Monday, February 28, 2011
Story 24: The Wheelchair Loan Program
In the mid-nineties, BCWSA Director of Sport Gail Hamamoto took some track athletes to Alberta for a clinic. Many of the BC athletes she brought were pushing "outdated clunkers" and Gail was impressed when the Alberta staff brought out several brand new chairs thanks to their wheelchair loan program.
"I knew that we had to get a similar program going in BC," recalled Gail. "So I went home and told Kathy Newman about it and we began applying for grants. The CKNW Orphans' Fund was our biggest supporter and slowly other organizations came on board and we just kept amassing chairs."
Today, BC Wheelchair Sports has 75 chairs to loan out to athletes. BC Wheelchair Basketball has a further 130 chairs. Thanks to this program, athletes in wheelchair tennis, athletics, rugby, basketball and floor hockey no longer have to worry about the financial burden of purchasing a chair. Considering that a sports chair costs at least $3000 -- and many cost significantly more -- the wheelchair loan program eliminates one of the biggest barriers to participation that new athletes face.
"It's enabled hundreds of new people to get involved," said Gail. "It's also allowed athletes to try out chairs to understand what set-up works for them before they invest in buying one. We understand, however, that many athletes will never have the financial means to purchase their own chair, so they can use our chairs for as long as they're playing."
Want more info on the wheelchair loan program? Click here.
Story 23: Bridging the Gap
The goal of Bridging the Gap is to eliminate the gap between people's introduction to wheelchair sports and their continued involvement in physical activities. Bridging the Gap hosts sport-specific Have a Go days where participants can try certain sports in a fun, supportive atmosphere. Current wheelchair athletes volunteer their time to demonstrate sports and answer questions that participants may have. Developmental programs are in place so that interested athletes can continue to participate. Bridging the Gap also offers human resources support and financial support for development programs. Junior programs, peer mentorship and leadership training are also available.
Here is a slideshow of some Bridging the Gap events in BC:
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Story 22: The Higgins Family
1. How did you get involved in wheelchair sports?
Our family began our involvement through Joe. He has been involved with wheelchair basketball since he was young. I met Joe on the plane on the way to Seoul in 1988 where we both competed at the Paralympics in swimming. Since then, our family has skied together, played wheelchair basketball together (all 5 of us!) and biked around our neighbourhood together. Joe and I play golf as much as we can in the spring and summer.
2. Why did you decide to get involved in wheelchair sports to the extent that you did?
We didn't really decide to be involved exactly. It just happened prompted by our desire to pursue sports activities as a family and maintained by sheer enjoyment.
3. Describe the ways in which you've been involved in wheelchair sports.
I started with swimming (not really wheelchair swimming, though!) and skiing in the 1980s. I used to ride my bike on campus (to get to class on time!) and now I share that with the kids. Golf is something Joe and I started a few years ago to move us to our retirement plan!
When Joe and I got married, he was heavily involved in coaching wheelchair basketball. In the early days when Erin was a baby, we had lots of athletes coming over to train with Joe on the rollers and to benefit from some one-on-one coaching. Exposure for Erin started early!
Joe stayed home with the other two kids after his coaching role changed. As they grew up, he continued to be involved in basketball, but we also took up skiing more seriously. All three of the girls started skiing before age 5. We spent a lot of time up at Big White and Joe developed his abilities with the sit ski. Joe never goes half measures with any of his interests and soon we were teaching up at Whistler with their adaptive ski program!
In 2004, Joe was approached to fill in as coach with the Calgary Rollers during a tournament in Vancouver. By this time, I had been playing a bit of basketball in the City League for fun. I was asked to play in the tournament so that they could make points. After one day, I was exhausted as I have never been before or since. I guess I did okay because both Joe and I had our contracts extended with the Rollers for the rest of the season and into the next season!
4. How has being involved in wheelchair sports impacted your family?
As mentioned, we continue to enjoy many ski vacations as a family and all three of the girls are good skiers now. This has contributed greatly to family cohesion. Because wheelchair basketball offers opportunities for able-bodied people, this has allowed our daughters to experience sport with their father. They have played regularly in the junior tournament in Richmond. Erin in particular has discovered her love of the sport and went to Halifax for the Canada Winter Games. She has found her inner agro personality despite being a generally gentle-spirited person. In a more general way, our involvement in wheelchair sports has promoted in our daughters a sense of tolerance and understanding of diversity in others.
