Community Sport Champions Recognition Program

2020 Community Sport Champion recipients

View video interviews on YouTube Video file

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  Byron Green and Ryan Schweizer, Vancouver Wheelchair Rugby Club

  As wheelchair rugby athletes, Byron Green and Ryan Schweizer understand just how important it is to create a fun, supportive environment for individuals with a physical disability playing adaptive sports. Both play a crucial role in leading and organizing the Vancouver Wheelchair Rugby Club’s practice sessions.

  These weekly practices at the RayCam Cooperative Centre are a chance for new and experienced athletes alike to play together. As co-coach and a national team member himself, Byron endeavours to build a welcoming atmosphere alongside his fellow athletes. For many, it’s their first time getting into a rugby wheelchair. Practices are structured around fundamental skills needed to play wheelchair rugby, so that everyone can work on building foundations together. 

  Experienced athletes like Ryan help to solidify camaraderie by showing new players how to adapt to the game, and sharing experiences in other life skills. To support new athletes who don’t have their own rugby wheelchairs, Ryan borrows chairs from the BC Wheelchair Sports Association, and brings them to practice in his own vehicle.

  Both athletes express their surprise and pleasure in winning the award. “It says we’re on the right track in raising awareness about wheelchair rugby,” said Byron. “We’ve met many athletes over the years, and it’s very rewarding to see the progress they make from day one to five, ten years later. Wheelchair rugby is more than a sport—it makes a real difference to strength, independence, happiness, relationships.”

  “I want to say a big thank you to RayCam for their support over the last 20 years in letting us have court time, as well as the BC Wheelchair Association for lending us chairs,” said Ryan. “They help us make it possible for new athletes to try out wheelchair rugby and build this community.”

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  Jessica Chapelski, Special Olympics BC Figure Skating

  When Jessica Chapelski was invited to coach figure skating for a couple hours a week with Special Olympics in 2009, she didn’t realize just how long she’d stay involved. Eleven years later, she now helps to coach 35 athletes in the Special Olympics Learn to Skate program, and 14 competitive athletes, all of whom range between 8 to 55.

  Her enthusiasm in describing her first volunteer coaching experience is infectious. “There was one athlete who showed a lot of promise and just needed a little bit of extra support,” she said. “Something about working with him drew me into continuing. He’s since gone on to three Special Olympics BC Provincial Games, two Special Olympics Canada National Games, and two Special Olympics World Winter Games. It brought me so much joy to see his success. I’m happy to volunteer my skill and time in this way.” 

  Coaches work with Special Olympics athletes, who have intellectual disabilities, to understand their challenges and what they need to succeed. There is a strong focus on individualized lesson plans and training within an inclusive community. The program helps athletes to focus on their strengths and their capacities, to respect strengths and differences, and to celebrate everyone’s achievements. A teacher by profession, Jessica is convinced that these lessons have made her a better educator in the classroom, too.

  Jessica is incredibly excited for her athletes’ public success when they win medals at National and World Games—and just as proud of their private victories. She sees Special Olympics as one large family, and is bashful about winning a Community Sport Champion award. “I feel like I’m taking credit for how amazing the athletes are,” she said. “They are phenomenal people who draw others in with their own skills and personalities. There are also so many individuals in Vancouver who do much for community sport. To be picked out as a Champion—it’s very humbling.”

  She is grateful for all the possibilities the grant offers. “All of Special Olympics is by volunteers. It can be exhausting some days, but this reminds me why I love sport and why we do this—to pull people together, build community, and empower athletes to know they can do anything, whether in sport or life. It motivates me to continue.”

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  June Lum, Vancouver Speed Skating Club Special Olympics

  June first came across the Vancouver Speed Skating Club while searching for a high-energy sport for her son, who has autism. The warm welcome they received and the inclusive culture of the club impressed the family, which had often struggled to find activities with a fully supportive environment. Here, at the Kitsilano ice rink, June and her husband watched as their son grew in confidence and skill alongside his fellow beginner speed skaters.

  Four-and-a-half years later, June continues to be inspired by the freedom and growth that speed skating offers her son.  

  “He’s improved in so many areas,” June said. “He used to struggle with patience and long days. Now he gets on better with his peers and is able to compete in local meets. He even recently won four gold medals from the BC 2020 Winter Games in competition with Special Olympics athletes. I really appreciate the integration and encouragement the club has given him—it’s really special to see how far he’s come.”

  Motivated by the positive effects she’s seen, June now does everything she can to help the Vancouver Speed Skating Club thrive, from fitting new athletes for boots and safety equipment, to cleaning and organizing the club room. She even recruited families from her son’s hockey team to try out speed skating, and convinced her husband to volunteer as a Special Olympics coach. Vancouver’s Special Olympics speed skating program has since grown from two children—including June’s son—to eight.

