Today, we continue Family Week of the "40 Years. 40 Stories. 40 Days" campaign by celebrating the Abbott-Peter clan. Most people in the B.C. wheelchair sports community are familiar with Marni Abbott-Peter and Richard Peter, who are two of B.C.'s most decorated Paralympians. Less well known are the contributions of their families, who have done everything from travel worldwide to cheer on Team Canada to create art for logos and awards.
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.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Story 17: Family
It may be Family Day in parts of Canada today, but it's Family Week here at BC Wheelchair Sports. This week, we'll be profiling several influential families who have participated in wheelchair sports as athletes, coaches, supporters, and builders.
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.
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
Able-bodied participation in wheelchair sports is probably the Paralympic movement's most controversial topic. Critics of integration say that able-bodied or minimally disabled people take spots on teams away from disabled people and that disabled athletes with a higher classification rating (such as 4.5 in wheelchair basketball) who acquired their disabilities as children and so were not able to take advantage of the able-bodied sports system are at a significant competitive disadvantage. Proponents of integration, however, say that the classification system does a good job of leveling the playing field, that able-bodied athletes raise the level of play in wheelchair sports, and that able-bodied athletes help teams in smaller towns to be able to field enough athletes to compete.
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.
Up-down tournament in tennis.
Article on integration from 1990.
Article on Laura Goertz, who was not only an athlete, but also became a massage therapist to the Canadian women's wheelchair basketball national team after her retirement from the sport.
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.
Up-down tournament in tennis.
Article on integration from 1990.
Article on Laura Goertz, who was not only an athlete, but also became a massage therapist to the Canadian women's wheelchair basketball national team after her retirement from the sport.Saturday, February 19, 2011
Story 15: Kathy Newman
It's hard to imagine BC Wheelchair Sports without Kathy Newman. She started working for the organization as an office manager in 1981 and took the helm as the Executive Director in 1987. For the past 30 years, she's ensured that the BC Wheelchair Sports Association remains a world leader in providing sporting opportunities for people with disabilities.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
To celebrate our province's attendance at the 2011 Halifax Canada Games, we've already profiled Team BC here. But before Canada Games athletes get a chance to trade for another province's pins or put on the Team BC jersey, they often represent their zones at a provincial games. From the BC Games to the BC Disability Games to the Western Canada Games, athletes, coaches and support staff get a taste of the fun and pressure of a multi-sport competition.
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:
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
They're often not the most popular with players and coaches on the court, but referees have been crucial in shaping BC Wheelchair Sports' history and it's hard to find a referee more dedicated to wheelchair sports than 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.
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
Our 12th story is also one of our most recent stories. This September, BC Wheelchair Sports hosted the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships. Twelve of the top wheelchair rugby teams competed for gold in front of thousands of cheering fans. From the sold-out crowds to the professional quality webcast to the robust social media program to the schools program, which exposed 15,000 school kids to the sport of wheelchair rugby, BCWSA tried to host a world-class event.
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
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
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