5. How has the wheelchair sports community in BC changed since you first got involved?
I think there is more awareness of wheelchair sports in the able-bodied community and a perception that it is foremost a sport and not adaptive fitness for "the handicapped."
6. What is your wheelchair sports highlight from the past 40 years?
Playing with Erin and Joe on the Vintage Cable Cars team that also includes Erin's godfather Peter Colistro and the Lundie team. It is a real pleasure to share the sport with two generations of athletes!
7. How does it make you feel to watch your kids competing in wheelchair sports?
I have been really proud of Erin in her involvement in the sport. With success comes her desire for further involvement.
For those of you who missed it the first time around, here's Joe and Erin talking about their experience at the 2011 Canada Winter Games.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Story 21: The Gardner Family
Lynn Gardner began volunteering in the late 1970s when her son Kevin became involved in wheelchair sports at age 9. She served as an assistant manager or manager at several competitions, including 10 BC Games, and even took a team from Victoria to a competition in Morioka, Japan. Lynn was also an executive member of the Victoria Wheelchair Sports Association for 20 years and a board member of the BC Wheelchair Sports Association for several years.
Her son Kevin continued her volunteering legacy. Not only did he compete at a high level in wheelchair basketball and racing -- including participating in the 1988 Paralympics in Seoul in the 500m and 10000m -- but he has also served as the co-commissioner of the BC Wheelchair Basketball League, the chairperson of the Victoria Wheelchair Sports Association, and a member of the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association's Athletics Committee. Kevin was also the long-time player-coach of Victoria's wheelchair basketball team and coached several teams at BC Games.
We interviewed both Kevin and Lynn to find out how wheelchair sports impacted their family:
1. How and when did you get involved in wheelchair sports?
Lynn: We got involved with wheelchair sports when Kevin was 9 after being introduced to it by Linda Hunt, who was also a Sidney resident.
Kevin: My first competition was (I think) swimming in the 1977 BC Games for the Physically Disabled. I was starting to get involved with some wheelchair sports in Victoria by that time, although for quite a few years my favourite sport was playing road hockey with my friends in the neighbourhood.
2. Why did you decide to get involved in wheelchair sports to the extent that you did?
Lynn: Kevin was interested, so we all followed along as a family doing whatever we needed to do to help. As the years went by, I got more involved with our Victoria group and then with BC Wheelchair Sports. Our first trip as a family was to Spokane with other Victoria athletes and it just continued from there. We put many miles on our vehicles over the years to make sure that Kevin and others got to all our local activities.
Kevin: I kept playing sports just because I kept having fun trying new sports, traveling and meeting people. Competing at multi-sport events like the BC Games exposed me to basketball, tennis and racing and I competed in all of these for quite a few years. After the basketball nationals in 1987 I decided to focus on racing to try to get to the 1988 Paralympics.
3. How has being involved in wheelchair sports impacted your family?
Lynn: All our family was involved in many activities, but many were just Kevin and I. Wheelchair sports becomes like a big family once you are involved no matter where you are from. It really was a big part of my life for many years.
Kevin: My family spent a great deal of time around competitions, even camping near where the BC Games were being held in the summer. Until I was old enough to drive, my mom was in the car a lot driving me to wherever sports were being played. My mom's involvement lead to her own volunteering career as a team manager/ official. All of us have met great people and made a lot of friends through wheelchair sports.
4. How has the wheelchair sports community changed since you've been involved?
Lynn: Wheelchair sports has grown so much since I first started. It has expanded to include so many sports and opportunities for so many people. There is no doubt that this a result of the leadership of our Executive Director Kathy Newman and the staff and board members she has put together over the years. Thank you Kathy, staff and board for all the years of dedication to the athletes, which is what BCWSA is all about.
Kevin: There is more of everything: more opportunities in sports in more parts of the province and much better awareness of what's available. When I got involved, people were just beginning to play tennis and racquetball and no one was skiing or playing sledge hockey. Most people had never seen a wheelchair sport unless they knew someone who was involved or the demo team had come to their school.
