! We'll be cheering for you!

Sarah Hunter Wins Salzburg Open

Canadian top quad player Sarah Hunter (Surrey, BC) ended her tournament trip to Europe on a high note by winning the Salzburg Open in Austria. After advancing to the finals of the ITF 1 sanctioned event against Italian Giuseppe Polidori on Saturday, Hunter (currently ranked nr.7 in the world) put on a strong performance today to beat another Italian, World Nr. 27, Marco Innocenti by 6/4 6/4.


"I got off to a shaky start going down 0-2 but was able to settle down and started to move my opponent," said Hunter. "Marco played a good match as he usually does against me, especially on clay, however today I was able to find the corners both only serves and returns. It's great to get another tournament win after all the hard work and tournament play I put in over the last months. "


Next on her tournament schedule is the US Open Super Series event in Saint Louis end of August, where she will try to give the top 5 players a strong opposition.


" Mentally I am much better, but need to keep working at it. I still get tight at times. However my focus is much improved. I really noticed it during my last matches and something I need to build on for the 2nd half of the season."

Steve Manley Blogs From The Americas Junior Camp Pt. 2

Well day three is always exciting for the campers and yesterday was no exception.

The day started with a meet and greet with Conan O'Brien at Warner Bros. studios, then it was off to Universal Studios, lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe first before the Coaches were then dragged all over the park and taken on rides, some unwillingly, such as the Mummy, the Simpsons, Jurassic Park and the new Transformer ride.

The backlot tour is always fun, but yesterday things went a bit crazy on our tour with the campers having to survive an earthquake in a subway station, an attack from a great white shark, a flash flood, a knife wheedling Norman Bates and finally being caught in the middle of a fight to the death battle between King Kong and dinosaurs.

One of the things that make this came so successful and fun for the campers is the incredible efforts of the team of volunteers that among other things pack and unpack some 30+ wheelchairs in and out of 4, that's right FOUR, SUVs every tine we need to go somewhere. Thanks guys. Pictured is one of them Henry, our wheel genie. It's almost magic how he packs those cars.

Back onto the courts today. Semi-finals in the tournament plus more match for the other players.