Special Olympics BC
Our partnership with Special Olympics BC helps provide year-round, high-quality sports programs and competitions for more than 5,200 athletes with intellectual disabilities across the province.
Visit the Special Olympics website here
Prospera Credit Union’s generous support has made a huge difference for Special Olympics BC athletes in 2020. Many people with intellectual disabilities have felt the pain of exclusion long before the pandemic, and many of them lost their main source of social connections when SOBC programs had to pause. Prospera’s support has helped us ensure that athletes continue to feel connected, and has allowed us to develop resources so athletes can maintain their training and health at home. Funding from Prospera is also helping us safely restart our life-changing sport, health, and youth programs that are so important to more than 5,200 athletes in communities across the province
Athlete of the Month - July
When and how did you get involved with Special Olympics?
I got involved with Special Olympics in 1984 – 37 years ago! I was volunteering at Chilliwack Community Policing Services and Corporal Dean Scott, my boss, helped me get involved.
What Special Olympics sports do you participate in?
100-metre swim, 50-metre swim, golf, and bowling. During the pandemic, I joined Fit Family & Friends, which is a Zoom exercise class with Special Olympics BC.
What is your favourite Special Olympics experience so far?
Once while golfing, I hit the flag pole right in the middle for the first time ever!
What would you tell someone about Special Olympics to encourage them to get involved?
It’s lots of fun! You meet people just like yourself. We laugh, have lots of fun, try hard and do our best.
Please tell us a little bit more about yourself! What else would you like people to know about you?
I like volunteering. I volunteer with Inclusion Revolution Sports Initiative and many Special Olympics BC events. I also work at the Chilliwack Wool and Craft store, where I get to share my hobby of knitting. I also take oil painting lessons!
What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
Outgoing.
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The organization provides a variety of sports and youth programs, giving athletes the chance to gain sport skills and improve their health while enjoying training that could take them to competitions at local, regional, national and international levels. But the benefits from Special Olympics BC programs go well beyond the basics: athletes experience joy and acceptance, cultivate friendships and self-confidence, and feel empowered to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
As well, a network of thousands of coaches and fans share a unique experience and sense of community in supporting, cheering on and learning from the athletes they work with.