Special Olympics BC December Newsletter 2023

By Cam Dore | Published: December 17, 2023
 

December 2023

Sport & Programs Spotlight

Win prizes with SOBC’s lucky draw!

Registered SOBC athletes and volunteers have a chance to win prizes in our holiday lucky draw! To automatically enter, make sure you are enrolled in an SOBC program and registered in the provincial database. If you’re unsure about your enrollment status, feel free to contact us at luckydraw@specialolympics.bc.ca.

Volunteers have the chance to win:
➡️ First place prize – $100 gift card (Tim Hortons or Empire)

Athletes have the chance to win:
➡️ First place prize – Up to $200 in sports gear sponsorship

There will also be lots of secondary prizes of SOBC merchandise for both athletes and volunteers!

The deadline to register is December 31, 2023. The winners will be drawn on January 2, 2024.

➡️ Click here to find all links to online registration resources

More stories and resources

Fundraising Spotlight

Join the journey to National Games!

Members of the Special Olympics Team BC 2024 Training Squad are setting off on a life-changing journey to the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 in February!

Please help spread the word in your communities to encourage others to join the journey and give deserving athletes the full, empowering Games experience! The impact of generous donations will be felt by the athletes who return home with their lives forever changed by the skills, friendships, and confidence they develop through this meaningful experience.

➡️ Learn more

More events and opportunities

  • What an amazing night of celebration and inspiration! The 2023 Sports Celebrities Festival presented by Wheaton Precious Metals was an unforgettable evening, raising over $440,000 for Special Olympics BC! It was truly an evening that demonstrated the power of inclusion and respect for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Read our recap and find photos
  • The 2024 Polar Plunge is back! From February 17 to March 3, take the #Plunge4SOBC and raise vital funds to help athletes with intellectual disabilities find purpose, friendships, and fitness through the Special Olympics sport, youth, and health programs that matter to them. Learn more and register
  • Do you work for a Special Olympics BC sponsor? Please let us know!

Competition Spotlight

#SOTeamBC2024 training camps spark excitement for National Games

Members of the Special Olympics Team BC 2024 Training Squad are setting their sights on Calgary! Athletes, coaches, and mission staff from all eight winter sports held training camps throughout the fall season, ensuring that they are competing at their best at the Special Olympics Canada National Games Calgary 2024, happening February 27 to March 2.

Training camps are vital in preparing for National Games, as it brings athletes together from across the province to develop sport skills, build team spirit, and learn from their coaches.

“I was super impressed with our athletes. I felt that all of our athletes gave 101 per cent. We talked about the increase of that extra one per cent, and that’s what I’m always impressed by.”

-SOBC – Abbotsford speed skating coach Donna Bilous

📰 Read more storylines from #SOTeamBC2024 in our recap

📸 Find photos

 

Health Spotlight

Finding empowerment, fitness, and growth with SOBC health programs in 2023

What a fantastic year of creating #InclusiveHealth with Special Olympics BC! Thanks to the dedication of athletes, volunteers, and supporters around the province, SOBC’s year-round health initiatives furthered the vision to provide equal access to health care for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

In 2023, SOBC made great strides in breaking barriers, thanks to the dedicated efforts of athletes, volunteers, and partners, in order to change the game for the health of people with intellectual disabilities.

📰 Read our year in review recap

More opportunities and resources

  • Health Tip: Our friends at Safeway and Thrifty Foods are committed to helping Special Olympics athletes support their health! Check out the Sobeys Nutrition Corner for tons of helpful resources.

Youth Spotlight

Respecting the Game: The Story of Jackie Barrett

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, in partnership with Special Olympics Canada and the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 Legacy Fund, is proud to announce the premiere launch of a ground-breaking free asynchronous education program, “Respecting the Game: The Story of Jackie Barrett.“

On December 6, the launch event provided a sneak peek into a national education program, geared towards youth from kindergarten to grade 12, that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion through the lived experiences of this incredible role model – inspiring youth to dream big by seeing themselves in a true sport icon.

Please help spread the word so schools and families know they can access this inclusion and awareness-building resource!

➡️ Learn more

Athlete Leadership Spotlight

SOBC athlete David Johnston is making a difference in his community!

Special Olympics BC – Dawson Creek athlete David Johnston was recently interviewed on his passion for sharing athlete stories as an Athlete Reporter and his impactful work with Community Living BC. David has just completed a six-month Athlete Storytelling Training Series with seven other athletes across North America.

“I felt really happy, excited, amazed at the great opportunity to take this course. I liked learning all the different ways you can get the message out on different kinds of media platforms.”

➡️ Read more about David

More events and opportunities

  • Athlete Leadership for this year has concluded, but there are more courses being planned in the new year! Athletes and volunteer mentors who want to build their skills are invited to sign up for the Athlete Leadership Academy so you can be contacted about future courses and opportunities!

 

Story Spotlight

“It’s really neat that I get to go and compete at National Games. So cool to be a part of something that makes me have more fun ski racing.”

Special Olympics BC – Revelstoke’s Yorke Parkin is the youngest athlete of the Special Olympics BC 2024 Training Squad! He is an energetic presence to the alpine skiing team, always wanting to speed on the ski slopes.

➡️ Read more about Yorke
➡️ Suggest people for future profiles

 

 

More Resources

  • After three decades of game-changing work as a Special Olympics BC staff member, Lois McNary is retiring from her role as Vice President, Sport, at the end of 2023. Over the years, Lois has been known and celebrated for her passion, commitment, and vision for this life-changing movement! Read more

 

Our Generous Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

 

Event Partners

Gold Sponsors

 

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

 

In-Kind & Community Partners

 

 

 

 

We always welcome feedback on Special Olympics BC’s e-newsletter! Please contact SOBC Communications Coordinator Jacob Lee at jlee@specialolympics.bc.ca with your ideas.

 

 

 

Special Olympics BC
210-3701 Hastings St.
Burnaby, B.C.   V5C 2H6
1-888-854-2276
info@specialolympics.bc.ca
www.specialolympics.bc.ca

Special Olympics BC December Newsletter 2023

 

 
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