Mike Oswald Athlete Reporter
 
How’s about this sun eh?
 
Saturday April 12th, Sunshine Coast Special Olympics were amongst the 40+ volunteer organizations hosted by the Sunshine Coast Rotary Club for the Volunteer Fair. It was held at the Sechelt Senior’s Centre and both the Auditorium and Lunch Room were filled with many wonderful groups all hoping to spread the word.
 
SOSC would like to extend our thanks to Michael McKenzie and his team for putting this all together and for offering us a prominent front row table. It was great to see so many smiling faces and discuss different ideas with other groups, as well as interacting with individuals who considered joining our ranks. Thanks also to the Chatelech students who manned the grill and sold hot dogs and snacks by donation.
 
Shout outs go out to Julie Gleadow for her donation that was used for purchases of supplies and giveaways for our table and to Rachel Lobb from Little Brit of Heaven who donated bits of sweets and treats at a discount and finally, my garden for the beautiful array of flowers that were front and center.
 
In fact, the reception was so warm that Special Olympics has been invited to host a table at this year’s Pride Festival on June 1st. This will be a first for our Local and it is sure to spread the word of inclusiveness!
 
Volunteerism is a FUNdemental aspect in our organization. April 27th to May 3rd is National Volunteer week and to celebrate, SOBC is holding a contest where one can write and explain why you love volunteering for Special O. If you submit it by May 3rd you have the chance to win a $50.00 grocery gift card for use at Empire Company Ltd. stores including Safeway and Thrifty Foods! While we do not have those stores here on the Coast, feel free to submit kisses to our local Volunteers to our Coast Reporter and you will win our deepest appreciation – and maybe a free Special O pencil.
 
Spring/Summer programs have begun and with the warm weather so early on, it’s been delightful to play and score and have fun in the sun! Of course Lindsay Pearson, Amber Fenton, Hailey Borowski, Stephanie Rogers and Genny Verge are busy training and playing, getting ready and excited for the upcoming BC Provincial Summer Games in Prince George July 10th-12th.
 
Summer is coming in hot, and it’s sure put a Spring in our step!

Welcome to my 12th article of 2024.

This holiday season marked the resurgence of a long-standing Special O. tradition. On Tuesday, December 3rd, 100 Special Olympics athletes, their families, coaches and volunteers gathered together in Roberts Creek at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club for their first holiday event in 5 years. The food was scrumptious, turkey, veggies, gravy and salad and pumpkin pie with whipped cream, all prepared by Chef Extraordinaire Chelseah. All the staff were kind and interacted with everyone sharing smiles and attention to detail.  In addition to the pumpkin pie, a gorgeously decorated cake was supplied by IGA. Big thanks to our ’Secret Santa’ who paid for every athlete’s ticket to the event and even a complimentary fountain drink!

Thanks to the immensely talented Helene Johnston, our financial coordinator, eight new families to our Local, received poinsettias as gifts. She also provided all forty-five athletes with a beautiful hand made gift bag containing a mandarin orange, a candy cane and a Special O cookie created by Nicole Berry with their own name written on the icing!!
 
Randy Younghusband took on the role of emcee and ran with it, playing it smooth, with humour and levity that only enhanced the cheery energy. The atmosphere was happy and one could feel the warmth as folks, dressed to impress, mingled, chatted and shared news and holiday plans. Truly a wonderful return to our lovely custom.
 
As for the sports side of things, all programs will soon be winding up for the holidays, making a triumphant return in January 2025. There are possible plans in the wind for the curling team. Rumors of a new sport activity are circulating and the swim team has a possible fun meet to look forward to. And there is always a possibility that another Polar Plunge may be in the works. Whatever happens, athletes and coaches will be rip roaring ready!!

Happy Holidays to all my readers. I look forward to sharing more news about Special O in 2025!!

Mental Health. Truly something that is important to everyone, especially those in the Diversability Community. Special Olympics BC in conjunction with many specialists, hosted a free virtual mental wellness Family Health Forum on Monday, October 21st. It was designed to “support mental wellness by offering practical insights into mental health literacy, recognizing when to seek help, and learning stress reduction techniques”.
 
This type of initiative is a valuable way to help “overcome barriers athletes face in accessing metal health supports and offering practical supports for staying mentally strong. These are assets any athlete needs to facilitate peak performance.
 
Once again, the four-year cycle of regional qualifiers and provincial, national and ultimately world games has begun. Stay tuned for more information regarding dates, venues and attendees.
 