5. What is your wheelchair sport highlight from the past 40 years?
Lynn: It is hard for me to pick one highlight, since every competition has its great memories. For me personally, the race that was most exciting involved Kevin at the track trials in Edmonton where he, Paul Clark and Dan Wesley qualified for the Olympic trials in Belgium in 1987. As a family, our involvement with Richard and Marni's family has been a highlight for us. It was a privilege for us to be included in several honourings for them in Duncan. The people I met through all the years of involvement are really what make being involved with BCWSA such a great memory.
Kevin: Qualifying for the trials (held in Brussels) for the 1988 Seoul Olympic wheelchair 1500m demonstration event. To get to the trials, I had to finish in the top four in a qualifying race held at the 1988 Canadian nationals in Edmonton. Over the last 200 meters of that race I went from last place to fourth, passing everyone except Andre Viger, Dan Wesley and Paul Clark.
Thank you to the Gardners for their years of service to the BC wheelchair sports community. Below is a photo slideshow of the Gardners in action:
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Story 20: The Harris Family
Our social media coordinator traveled to Prince George to interview Pat, Nancy and Avril and find out how wheelchair sports have impacted their family:
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Story 19: The Hirschfield Family
Bobby fixes Trevor's chair.
Hustling to change a wheel.
Trevor competes for Team Canada
Today, we profile the efforts of the Hirschfield family and their work in the wheelchair rugby community both within BC and abroad.
Trevor Hirschfield is considered one of the best low-point wheelchair rugby players in the world. He was named Best 1.0 at the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships and has won many other Tournament All Star awards at national and international events. When Trevor's on the court competing for Team Canada, he doesn't have to look far to find his family. His father Bobby is also involved heavily with the Canadian national team, most recently as an equipment manager at the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships. The entire Hirschfield clan is usually not far behind. They're known to be ardent wheelchair rugby fans and even traveled to the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing to witness Trevor win a bronze medal.
Within BC, Trevor and his family have also been instrumental in developing wheelchair rugby on Vancouver Island. As one of the few national team athletes who lives in BC full-time, he mentors developing athletes and participates in demos and Have a Go days. Trevor's public speaking has also introduced British Columbians to wheelchair rugby.
We sat down to talk to Trevor about the impact his family has had on his career:
Q: Why did you decide to get involved in wheelchair rugby to the extent that you did?
A: My first attempt at rugby was in 2001 at a Have A Go day in Victoria. Duncan Campbell made sure that I wasn't going to miss it with all the constant reminders. After trying rugby for the first time I knew that it would be something that I would be interested in pursuing to the next level. I was really drawn to the physical aspect of the sport. It's not everyday you get to see two wheelchairs crash into each other at full speed. Being an ex-hockey player the physical part of the game felt natural.
Q: How has being involved in wheelchair rugby impacted your family?
Rugby has been great for my family. It gave me goals and something to work towards and my family has supported me every step of the way. Rugby helped my to move on with my life after my injury which has been extremely positive for both me and my family.
Q: What is your wheelchair rugby highlight so far?
My favourite rugby moment was getting to play on the world stage in front of my family in Beijing. I loved that I was able to share that moment with them.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Story 18: The Abbott-Peter Family
Instead of devoting a few thousand words to the contributions of this family, we decided to put together a little video together with some photos supplied by both families. Music: The Avett Brothers - "Head Full of Doubt/ Road Full of Promise" from the "I and Love and You" album.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Story 17: Family
To kick off Family Week in our 40 Years, 40 Stories, 40 Days campaign, we've put together a video blog about a second generation of wheelchair athletes, some of whom who recently competed at the 2011 Halifax Canada Winter Games. Erin Higgins, Derek Lundie and Avril Harris all got involved in wheelchair basketball because their parents are former elite wheelchair athletes. We talk to both the athletes and their parents to see how these kids went from gym rats to respected athletes in their own right.
Story 16: Able-Bodied Integration
More importantly, however, the presence of able-bodied athletes turns the wheelchair into just a piece of sporting equipment, as opposed to a marker of disability. You want to play hockey? Strap on some skates. You want to play soccer? Get some cleats. You want to play wheelchair basketball? Get into a sports wheelchair. A wheelchair therefore becomes just another way to compete.
While wheelchair basketball is perhaps most famous for its policies on integration, other sports also allow able-bodied participation. Wheelchair tennis, for example, has "up-down" tournaments where either an able-bodied person plays against a person in a wheelchair and the person in the wheelchair is allowed one extra bounce of the ball, or an able-bodied and a disabled person play on a doubles team together.
