IN MEMORiam
REMEMBERING BILL CLIMIE
January 1937-January 2024
January 1937-January 2024
We are saddened to share the news of Bill Climie’s passing. He was a kind and generous person who was a fabulous volunteer coach with Special Olympics Sunshine Coast. It was Bill who initiated the process to get Special Olympics curling started on the Sunshine Coast. He first joined Special Olympics in 2007. He took the NCCP introduction to sport training as part of his commitment to coaching Special Olympic athletes. He was always encouraging and positive in his interactions with athletes, parents, other coaches and was highly regarded by everyone. We had so much fun travelling to curling bonspiels in Abbotsford. We usually went in January to bonspiels and we celebrated Bill’s birthday on many occasions! He was always such a good sport and he made everyone feel included. He also coached our bocce team. He enjoyed participating in all our fundraisers and community celebrations and he was always willing to lend a hand for any special event. Bill was instrumental in bringing other coaches into the organization from his many community connections – his curling buddies George Proudfoot, Peter Metcalf and Dave Sandness were Bill’s recruits to the curling program. We will miss the way he could light up a room with his presence. Thank you for making SOBC Sunshine Coast something to celebrate. Donation in memory of Bill can be to our local Treasurer Helene Johnston, treasurer 179 Grandview Road, Gibsons, BC V0N 1V3
Picture is taken at Abbotsford curling bonspiel – Bill Climie in left front and George Proudfoot in right front with members of the SOBC curling team
Picture is taken at Abbotsford curling bonspiel – Bill Climie in left front and George Proudfoot in right front with members of the SOBC curling team
IN MEMORiam
REMEMBERING ANNETTE BERTRAND
November 1957 – January 10, 2017
November 1957 – January 10, 2017
Annette, Adam, and Bryan
To all those who follow Special Olympics here on the Sunshine Coast, our Special O community has suffered a great loss.
This month’s article is dedicated to the memory of kindhearted Annette Bertrand. She shone a ray of hope everywhere she went especially here on the Coast and was beloved by all.
Annette volunteered as a coach for basketball, floor hockey and golf. She also dedicated her expertise and passion to the executive as program coordinator and most recently as volunteer coordinator for over 6 years with Special Olympics Sunshine Coast.
In the early morning of January 10, 2017, our beloved Annette, known as ‘Nette’ to the Sunshine Coast Special Olympic family, quietly passed away in her home overlooking the beloved Sechelt Inlet. For two years she had quietly battled an extremely rare form of Cancer.
Nettie’s organizational and computer skills put the Sunshine Coast Special Olympics at the forefront in British Columbia. Her pride and joy was creating our spectacular website. In addition Annette would spend countless hours going over thousands of photos and selecting specific music to put together a year-end review power point display. Her goal was to include each and every athlete, coach and volunteer.
One of her greatest comforts was just walking the Blue Ocean links with a couple of our athlete golfers. “I always walk away with a smile on my face. Special Olympics is the most rewarding organization I have even been with.”
Annette’s husband Chuck said, “Her wish is for everyone who hears of her passing to perform an act of kindness toward a stranger and an act of love for family.”
Annette always told me how proud she was of me as Athlete Reporter. I’d like to return the favor by saying just how proud she made us all with her caring and generous way of being.
One my fondest memories of Annette is riding together on a golf cart during golf tourneys played at The Blue Ocean Golf Club in Sechelt.
Thank You to Annette for all you did for us; the athletes, the coaches and the executive. We will all continue to make you proud.
Special Olympics locally has been graced by a truly special lady. She will be missed and never forgotten.
---
Mike Oswald
Athlete Reporter
Special Olympics Sunshine Coast
Donations to Special Olympics in memory of Annette can be made to:
Special Olympics Sunshine Coast
c/o Helene Johnston, Treasurer
179 Grandview Heights Road
Gibsons, BC VON 1V3
This month’s article is dedicated to the memory of kindhearted Annette Bertrand. She shone a ray of hope everywhere she went especially here on the Coast and was beloved by all.
Annette volunteered as a coach for basketball, floor hockey and golf. She also dedicated her expertise and passion to the executive as program coordinator and most recently as volunteer coordinator for over 6 years with Special Olympics Sunshine Coast.
In the early morning of January 10, 2017, our beloved Annette, known as ‘Nette’ to the Sunshine Coast Special Olympic family, quietly passed away in her home overlooking the beloved Sechelt Inlet. For two years she had quietly battled an extremely rare form of Cancer.
Nettie’s organizational and computer skills put the Sunshine Coast Special Olympics at the forefront in British Columbia. Her pride and joy was creating our spectacular website. In addition Annette would spend countless hours going over thousands of photos and selecting specific music to put together a year-end review power point display. Her goal was to include each and every athlete, coach and volunteer.
One of her greatest comforts was just walking the Blue Ocean links with a couple of our athlete golfers. “I always walk away with a smile on my face. Special Olympics is the most rewarding organization I have even been with.”
Annette’s husband Chuck said, “Her wish is for everyone who hears of her passing to perform an act of kindness toward a stranger and an act of love for family.”
Annette always told me how proud she was of me as Athlete Reporter. I’d like to return the favor by saying just how proud she made us all with her caring and generous way of being.
One my fondest memories of Annette is riding together on a golf cart during golf tourneys played at The Blue Ocean Golf Club in Sechelt.
Thank You to Annette for all you did for us; the athletes, the coaches and the executive. We will all continue to make you proud.
Special Olympics locally has been graced by a truly special lady. She will be missed and never forgotten.
---
Mike Oswald
Athlete Reporter
Special Olympics Sunshine Coast
Donations to Special Olympics in memory of Annette can be made to:
Special Olympics Sunshine Coast
c/o Helene Johnston, Treasurer
179 Grandview Heights Road
Gibsons, BC VON 1V3
REMEMBERING JOHN McARA
December 24, 1964 - August 11, 2014
John McAra worked at the Sunshine Shack at the Gibsons Community Centre volunteering many hours to help young adults with developmental disabilities learn to work in the community and to create a community where everyone belongs.
John was a big sports fan and whenever Special Olympics needed someone to help out at their fundraising events, John was always there to lend his support. He enjoyed attending and cheering on the athletes at their various activities, be it softball, basketball, curling, track and field, soccer or bocce. He always attended the Christmas and June banquets and he helped every year with the Rotary Art and Wine Festival with the non-alcoholic drink table for Special Olympics.
For the past 3 years John was the assistant coach to Jeannie with the bocce team. He was a very caring and devoted man and a wonderful friend to the Special Olympics athletes.
We have lost a very special coach and a tireless volunteer.
John was a big sports fan and whenever Special Olympics needed someone to help out at their fundraising events, John was always there to lend his support. He enjoyed attending and cheering on the athletes at their various activities, be it softball, basketball, curling, track and field, soccer or bocce. He always attended the Christmas and June banquets and he helped every year with the Rotary Art and Wine Festival with the non-alcoholic drink table for Special Olympics.
For the past 3 years John was the assistant coach to Jeannie with the bocce team. He was a very caring and devoted man and a wonderful friend to the Special Olympics athletes.
We have lost a very special coach and a tireless volunteer.
Donations in memory of John McAra can be made to:
Special Olympics Sunshine Coast
c/o 532 Spyglass Place
Gibsons, BC V0N 1V9
Special Olympics Sunshine Coast
c/o 532 Spyglass Place
Gibsons, BC V0N 1V9