But first, our Local is pleased to announce the return of the Christmas Party!! That’s right, on Tuesday, December 3rd at the Roberts Creek Golf and Country Club, our athletes, coaches and volunteers will celebrate with a dinner and dance. Tickets for this highly anticipated event will be available soon!
 
Meanwhile, the fall/winter season is well underway in our Local. Swimmers are diving into the lanes in both Gibsons and Sechelt, basketball players are dunking in both towns as well. And of course, there’s curling!

 
Curling is a popular sport for many of our members. Every Saturday at the Gibsons Curling Rink, coaches Randy Younghusband, Gavin Weiner, Blake Simpson and new volunteer Christine host this winter activity for the athletes to learn a bit of ‘Hurry Hard and Rock Slinging’. Jeanne Hage, a curler of 20 years’ experience, has assisted Special O curlers for 6 years. She enjoys helping athletes learn new skills such as the proper way to throw the rock down the ice, and the importance of releasing the throw before the red line and of course, having fun.
 
Jean speaks for all of our coaches, as well as all the other volunteers. It’s thanks to all of you that we athletes are able to showcase our talents and work on strengthening our skills. Thank You!
 
That about covers it faithful readers!
Have a delightful November!

The fall/winter/2025 season is once again upon us. On September 26 at 4:30pm athletes and volunteers will drop by SCACL offices on Mermaid Avenue in Sechelt to register for their fave sports. It will be a chance for all to share stories of travel, camping, beaches, and summer jobs and to catch up with friends. Hope to see new athletes this month! It’s always terrific to see fresh faces.
 
Athletes can sign up for Swimming, Track and Field, Basketball, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Bocce or Curling. Remember you need monies for general registration fees and for certain sports. If you have not completed your form to register, don't worry helpers will be available. Just be sure to bring it along with the necessary info.
 
Coaches are also eager to help athletes both new and familiar have fun while getting in shape. We have a few new coaches this season, but as always, we are looking for more. Start dates and venues will be announced by end of month.
 
If you or someone you know is looking to fill their time with fun and smiles, please consider joining our ranks!
 
One way you can find out more about Special O and our mission is to drop by Sunnycrest and Trail Bay Malls. As part of our 30th anniversary celebration, SOSC will have displays, photo albums and scrapbooks containing past articles all of which depict how fun and fascinating being in Special Olympics can be. Athletes, coaches and volunteers will also be on hand to chat with and answer your questions about who we are and how to get involved with our fantastic organization.
 
First we will be at Sunnycrest Mall on Saturday, September 7th from 10:00 am to 3:00 p.m.
 
Next we will be at Trail Bay Mall on Thursday September 12th from 10:00 am to 3:00 p.m.
 
Finally we will be back at Trail Bay Mall on Thursday September 19th from 10:00 am to 3:00 p.m.
 
Huge congratulations to Lindsay Pearson & Hailey Borowski for their dynamite performances at this years B.C. Summer Games.  Lindsay won a silver medal for the 100-metre breaststroke!
Hailey brought home 4 silver for the 50 metre freestyle, back and breaststroke and the 4X50 freestyle relay as well as a whopping 4 gold for the 100 metre back and breaststroke, and freestyle and the 100 metre individual melody (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle). These two are shining examples of what dedication, courage and hard work can achieve.
 
Looking forward to getting back to business after a successful summer.
Limber up. Let’s get to it…. And find out how much Special O can make you smile.

Global Week of Inclusion runs from July 15th to 21st.  Inclusion is so much more than a word. Being accepted and welcomed by society is what everyone wants, especially those with disabilities. In sports or the workforce, folks with diversabilties have what it takes and more to get the job done.
 
For example, in July, the BC Summer Games in Maple Ridge included Special Olympics athletes on their roster with 38 of them competing in Athletics and swimming. Our own Orca swim team members Lindsay Pearson and Hailey Borowski were amongst them swimming their best and bringing home the hardware. Truly Amazing!
 
SOBC asked athletes from all over the province to share their stories of being included and some fellow Athlete Reporters did just that through their video and written submissions. David Johnston from Dawson Creek explained that becoming an Athlete Leader has enriched his life; while Jake Miller from Trail B.C. expressed that joining Special O “makes me feel like I belong.”
 
However, it is vital to realize that once this week is finished, the need to be included doesn’t fade away. A Huge Thank You to all workplaces that hire those with disabilities and to community enterprises such as the Sunshine Shack in Gibsons.
 
