British Columbia Blind Sports and Recreation Association

News and Content

March 2004 Issue
Insight - The Newsletter for the Membership of BC Blind Sports

Table of Contents

Memberships
Message from the President
Sport BC's 38th Annual BC Athlete of the Year Banquet
Sport BC President's Award
Premier's Athletics Awards
BC Disability Games - Coquitlam
Goalball
Hockey
Paralympic News - Cyclists Win Two Gold at ParaPanAmerican Championships
Active Living Alliance Youth Exchange
Calendar of Events
Board of Directors
Staff

MEMBERSHIPS!!!!
The end of the membership year is fast approaching. April 1 is the beginning of the new membership year. We have included a membership form with this edition of the newsletter. We would appreciate it if you would fill it out and send it in, if you require any assistance in filling out the form please let us know and we will be happy to assist you. We've included an additional form so you can register a friend or family member. If you need additional forms contact Susan at the office.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
As you will see from the body of this Newsletter, spring is a time for reflections and celebration of our accomplishments over the past year. As I write this I am looking forward to attending the Sport BC's Athlete of the Year banquet. It is gratifying to note that the difficulty of the selection process is not finding deserving recipients but deciding which of the many candidates we should nominate. This is true for both participants and volunteers. Congratulations to our members who have been nominated and also to those who were considered.

I would also like to congratulate Jane Blaine as she has been selected to serve on a very prestigious national working group on sport for persons with a disability. Jane has been attending monthly meetings in Ottawa with this group. I am confident that the interests of athletes who are blind or visually impaired are being well represented. Please call Jane if you have any questions or ideas about this.

Susan Flanagan, our Coordinator of Member Services, has recently returned from attending the Active Living Alliance for Canadians With a Disability AGM and conference in Scarborough, Ont. Again, it is gratifying to know that our staff is actively participating at the national level in matters concerning our members.

I am pleased with the continued progress of BC's Goalball program. I had my first opportunity to witness Goalball at a competitive level when I attended the International Blind Sports Association World Championships And Games in Quebec last August. The game is challenging and exciting. It was notable, however, that there were no BC players on either the men's or women's teams. Nor has BC entered a team in our national championship in several years. It appears this is about to change. There is no reason that BC athletes should not excel at this sport as they do in other sports.

As gaming is an important source of funding for BC Blind Sports, we have been following the proceedings in the City of Vancouver and through out the Province with interest. We have taken the appropriate measures to ensure the proceeds from gaming continue to go to charities such as ours. A full report will be presented at our AGM.

It is unfortunate that we will not be meeting in Coquitlam this summer. The cancellation of the BC Disability Games came as a shock but the commissioners and staff are working to provide alternative opportunities for our athletes. This could be an opportunity for us to improve on the experience provided by the games.

Spring is also the time we plan for the upcoming season of summer activities. Look at the list of formal events for the coming months and plan to be involved. The Run For Light on May 28th is an event we should all try to attend. Every year this event attracts great numbers of participants supporting athletes who are blind and visually impaired. Come out and experience the excitement. The 3rd Annual Nanaimo Run for Light will take place in September. This run covers a route that is as impressive and beautiful as the Stanley Park run. I hope to see you there. If you would be interested in having a Run For Light in your area of the province, please contact our staff.

We are looking forward to another great year. I hope to see everyone at at least one event during the upcoming months. Say hello and introduce yourself. Don't forget, I don't see very well.

Submitted by Doug Stoutley

SPORT BC'S 38TH ANNUAL BC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR BANQUET

Sport BC will be hosting the 38th Annual Athlete of the Year Banquet on March 9 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver. This is the event where British Columbia's top athletes, coaches and officials are recognized for their achievements and dedication in sport. Several BCBSRA Members were nominated for Disabled Athlete of the Year including: Brian Hill and Donovan Tildesley of Swimming, and Shawn Marsolais of Tandem Cycling. Two of the three finalists are Brian Hill and Donovan Tildesley. The winner will be named on March 9th. Good luck to both of our finalists!

SPORT BC PRESIDENT'S AWARD

The President's Award is given to a member of the Provincial Sports Organization who has made a significant contribution in the growth of that organization. As we have so many outstanding volunteers, the choice is diffcult. BC Blind Sports will present Gary Steeves with the President's Award at the Sport BC Banquet. Gary served as Vice President of BC Blind Sports And Recreation Aassociation from 1997 to 2002 and has been instrumental in building both the grass roots and high performance aspects of our Tandem Cycling and Hockey Programs.

Gary is currently the President of The Canadian Blind Sports Association and played a major role in that organization's hosting of the 2nd International Blind Sports Federation World Championships and Games held in Quebec City this past summer. These were the largest games ever held for athletes who are blind, with 1500 participants from 71 countries. Congratulations Gary!!!