Whatever your opinion on able-bodied integration, it's clear that able-bodied athletes are an important part of the wheelchair sports movement in BC. Today, we salute these able-bodied athletes who dedicate years to a sport that they cannot play at a Paralympic level.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Story 15: Kathy Newman
Kathy is known for her ability to run with a good idea, even if it's untested. She was instrumental in the founding of the Bridging the Gap program, which introduces people with disabilities to wheelchair sports and helps to ensure their continued participation. The Bridging the Gap program has since spread across Canada and its model has inspired other countries to adopt similar initiatives. During the recently 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships, she invested in a robust social media and webcasting program, something that had never been done before in wheelchair sports. The initiative was a success and thousands of people in countries around the world got a chance to share in the excitement of the event online. Kathy has also lobbied government and the private sector to remove barriers for people with disabilities and increase funding for wheelchair sports. She also serves on various wheelchair sports boards across Canada.
Kathy's enthusiasm and positive attitude is contagious and she inspires those she works with to maintain a standard of excellence and innovation. This was most recently seen when BCWSA hosted the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships, which set records for attendance, ticket sales, merchandise sales and media attention. Currently, Kathy is turning her attention to assisting with the 2011 Under 25 Women's Wheelchair Basketball Championships, which will take place at Brock University in St. Catherines, Ontario this July.
Recently, Kathy received the prestigious "In Her Footsteps" award and we've got video footage of the event below. Thank you, Kathy, for your 30 years of hard work and dedication to wheelchair sports.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Story 14: BC Games
The excitement of attending a BC Games often inspires athletes to compete at a higher level. Many future Paralympians have fond memories of sleeping on gym floors, socializing with athletes from other sports and tasting the pressure of competition for the first time.
Here is a look back at some moments in BC Games history:
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Story 13: Dean MacKinnon
Dean MacKinnon began officiating wheelchair basketball in 1962 and has been involved in the sport ever since. He has officiated in the provincial wheelchair basketball league, the BC Winter Games, Canada Games, the NWBA and even attended international tournaments in the USA. In addition to being the head official and allocator for wheelchair basketball in BC, Dean is also a respected wheelchair rugby referee and introduces new officials to the sport through educational clinics.
Here are some photos of Dean MacKinnon in action.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Story 12: The 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships
The results were even more positive than we expected. The event made over $40,000 in ticket sales, sold out of all merchandise (despite re-ordering part way throughout the tournament), attracted 57 accredited media and saw coverage on TV, radio and the newspaper. The event would not have been possible without over 150 dedicated volunteers and our many sponsors.
Here's a photo look back at the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Story 11: The Vancouver Cable Cars
The Cable Cars were inducted into the BC Sports Hall of fame (as the Dueck Powerglides) and and the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Hall of Fame. In recent years, BC athletes have paid tribute to the Cablecars by naming an NWBA team and a Division 2 BC - CWBL team after them. Today, we honour the Cablecars and the many athletes, coaches and volunteers who helped to ensure their legacy.
Below are some photos of the Cable Cars and a photo collage from the BC Sports Hall of Fame induction.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Story 10: Coaches
From internationally renowned coaches like Tim Frick (who we’ll be hearing about in more depth later) to the player-coaches who ensure that their small local teams develop, BCWSA thanks the wheelchair sports coaches of BC. Here is a photo retrospective of some great coaching action shots over the past 40 years.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Story 9: The Demo Team
Since its inception in the 1980s, the BC Wheelchair Sports Demo Team has introduced 50,000 students and teachers in schools across the province to wheelchair sports. Current and former athletes demonstrate the sport, share their stories and promote messages of safety, participation, integration and living a healthy, active lifestyle. Students and teachers got a chance to try the sport and play with demo team members. As a result of this program, thousands of children are now aware of wheelchair sports and what people with disabilities can accomplish.
Last year, the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships demo team brought wheelchair rugby to 15,000 students in the Richmond and Vancouver school districts. Thanks to a series of lesson plans created by Laurel Crosby and her team and the hard work of the demo team, the stands of the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships were filled with 7,000 cheering fans who knew the sport of wheelchair rugby better than many of the adults.
Here are some photos of the demo team throughout the ages. We've also got a video blog of the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships schools program.
James Truer impresses some school kids during a demo.
