|
Oh Canada!
These were the Games that may have changed Canada, with an unprecedented outpouring of national pride and unparalleled Olympic success. But the glow didn't stop when the puck fired by Sidney Crosby found the back of the American net on that memorable Sunday three weeks ago.
Lauren Woolstencroft, Brian McKeever and Viviane Forest are the country's new athletic heroes, emulating the nation's Olympians by leading Canada to a record harvest of winter gold at the Paralympics, as well.
The celebrated trio iced the cake with one last, inspiring flourish during the Games' final weekend. Ms. Forest won her fifth medal of the Paralympics, Mr. McKeever took his third gold and Ms. Woolstencroft, now known as the country's golden girl, made her fifth trip to the top of the podium with another powerful run down the slopes of Whistler...Click here to read more |
|
Paralympics Round-Up
Interested in learning how many medals Canada won at the 2010 Paralympics Games? How about which country led the medal standings? Click here for a 2010 Paralympic Medal Round-Up!
Congratulations to Ontario Sledge Hockey Player (and ParaSport Ontario Athlete Ambassador) Drew Rigden! Drew was selected by Hockey Canada to provide commentary and analysis for the sledge hockey games during the Vancouver Paralympics. Drew did a fantastic job explaining the game to viewers and providing expert insight into the players' psyches. Way to go Drew!
Sunny View Public School celebrated the Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics with a students vs. teachers wheelchair hockey game with RWA wheelchairs and crowd pleasing Athlete Ambassador Shayne Smith from ParaSport Ontario. | |
Sudbury announces launch of Sudbury Accessible Sport Council
Members of Sudbury's accessible sport and physical activity community are excited to announce the formation of the Sudbury Accessible Sports Council. The launch took place on March 11th at the Cambrian College Hoops and Wheels charity Basketball fundraiser.
Carla John, chairperson of the Sudbury Accessible Sports Council, explained the importance of the Council's creation, saying, "While there are existing opportunities for participation in athletics in Sudbury, we need to create more awareness of these sports organizations as well as awareness of the need for more opportunities for people with disabilities to be active participants in sports programs. The Sudbury Accessible Sports Council is looking forward to hearing from and working with any sport program that is accessible or willing to become accessible to people with various abilities in Sudbury."
John and other members of the Council were joined by Lauren Dickler, Program Coordinator of ParaSport Ontario for the formal announcement of the Council. ParaSport Ontario presented the Sudbury Accessible Sports Council with a $2500 start-up grant. Provided through bi-lateral funding from Sport Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion via its Active 2010 - Sport for More program, the grant will be used to assist with the promotion and facilitation of accessible sport opportunities in Sudbury. |
|
ParaSport Ontario proud to be a part of the Paralympic Torch Relay
Still on an emotional high from last month's Olympics, Toronto got into the Paralympic spirit as the Paralympic torch wound its way through the city on Friday, March 5th.
Hundreds of people were at Nathan Phillips Square to see the torch stop at the Toronto celebration site to light the cauldron.
The flame arrived just after noon for the party, which featured demonstrations of Paralympic sports by ParaSport Ontario including sledge hockey, wheelchair curling and wheelchair basketball. In addition, there were performances by Simone Soman, Adrian Anantawan, Grooveyard, Digging Roots, Shiloh, the Loretto Abbey Choir as well as others.
Toronto's leg of the relay began with a lighting ceremony at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto on Spadina Road.
An aboriginal elder lit the flame and youth members, dancers, and drummers accompanied it by foot through part of downtown.
Mark Demontis, an individual with a visual impairment who rollerbladed from Toronto to Vancouver last summer brought the torch into Nathan Phillips Square. From there ParaSport Ontario ParaNordic athlete and member of the ParaSport Ontario Games Council Mike Scholte, carried the flame using cross country roller skis and handed it off to Team Ontario sledge hockey players Karl Ludwig and Lane Sargeant. It was then passed back to an aboriginal elder who passed it on to 40 torch bearers including Paralympian Jeff Adams and ParaSport Ontario's advocate and volunteer Joe Millage, Parlaympian Erika Schmutz, RWA Ambassador Rich VanderWal, Paralympian Martha Gustafson-Sandoval, track athlete Cindy Burt, Johanna Jackson, daughter of the late Dr. Robert W. Jackson and ParaSport Ontario volunteer and junior wheelchair basketball team member and RWA Ambassador Shayne Smith, who had the honor of lighting the cauldron.
Under the warm spring sun, many wearing their Canada gear came out to cheer on the athletes, the torch and to try their hand at the different Paralympic sport stations. ParaSport Ontario was proud to be associated with the event and wishes to thank the City of Toronto for their support. As a thank you, ParaSport Ontario received one of the Paralympic Torches used in the relay which is now being showcased at all Ready Willing & Able sessions. |
|
Ontario Sledge Hockey Championships
The Ontario Sledge Hockey Association League Champions Day was held this past Saturday in Oshawa, Ontario. There was plenty of exciting action as Gold Medal games were played in four divisions. Sledge hockey is a fast-paced, exciting sport played primarily by physically-challenged individuals. OSHA has four leagues that compete during a regular season and a playoff structure that brings the competition down to the finalists. The Junior division is comprised of players 15 years of age and under while Intermediate competitors are 16 and over...Click here to continue reading. | |
Looking to start a ParaSport club?
Proudly supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, ParaSport Ontario's Community Development Program provides consultation and funding to support the development of ParaSport clubs across Ontario. If your community is interested in developing a sports club for athletes with physical disabilities please contact Jill Valentine, Development Manager at 416-426-7012 or jill@parasportontario.ca |
ParaSport Ontario welcomes a new club
ParaSport Ontario would like to officially welcome the London Cannonballs as a new affiliated club. The London Cannonballs is a boccia club that provides opportunities to players just starting out as well as elite amateur athletes. The Cannonballs gives athletes assistance in travelling to many competitions around Ontario, Canada and the World. Club members have competed at World Championships, Pan-American and Paralympic Games across the globe. For more information and to contact the club, please click here. |
The 2010 Get Active Toronto Summit
Get Active Toronto (GAT) wants to inform, inspire and involve the private, public and voluntary sectors to link-in to GAT -- the community that makes Toronto physically active. Join us at the GAT Summit on Tuesday April 27 1010 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. This free event will give you the opportunity to network, learn, connect to a support system and participate in signing the Declaration of Commitment to Physical Activity with Mayor David Miller and other special guests.
You can register online for the event by clicking here and selecting course number 73718. |
Entering into its 5th year, Ontario Coaches Week is a week long campaign that aims to recruit, develop and celebrate community coaches around the province. With funding support from provincial and federal government partners and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, several Ontario communities host FREE coach training events.
For more information, please click here. |
|
Coming Up
Every Friday Evening
Toronto Wheelchair Basketball at Bloorview Kids Rehab - Open to Anyone
April 11
Great Wheelchair Challenge 2010 Family Games - Sudbury
May 9
Sault Ste Marie Accessible Sport Council Launch at John Rhodes Centre
May 13 - 16
|
|
Comments or suggestions? Let us know!
| |