Located at the Gibsons Rec Centre, the Sunshine Shack provides jobs for those with diversabilties. One can purchase a snack, coffee or cold drink after a workout or on their way to a function at the Centre. Several SOSC athletes also work there. Amber, Brandon, Coco, Linsey and others do a fantastic job of serving the tasty treats and operating the till. It’s not all toil though, as they do take time in the summer to enjoy the sun and take part in outings around the community and beyond.
 
However, come September, Sunshine Coast Special Olympics will begin to rev up for the 2024/25 season. Athletes and volunteers will be at Sunnycrest Mall on Sept 5th and Trail Bay Mall on Sept 12th and 19th to highlight the many facets and faces of our illustrious organization. We hope to continue to attract new members to our cause, as athletes, volunteers and fans in our community. Community is what keep everything running swimmingly.
 
In closing, I reiterate that the diversability community is grateful for all the programs, initiatives and workplaces that understand the importance of inclusion within their ranks: Special Olympics, Sunshine Shack, IGA, Starbucks, SCACL, Claytons and Independent, to this very publication The Coast Reporter and many others. Thank You All!

As programs came to a close for the summer, Special O wrapped up the sports season with a bang.
 
Our Annual General Meeting was held in Gibsons at the Library of Gibsons Elementary. After each member of the Executive gave their final reports, the nomination and election of officers for the coming year closed out the meeting. The executive members for 2024/25 are:
 
Local Coordinator - Randy Younghusband
Program Coordinator – Gavin Weiner
Volunteer Coordinator – position open
Treasurer -Helene Johnston
Registration Coordinator Allyson Pearson
Public Relations Coordinator Helen Halet
Secretary – Pat Stuart
 
As you can see, we would be happy to have a fresh face undertake the position of Volunteer Coordinator.
 
Beforehand, Soccer athletes had a pleasant closing game and all were treated to goodies. As Pat Stuart reported:
 
“Beautiful evening for soccer and special thank you to head coach Richard Hoath and assistants Jessica and Blake Simpson and athlete mentor Derick Pye.  Great ending to the soccer season with pizza and treats provided by Josh's parents - Joanne and Carson Stanley”
 
The Ravens ended their season, by facing off against SCACL for the 3rd Annual showdown to wind up softball for the summer. Lots of terrific plays were made by both sides, with a shot from some new blood. SCACL had two new players on their team, Taylor and Richard. Both of them showed significant skill especially as first time softball players. Ravens assistant coach Laurie and athletes Bryan Ware and Derick Pye helped filled out the SCACL roster.
 
The Ravens definitely gave SCACL a run for their money however, with no athlete shying away from the batting, running or catching they showed that the season’s teachings from Head Coach Randy Younghusband were deeply ingrained into their memory.
 
One touching moment was when new athlete Sophie Pearce hit the ball after missing it a couple of times. The pitcher and everyone showed grace and kindness and reminded everyone watching of the true spirit of Special Olympics. Sophie started with Challenger Baseball for 4-5 years before discovering Special Olympics. She seems eager to continue playing will be looking for more sports to participate in the fall. Welcome to the team Sophie! We look forward to seeing continued success from you in the future! 
 
Bocce players had their season closer at the lower Elphinstone field. Everybody took part, athletes, coaches and volunteers. Afterwards, snacks were given out thanks to Amanda Boghean. Assistant Coach Laurie, in addition to her time with softball, has also been helping out at Bocce. She credits finding her way to volunteering with Special Olympics through Bocce Head Coach Judy MacDonald.
 
Unfortunately, weather caused the Track team to miss out on their final practice. I can tell you though that all participants this season gave it their all, especially Jonas Leslie, a lightning fast runner with a bright smile.
 
Golf had fun with their final putts, celebrating a successful season with pizza in the clubhouse donated by Head Coach Chuck Bertrand.
 
Good luck and best wishes to swimmers Hailie Borowski & Lindsay Pearson who will be attending the BC Summer Games in Maple Ridge July 17th-22nd. You’ll definitely make us proud!
 
In closing, a huge thanks goes out to The District Of Sechelt and the SCRD for the grants awarded to our Local. These funds help sustain our programs in many ways, including the costs of venue rentals and gear for our athletes.
 
Hope everybody has a dynamic summer and comes to Registration in September with stories and smiles!

By Athlete Reporter Mike Oswald.
 
MAY I welcome you, S.O. fans, to our latest update?
 