PREMIER'S ATHLETICS AWARDS

The Premier's Award is given to one male and one female from each provincial sport organization who have excelled in sport at the International level. This year, BC Blind Sports And Recreation Association has nominated Donovan Tildesley and Shawn Marsolais for this award. Donovan has been nominated for his excellent achievements in swimming at the IBSA World Championships And Games in Quebec this past summer. Not only did he win six gold medals but also he smashed the World Record in the 800 M free style by nearly three minutes. Shawn has been nominated for her excellent performances in the sport of Tandem cycling. Shawn and her pilot Lisa Sweeney are the only female tandem team in Canada. In their first season together, they placed in the top half at two International competitions. Both athletes have made standards for the Paralympics.

BC DISABILITY GAMES - COQUITLAM

This year's BC Disability Games have officially been cancelled; however, BC Blind Sports is in the process of planning competitions and programs to replace the Games. Contact the Blind Sports office to find out more details on upcoming events in your sport.

GOALBALL

Goalball continues to grow throughout the Province. The Okanagan Storm goalball team is now in their third year. Athletes are blind or visually impaired and come from Oliver, Summerland, Vernon, Winfield and Kelowna and truly represent the Okanagan region. Because of the distances involved for travel, they only practice once per month. The two coaches, Tom Cowper and Peter Midtdal are both teachers of students who are blind or visually impaired. These coaches had been looking for an activity that would allow these individuals to compete in a competitive sport as part of a team and Goalball seems to be the answer. It requires physical skill as well as strategy and teamwork and is greatly enjoyed by all participants.

In the lower mainland a group of adults continue to play two nights a week. This group is made up of competitive and recreational players both male and female. The competitive men's team recently participated in a tournament in Vancouver Washington where they held their own against some of the top American teams. This team is working hard to be ready to compete at the Goalball National Championships in April.

If you are looking for a great workout and a fun time, come and try goalball! New players and volunteers are always welcome. If you would like more information about goalball please call the office.

HOCKEY

The Vancouver Blind Hockey team will be wrapping up another season at the end of March. A priority for next season is to expand the number of players both males and females regardless of their level of vision are welcome to join. Thanks very much to the sighted volunteers that come out to help each week. If you would like more information on blind hockey please call the office.

PARALYMPIC NEWS -
BC Cyclists Win Two Gold at ParaPanAmerican Championships

Gene Della Siega and pilot Ken Johnston won both the Road Race and the Time Trial at the ParaPanAmerican Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina, December 2 - 9, 2003. The recently formed team exceeded expectations and made National Team standard in the Time Trial.

ACTIVE LIVING ALLIANCE YOUTH EXCHANGE

The Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability is pleased to invite 50 young people from across Canada to Ottawa for the experience of a lifetime. The fourth annual Youth Exchange will be held in Ottawa at Carleton University from June 29 to July 4, 2004.

The Youth Exchange is a celebration of the diversity of disability and Canadian culture. It exposes participants to a wide variety of active living opportunities, provides a cultural experience through interaction with people from across Canada, and inspires and enhances personal leadership qualities.

The Alliance and BC Blind Sports And Recreation Association encourages young Canadians between the ages of 14 and 17 with a disability as of June 1, 2004, to call Susan at the office for more information on participating.


CALENDAR OF EVENTS

April 1       
Memberships Are Due
April 2 - 4       
Goalball Nationals, Saskatoon
April 15 - 16    
Victorian Blind Golf Assoc. Championships, Australia
April 20 - 21   
World Championships for Blind and Vision Impaired Golfers, Melbourne Australia
April 28 - May 2
Defi Sportif, Montreal, Quebec

May 6       
World Triathlon Championships, Madeira, Portugal
May 28       
24th Annual Run for Light, Vancouver

June 24-27       
Cycling National Road Championships, Kamloops, BC

July            
Pacific Coast Blind Golf Championship,
Lower Mainland
July 15 - 18   
BC Summer Games, Abbotsford
July 25 - 26   
Western Canadian Blind Golf Association
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Aug           
Cycling Track Nationals - Victoria, BC

Sept 15   
Canadian Blind Golf Association Championships, Kelowna, BC
Sept 17 - 28   
Paralympic Games, Athens Greece
Sept           
3rd Annual Run for Light, Nanaimo, BC

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Doug Stoutley    - President
Tom Ollis        - Vice President
Frank Reynolds - Treasurer
Brian Cowie     - Athletes Rep
Al Hanet         - Chair, Sport Commissioners
Larry Walsh     - Chair, Regional Reps
Tami Grenon    - Member at Large
Bruce Gilmour     - Member at Large

STAFF
Jane Blaine    - Executive Director
Mike Lonergan - Program Director
Susan Flanagan - Coordinator of Member Services
David Chung    - Financial Manager
Shawn Marsolais - (Acting) Office Coordinator

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