Blast from the past
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Story #8: George Boshko - Athlete, Coach, Builder
George is known as a team player who does what needs to be done to have the team function effectively. Though he has retired from competitive sport, George has given back to the wheelchair sports community by coaching many women’s and junior’s teams and attending numerous BC Winter Games events as a member of the coaching staff. For his outstanding contributions, George was named BCWBS Volunteer of the Year in 2000, BCWSA Coach of the Year in 1996 and has also been inducted into the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame.
For our 8th story, we highlight the contributions of George Boshko and provide a photo retrospective of his career.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Story 7: Team BC
The 2011 Canada Winter Games will take place in Halifax this week, so for story #6 we’re highlighting the contributions of the athletes, coaches and support staff on Team BC.
Wheelchair basketball was first introduced at the 1995 Canada Games in Grand Prairie, Alberta and is the only wheelchair sport at the Winter Games. Not only are the Canada Games teams made up of a mix of able-bodied and disabled athletes, but they’re also co-ed. (Teams get an extra classification point for every woman they have on the floor).
For some athletes, the Canada Games are a stepping stone to Paralympic competition. For others, the tournament is a chance of a lifetime to experience the excitement of a Olympic-like, multi-sport event. But while the athletes are the ones winning the medals, Team BC’s achievements would not be possible without the dedication of coaches, support staff, teammates back home, and parents who drive athletes to every practice and cheer them on.
Here is Team BC’s Canada Winter Games team:
Nathan Bragg (Maple Ridge)
Stephanie Park (Maple Ridge, 2011 U25 national team athlete )
Coti Koski (White Rock)
Natalie Imbeau (West Vancouver)
Erin Higgins (Delta)
Jack Kosterman (Langley)
Kelsey Dyck (Langley)
Matt Ficocelli (Kelowna, 2009 U23 national team athlete)
Dieon Green (Victoria, 2009 U23 national team athlete, Team Co-Captain)
Avril Harris (Prince George, Team Co-Captain)
Derek Lundie (Delta)
Erik Vliegenthart (Kamloops)
Head Coach: Cheryl Corrigan (Richmond)
Assistant Coach: Ross McDonald (Burnaby)
Team Manager: Makiko Harada (Vancouver)
BC Wheelchair Sports wishes the 2011 Canada Winter Games team good luck in Halifax. To cheer them on, leave your own comment below and we'll pass it along to the team. Here are some video interviews we conducted with some athletes and coaching staff. To follow the team’s progress, check out BC Wheelchair Basketball's website at www.bcwbs.ca.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Story 6: Volunteers
Sometimes, volunteers are people unconnected to the wheelchair sports community just looking for a way to give back. Other times, our athletes or coaches donate their time to help the next generation. Either way, BC Wheelchair Sports is grateful for the many different types of volunteers who have passed through our doors over past 40+ years.
Since there are too many great volunteers to list by name, today we'll celebrate volunteers by posting a volunteer recruitment video from 1989. Join "Felicia" and "Liz" as they learn about the many ways you can get involved in wheelchair sports....including participating in a shirts vs. skins wheelchair basketball game and volunteering your services as a clown. Catch the Spirit!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Story 5: The Wheelathon
In addition to being a success fundraiser, the Wheelathon also raised awareness about wheelchair sports, though for many able-bodied people new to pushing a wheelchair this "awareness" came in the form of blisters on their hands the next day. The focus of the Wheelathon has always been that there are multiple ways to get around -- walking, pushing a wheelchair, rollerblading, bicycling, etc -- and all of these modes can exist together.
Though the Wheelathon no longer takes place, today we take a look back at an event that put the 'fun' back in fundraising. In addition to gathering some of the best Wheelathon Photos, we've unearthed a TV commercial from the first wheelathon and we've even got a news story from the 1994 Wheelathon.
Do you have a favourite Wheelathon memory? Share it in the comment box below or go on Facebook to leave us a message.
Footage from a TV commercial for the first annual Wheelathon:
A news story about the 1994 Wheelathon.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Story 4: Capturing the Paralympic Spirit
Here's a video look back at some of the excitement of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic relay. Feel free to share your memories of the Paralympics in the comment section below.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Story 3: Junior Wheelchair Sport Camps
Thank you to the many leaders, volunteers, medical staff and sponsors who have made these camps a reality over the years. Here’s a look back at some moments in junior sport camp history.