Special Olympics BC is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through sport, with a vision to open hearts and minds towards people with intellectual disabilities and create inclusive communities all across British Columbia.
Special Olympics BC started in 1980 but Special Olympics has been a global movement longer than that.
The organization offers programs all across B.C.. In the Okanagan region, those programs include Kamloops, Kelowna, Keremeos, Revelstoke, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Shuswap (Chase and surrounding areas), South Okanagan (Oliver and Osoyoos), Summerland, and Vernon.
Leanne Kelly, the community development coordinator for this region, is also trying to re-start programs in Merritt, Princeton, and Clearwater as well.
If you are interested in making a huge difference in someone害羞草研究所檚 life through sports, Special Olympics BC may be the organization for you.
Originally from Vancouver, Leanne has been in Kelowna since 2018 and she started working for Special Olympics BC that same year.
害羞草研究所淚 was drawn to be part of the organization because I really enjoy advocating for health and physical activity for folks within the disability community,害羞草研究所� said Leanne. 害羞草研究所淢y role struck me as a great way to do this for those with an intellectual disability.
害羞草研究所淲e are separate from the paralympics/olympics, and actually run year-round programs.
害羞草研究所淥ur programs are for people with intellectual disabilities, and we have eligibility criteria that individuals have to meet to participate in our programs.害羞草研究所�
Volunteers play a key role in making the wide array of programs run in so many communities, Leanne says.
害羞草研究所淰olunteers are how we get programs to happen for our athletes.
害羞草研究所淭hey do the behind the scenes work on getting programs going by sitting on the local committee and booking facilities, recruiting coaches, volunteers and athletes, etc.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淰olunteers also coach our sport programs that run from September to June each year. Without them, we wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be able to offer these opportunities for athletes.害羞草研究所�
All volunteers need to complete registration forms as well as a criminal record check to get involved. Most programs run from September to June of each year, split between winter and summer sports.
As the programs are a minimum of 12 weeks and many go longer than this, most volunteers tend to commit for medium or long-term stints, although Leanne says they害羞草研究所檙e making short-term opportunities available for volunteers as well. 害羞草研究所淲orking with the athletes is incredibly rewarding. You get to meet new individuals and change your mindset on the abilities and capabilities of our athletes.
害羞草研究所淵ou also get a chance to meet other volunteers across B.C. and potentially across Canada. There can also be some possible travel perks when going to competitions that are at no cost to the volunteer other than your time.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淵ou will also be able to learn valuable and transferable skills.
害羞草研究所淲e provide lots of training and professional development opportunities.
害羞草研究所淰olunteering gives me a sense of purpose. I can give back to my community and create an inclusive environment for those I come in contact with.害羞草研究所�
For anyone interested in finding their purpose through volunteering, get in touch with Leanne at Lkelly@specialolympics.bc.ca and my phone number is 778-581-0511.
The BC Special Olympics website is https://www.specialolympics.ca/british-columbia.
Can volunteering help connect you to 害羞草研究所測our people?害羞草研究所� Find out by searching for your volunteer opportunity at www.volunteerconnector.org or contact us at www.kcr.ca.
Dorothee Birker is the communications & development manager for KCR Community Resources. Call 250-763-8008, ext. 254 or email dorothee@kcr.ca.