  Of her efforts, June is modest and self-effacing. “I was shocked when they told me I won a Community Sport Champion award,” she said with a laugh. “I’m someone who prefers to be in the background, and I didn’t think anything I did was out of the ordinary. I just want to help any way that I can, so that everyone can participate in and enjoy this sport.”

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  Kristopher Hildebrand, Exceleration Triathlon and Multisport Society

  It’s the kind of love story that warms your heart—Manitoba boy meets BC girl, falls in love, and moves out to Vancouver to coach anyone and everyone at the triathlon club she started.

  Kris Hildebrand’s wife opened Exceleration Multisport and Triathlon Society 20 years ago; Kris himself has been with the club for 12. Exceleration has grown from 30 participants to 350, ranging in age from 4 to 21. The club welcomes absolutely everyone, including children and youths with physical or neurological differences who often don’t receive the support they need to play sports.

  “Everyone has challenges, no matter who they are,” said Kris, now head coach. “Coaches will sit down and talk about different challenges kids have, and how we can help them to build skills in those areas—whether it’s learning a physical skill, or the value of hard work, or overcoming fear and anxiety.”

  Exceleration is about celebrating one another’s successes, no matter what form that takes. “We always talk about finding your superpower. A lot of our older kids teach the younger ones—we all train together. We have one youth with a developmental disability who is one of our very best coaches for the four- and five-year-olds, because her superpower is always smiling and encouraging the kids, no matter what. They absolutely adore her.”

  Kris is mildly embarrassed about winning the Community Sport Champion award, feeling more like a coach who represents a team effort. He is proud of the hard work the board puts into raising money to enable everyone to participate, no matter their income, and to remove financial barriers. 

  He is also hopeful that a focus on building capacity for coaches and parents, this will ultimately help to expand the support base for a greater number of athletes. “Imagine how inspiring it is for a kid who hears their coach say, for example, ‘I also have ADHD. These are all the things that I can do.’ We’re investing in the next generation.”

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  Wilson Wong, Special Olympics BC Vancouver Chapter

  Wilson Wong started as a volunteer coach with Special Olympics after hearing an athlete speak at one of his university classes. “The talk was so authentic,” he recalls. “A bunch of my friends were already coaching, so I thought I’d give it a shot. I fell in love immediately with the athletes’ joy and charisma.”

  Selected as an athlete coach for the swim team in the 2017 Provincial and 2018 National Games, Wilson worked with athletes preparing to compete. He worked with vastly different athletes, including a 16-year-old budding star determined to reach the Nationals, and an athlete in his 50s who used a cane outside the pool, and swam to stay active. The 16-year-old did make the National Games. The athlete in his 50s earned a medal in one of his events. Wilson could not be more proud, and sees their diversity as symbolic of what can be achieved when we support differences.

  In addition to coaching, Wilson joined the local’s executive committee. As Co-Local Coordinator, he now leads a team of 12, determining the local’s strategic direction, managing its budget, organizing tournaments, and supporting fundraising initiatives. He is eloquent about the challenges facing athletes with intellectual disabilities, citing the risks of exclusion, reduced opportunities to build and practise skills, and lower life expectancy. 

  To combat these difficulties, the Special Olympics Vancouver local aims for inclusivity, offering 29 sports programs to athletes ranging from 3 to 70 in age. Sport programs are often heavily subsidized, reducing financial barriers.

  When asked how he felt about being a Community Sport Champion, Wilson repeatedly expressed his gratitude and appreciation for everyone in the organization. “I’m humbled by this recognition, truly. It means all those long evenings and extra work on the weekends are valued and appreciated. I’m only one person in something much bigger—it’s really a collective effort.”

Criteria

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  Basic

  The organization nominated will quality for this grant if:

  • The organization is a registered not-for-profit organization in existence for more than 1 year
  • The program takes place within the City of Vancouver
  • The program's objective is related to driving participation in organized sport 
  • The organization is in good standing with the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
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  Nominee

  When selecting a nominee, consider:

  • The nominee must be making organized sport accessible for athletes with a developmental or physical disability within the City of Vancouver
  • The organization or program is largely undiscovered in that it hasn’t previously been recognized or honoured in a high-profile way
  • How the additional investment provided by this grant would support the nominee’s program
  • How the athletes with a developmental or physical disability are benefitting from the nominee’s program or leadership
    • Consider the program(s) mandate or objective
    • How it's making sport more accessible
    • viaSport has provided an accessibility audit tool External website, opens in new tab to assist nominators with identifying areas of opportunity within their sport organization to ensure welcoming environments for persons with a disability
  • What benefits of this nominee’s program or their specific leadership skills
  • The nominee cannot currently hold elected office
  • The nominee must be  living at the time of nomination (posthumous nominations are not acceptable)

  Self-nominations are acceptable.