Spotlight on Special O: Sports start, Inclusion and seasons changes

October. The beginning of the Special Olympics Sunshine Coast sports season. AND All HALLOWS EVE!! BOO!! 

There are many returning athletes as well as coaches for the fall/winter season: 36 athletes and 16 coach/ volunteers plus six executive members for a total of 22 volunteers. This month, Cathy Verge and Sam Giampa were presented with their 10-year and 15-year pins, respectively. As an athlete who has been coached by both of these veterans, I can attest to their staying power and dedication. 

Tania Flynn after recovering from knee surgery will once again take up the reins of head coach for track & field. Cathy Verge will get wet with the Orca swim team. Basketball coach Marilyn Downey and volunteers Sam, and David will dribble and dunk with their respective athletes. Curling coaches Dave Sandness and Pat Stuart will set the ice ablaze alongside their curlers. 

Basketball in Gibsons is in the throes of rescheduling but basketball has begun in Sechelt with a “great turnout” with coach and volunteers Sam, Marilyn, David and Jane.  

The swim schedule for the Orcas has been given a “flip turn” by the drought but the Gibsons Pool has now accommodated the team until such time as the Sechelt Aquatic Centre reopens.  

Curlers are braving the ice at the Gibsons Curling Club on the Saturdays from 12:15 to 1:40 p.m.  

A big thank you goes out to bocce coach and new executive member Judy Macdonald who signed up to become our new volunteer coordinator. We welcome your expertise and insights! 

Recruitment for many positions in SOSC is still very much needed. Volunteers will find happiness, purpose and fulfillment in seeing the smiling faces of athletes when they sign up to coach golf or floor hockey. Or, you can feel a strong sense of pride by deciding to join Special Olympics in an executive position and help athletes reach their potential and meet goals into the new year and beyond. 

“InclusionFest,” took place on Wednesday, Oct.12 at the Roberts Creek Hall. The Community Living BC (CLBC) Community Council and SCACL hosted the event with more than 70 people attending, including many SOBC athletes from West Vancouver, Sunshine Coast and Powell River. As the name implies, this was an opportunity for self advocates (many of whom are athletes) and CLBC to display how vital inclusion is within the diverse/ability community.  

There were presentations from some notable people: hi’wus an Elder/Knowledge Keeper from the Sechelt Nation spoke about the ways of life in the time of his grandfather and the true power of community; Nicolas Simons impressed upon the crowd how important inclusion is to society; and several self-advocates spoke about what inclusion means to them in the workplace and every place.  

In summary, the night was really about how communities of all kinds can gather, learn and befriend.  

The weather is changing. Life is changing. Even SOSC is changing but it always remains ready for anything.