Volunteer week ran from April 14th to 20th. Many things happened to celebrate these amazing folks. Among these, SOBC created a virtual Volunteer Games along with a bit of bingo that helped bring these individuals together to laugh, have fun connect and win prizes.
 
Locally a Volunteer Fair was held on the 13th of April at The Seniors Centre that featured countless organizations from The Food Bank to the Hospital Auxiliary. Hosted by The Rotary Club, it shed an important light on how needed and essential these services are.
 
SOBC tells us that across BC, a little over a thousand volunteers help sports programs run and make a difference in thousands of lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Prior to the pandemic however, that number was much higher. The goal today is to have those numbers reach previous levels.
 
And I’ve said before, to be a volunteer in any capacity is infinitely rewarding, but especially in Special O. Not only do the athletes benefit, so do you, when you see the accomplishments of athletes and the pride and joy of their families.
 
If you are thinking of giving time to this terrific cause;
Go to: www.specialolympicssunshinecoast.ca
 
And tell your friends.
 
As an athlete, I benefit from the dedication of our SOSC volunteers whether they are Coaches or the many other types of helpers. Regardless of the position, all are vital to helping our programs run all year long.
 
 Even our amazing Special O athletes also give their time as volunteers at places that have personal meaning to them. For me, it’s the local SPCA. In fact some opportunities I began as a volunteer have since turned into paid employment. This is often the case with many of my fellow sportsters as well.
 
As mentioned in my last article, our Local, Special Olympics Sunshine Coast is celebrating 30 years of sports, laughs, sweat and smiles. This will be an opportunity to celebrate our athletes and families, their accomplishments and our growth in the community over the past 30 years.
 
We will especially celebrate and thank our volunteers past and present and open the door to anyone who may wish to join our ranks in whatever way possible – coaches, executive members, donors or supporter of any variety.

Here is your personal invitation.  
 
You are invited!!
 
Special Olympics Sunshine Coast is celebrating 30 years on the Sunshine Coast.
 
Thank you for helping our athletes grow, develop skills and accomplish their goals.
 
Join us SUNDAY MAY 26, 2024, Dougall Park, Gibsons 2-4pm
 
We will be acknowledging our coaches, athletes and donors.
We will celebrate with a game of Bocce and a BBQ and cake.
 
Thank you for your support over the years – we couldn’t have done it without you!!
www.specialolympicssunshinecoast.ca
 
See you at the party!!

Along with Spring, we welcome Spring Sports!
 
Soccer stars will run the field with Head Coach Richard Hoath at Gibsons Elementary Mondays 6-7:30 opening April 8th. Bases will be loaded for Softball on Tuesdays at Hackett Park with Head Coach Randy Younghusband from
6:30-8. Tania Finnigan, Head Coach of Track will once more work on her athletes’ strengths every Wednesday at Elphinstone track from 6-7 starting on April 10th. Golfers will putt the green with Head Coach Chuck Bertrand on Wednesdays as well starting April 10th at Blue Ocean Golf Club. Elphinstone will also host Bocce as players will bask in the sun with Head Coach Judy MacDonald from 12-1 on Saturdays beginning April 6th.
 
The four-year cycle of major competitions is also underway with Regional Qualifiers. Most recently Orca swimmers Amber Fenton, Stephanie Rogers, Lindsay Pearson, Hailie Borowski & Genny Verge traveled to Coquitlam for a swimming qualifier and are reported to have all finished with fresh brand new Personal Best times! Next after qualifiers are Provincial Summer Games, which will take place in 2025 in Prince George. Following those games are National and then Worlds.
 
The Winter National Games in Calgary had 4000 people visit and take part in a week of competition where memories were made and friendships cemented.
Team BC brought 141 athletes along for the ride and came home with 135 medals! WOW!!
 
This May represents a milestone for our Little Local that could. We’ve been in the game for 30 Years! From 5 pin bowling humble beginnings to swimming, track and many others along with many, medals and tons of ribbons, SOSC has truly proved itself a force to be reckoned with!
 
On May 26th from 2-4 at Dougall Park we will be celebrating our achievements and remembering what makes us Special! Everyone is invited. We look forward to sharing our smiles with the community. Keep an eye out for more information, coming to an article near you as well as other postings.
 
Of course, so much of what keeps our programs running is the donation of both time and money from dedicated and generous community members and organizations. Sunshine Coast Self Storage has stepped up for Special O with their significant contribution to our cause! Many Thanks from all the Athletes and Coaches.
 
Nature is waking up. Birds are a’ singing and the sun is shining! The outdoors are calling.

