Kicking off 2024 with excitement & inspiration!
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January 2024
Sport & Programs Spotlight
2024 anniversary celebrations for SOBC Locals
As 2024 begins, we are so pleased to wish a happy birthday to the Special Olympics BC Locals that will mark anniversary celebrations this year!
SOBC is so fortunate to have incredible athletes and volunteers in 55 communities around the province, and we are continually amazed by the long-standing dedication and participation that makes these empowering programs possible.
We are so thankful for all of you! ❤️
📰 See the full list of Locals entering anniversary years in 2024
More stories and resources
Bring a Buddy to experience the joy of SOBC sport, youth, and health programs! This is your chance to share the joy of sport with a friend or loved one – and win some great prizes!
📢 SOBC athletes and volunteers who are interested in participating must inform their head coach, as they will be responsible for setting up Bring a Buddy days for their programs. Register by clicking here
🗓️ Bring a Buddy for winter programs will run from January 15 to March 31, 2024
🗓️ Bring a Buddy for summer programs will run from April 1 to June 30, 2024
➡️ Questions? Contact SOBC Engagement Coordinator Donna Ma at dma@specialolympics.bc.ca.The results for the SOBC Lucky Draw are out! This lucky draw event was designed with the purpose of ensuring the accuracy of our database membership numbers in correspondence with the actual, real-life membership numbers.
➡️ We will be contacting the winners via email. If you have any questions, please contact us at luckydraw@specialolympics.bc.ca.- Safe Sport Spotlight:
Special Olympics BC is committed to creating a Safe Sport environment for all members of our community! As part of this, we have a Safe Sport Policy that is intended to prevent issues of misconduct or maltreatment from arising by communicating expected standards of behaviour.
➡️ Find more SOBC Safe Sport resources - SOBC Coach and Volunteer Development Opportunities:
➡️ SOBC – Oceanside Information Session – Feb 3
➡️ SOBC – Oceanside Safe Sport Anti-Bullying & Harassment Workshop – Feb 3
➡️ Bocce Coach Development Webinar – Feb 6
Fundraising Spotlight
The Tim Hortons Special Olympics Donut makes its sweet return February 2 to 4
Special Olympics Canada has once again partnered with Tim Hortons to create the limited edition Special Olympics Donut, available from February 2 to 4! 100 per cent of the proceeds from sales of the donut will go directly to local Special Olympics community programs, supporting thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities across Canada.
Spread the word about this tasty opportunity to support thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities and the Special Olympics programs that matter so much to them!
More events and opportunities
- The 2024 Polar Plunge is back! From February 17 to March 3, take the #Plunge4SOBC and raise vital funds to help athletes with intellectual disabilities find purpose, friendships, and fitness through the Special Olympics sport, youth, and health programs that matter to them. Learn more and register
- Thank you for helping us raise over $30,000 during the 2023 holiday season! With the help of an incredible anonymous matching donor, incoming donations has been doubled! Donations and support from the holiday season will be felt by members of the Special Olympics Team BC 2024 Training Squad as they are pumped to compete with pride at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 from February 27 to
March 2.
- Meet a sponsor: Law Enforcement Torch Run for SOBC
Law Enforcement Torch Run for SOBC members have been lacing up to support SOBC athletes for more than 30 years! Powered by dedicated law enforcement members from across the province, this inspiring movement strives to help SOBC athletes experience acceptance, achievement, and admiration through sport. Read more
📰 Read the BC LETR 2023 Year in Review Do you work for a Special Olympics BC sponsor? Please let us know!
Competition Spotlight
Meet your #SOTeamBC2024 sport teams
With the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 fast approaching, we are spending the next few weeks highlighting the inspiring sport teams of the SO Team BC 2024 Training Squad!
SOBC – Prince George athlete David Dunn (pictured above) is pumped to be going to the National Games with a stellar group of athletes and coaches of the snowshoeing team! He is excited to make his hometown community and B.C. proud.
“I'm proud and happy to represent Prince George and B.C. I want to have personal best times in all my events and represent B.C. well.”
-SOBC – Prince George snowshoeing athlete David Dunn
❄️ Read more about the SO Team BC 2024 snowshoeing team
📰 Find more SO Team BC profiles
More stories
- 2024 Summer Regional Qualifiers set to kick off! As part of the Special Olympics Games cycle, SOBC Locals and Regions around the province are hosting Regional Qualifiers throughout the spring and summer of 2024, where athletes compete for the chance to advance to the 2025 SOBC Provincial Summer Games in Prince George!
➡️ Find Regional Qualifiers events and details
Health Spotlight
SOBC Healthy Athletes Screening Day coming to Victoria
Enjoy a day of fun, fitness and health! Special Olympics BC's Healthy Athletes Screening Day in Victoria is taking place on March 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring Healthy Hearing, Health Promotion, and Special Smiles.
SOBC's Healthy Athletes screenings are free, fun, and full of helpful health information! Screenings are delivered by volunteer health professionals who offer a welcoming environment and are trained to help people with intellectual disabilities uncover issues.
➡️ Learn more and register
➡️ Learn more about SOBC Health and Healthy Athletes
More opportunities and resources
- Registration for virtual Health Messenger/Health Hero training is now available! Athletes who participate gain the technical skillset and support to become health advocates and share their unique perspectives with their community.
Participants can sign up for any of the 8 one-hour sessions that will run from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 12, 13, 14 and 15. Learn more and register
- The Champions for Inclusive Health Stakeholder Coalition issues regular newsletters that challenge the status quo and contribute to achieving health equity for individuals with intellectual disabilities. If you are interested in receiving these monthly newsletters, let us know! (health@specialolympics.bc.ca)
Athlete Leadership Spotlight
Athletes and volunteers look ahead to 2024
Special Olympics BC's 43rd season of year-round sport, youth, and health programs has now resumed after a restful holiday season!
Special Olympics BC athletes and volunteers are looking forward to a year of meeting new friends and reaching personal goals. Athlete Reporters have been interviewing athletes and volunteers in communities across the province, hearing their favourite memories from 2023 and their hopes for the year ahead.
"My proudest moment in 2023 is winning bronze in floor hockey at the 2023 SOBC Winter Games. I was happy, even though I was crying a little bit because it was my first medal for floor hockey. [In 2024], I'm trying to make the 2025 SOBC Provincial Games in Prince George!"
-SOBC – Victoria athlete Jennifer Ferrier
Story Spotlight
Involved with SOBC since 1988, Kelowna’s Tracey Melesko has been a longtime trailblazer of the Special Olympics movement in B.C.
Melesko is one of the most accomplished and decorated athletes in the history of SOBC. She now looks to add to her prestigious list of accomplishments by joining the Special Olympics Team BC 2024 Training Squad in preparing for the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 in cross country skiing!
➡️ Read more about
Tracey
➡️ Suggest people for future profiles
More Updates and Resources
- The Special Olympics BC provincial office is currently hiring for the following position:
➡️ Marketing Manager – Lower Mainland
- With Lois McNary retiring from her role as Vice President, Sport, at the end of 2023, Michelle Cruickshank has stepped into the role of Vice President, Sport & Program! She can be reached at mcruickshank@specialolympics.bc.ca.
- SOBC Volunteer Coordinator and Registration Coordinator manuals have been updated! These manuals provide helpful resources and tools to help you best succeed in these roles.
➡️ Registration Coordinator Manual
➡️ Volunteer Coordinator Manual
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We always welcome feedback on Special Olympics BC's e-newsletter! Please contact SOBC Communications Coordinator Jacob Lee at jlee@specialolympics.bc.ca with your ideas.