Mike Oswald, Athlete Reporter
February. What. A. Month! Special O on the Coast definitely put the FUN in fundraising!
 
Tim Hortons Donut day was a smashing success across Canada with $884,000 raised in total. SOSC curling team and other athletes and coaches visited the Timmy’s in Gibsons and bought several donuts and encouraged fellow customers to do the same.
 
While I munched, I had a sit down with Gavyn Weiner to discuss his new certification as a Curling coach. Gavyn’s been living on the Sunshine Coast for about 4 years with roots dating back about 20 years. On top of curling, he is also getting involved with the Orca swim team. Gavyn sees the value of Special O and appreciates the enthusiasm of the athletes on the curling team.
 
 “They’re competitive but at the same time it’s a fun environment”. He hopes to work with the more competitive bunch to really develop them into big time challengers taking on Provincial and National competition.
 
All told, it was a great day. Thanks to Assistant Coach Randy for being such a great liaison with Oliver at the Gibsons Tim Hortons and for setting up such a great group photo!
 
Randy Younghusband also wears many other hats including SOSC Local and Program Coordinator working with the Executive to keep everything running smoothly. In addition to being Head Coach of the Sunshine Coast Raven Softball team and Assistant Coach for the Curling team, Randy has also been working at Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living (SCACL) as a Training and Technology Manager for about 20 years. He helps to train onboarding staff while looking after the tech and social media. Outside of S.O. Randy values sports as a tool to unite folks from all walks of life and is involved with other sports in the community. He has acted as a referee for hockey and has played badminton, fast and slo-pitch baseball.
 
You may have already heard about this year’s Plunge that runs from February 17th until March 3rd. Local athletes, community organizations and individuals gathered at Friendship Rotary Park in Sechelt on February 21st the Plunge. Clarence Li, Executive Director and Randy Younghusband, Training and Technology Manager at SCACL organized the event in association with Special Olympics Sunshine Coast. Pizza, Timbits, java and hot chocolate were supplied for the dunkers. The atmosphere for the day was bright, cheery and among the chattering teeth there were smiles aplenty.
 
Donations are still coming in and currently the total for across BC is over forty thousand. Locally, we have raised over five thousand at the time of writing.
 
As March begins, we close the Fall/Winter season with a Regional Qualifier meet for the Orca Swim Team on March 17th. We also begin making plans for the Spring/Summer sports to launch in April. Bocce, Golf, Soccer, Softball and Track will be raring to go.
 
Stay tuned for times and venues in my next article where I’ll also report the results from the Swim Meet.
 
 

However, we must start with some sad news in our little corner of the S.O. world. Beloved curling and bocce coach Bill Climie has passed away, after a long time in and out of hospital. He was instrumental in bringing curling to our local and also recruiting our volunteers. He will be sorely missed and proudly remembered.

In more hoop news from previous interviews, Richard Hoath, Gibsons Basketball and soccer coach for 12 years finds watching his athletes benefit from his tutelage rewarding. Richard is also our website operator. Wearing so many hats doesn’t seem to faze him and we are all the better for it.
 
Destiny Wallbaum, an athlete with SOSC for 4 years enjoys both softball and basketball and is dynamic on both fronts. She finds the art of sport fun and will “keep on keeping on.” We also noted that Destiny’s recent birthday was celebrated on CTV Morning Live. It might be that you’re Destined for great things!
 
I’ve recently heard rumblings about a Polar Bear Plunge on February 28th involving SCACL and SOSC. Few details are available at the moment except that all are invited to attend and get wet from executive to athletes. There also will be hot drinks and yum yums for everyone who joins in the fun.
 
The Special Olympics Donut at Tim Hortons in support of Special Olympics Canada is the latest in Timmy’s & Special O’s examples of unity. On February 2nd to 4th one can visit their local Tim’s and purchase a donut, with 100% of proceeds going towards Special Olympics across Canada.
 
Tim Hortons has been a supporter of S.O. since 2016 helping in such initiatives as ActiveStart and National Games and spreading our message through this wonderful and yummy event.
 
Locally, February 3rd will be our day to celebrate. Some athletes will be on hand in Gibsons to show support and to share information about our Local and how our members help to enrich the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. Of course, purchasing a donut to support the cause would not be discouraged!
 
Finally, shout out to Randy Younghusband, a Special O coach, Local Coordinator, SCACL staff member and all around decent guy. Due to scheduling conflicts a one on one interview was not possible but I’m hoping to bring that to you in the future.
 
Keep your eyes open and spirits high!