Sarnia-Lambton set to host the 2011 Ontario ParaSport Summer Games 
Sarnia-Lambton has a long history of hosting successful Games and the organizing committee promises an even better set of Games in 2011.
Over the last few months, we have been hard at work getting ready for the Games. We have been working on fundraising, recruiting volunteers, marketing and securing all the sport facilities and entertainment for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
The two-day event will feature Ontario's top-level athletes competing in six sports: Athletics (track and field) Boccia, Goalball, Lawnbowling, Wheelchair Tennis and ParaEquestrian.
The Games will be held at the Sarnia Athletics Southwest Track & Field Complex, Strangway Community Centre, St. Patrick's High School, Sarnia Lawnbowling Club, Sarnia Riding Club and Fiddick's Farm.
The Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Centre, with its beautiful views of the marina and the comforts of home, will welcome the athletes and guests and will offer all the amenities needed to make their stay memorable.
With over 250 athletes and coaches and over 100 volunteers, the 2011 Ontario ParaSport Games, promises to be a fantastic experience for all. Our goal is to successfully present these Games to the Province as a benchmark for excellence and create memories that will last a lifetime. With the generous support of our community, our sponsors and our volunteers, we will reach this goal!
For more information on the Games or how you can make a difference by sponsoring or volunteering, please visit the Games web site at www.ontarioparasportgames.com or call 1-800-265-0316
Together we can make a difference.
2011 Ontario ParaSport Summer Games organizing committee |
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Call for volunteers for Concert for Inclusion!
 Performer Justin Hines with Taylor and CJ, two athletes from two Community Sport Development Clubs - the Newmarket Shredders and the Toronto Tornados, at the 2010 Concert for Inclusion
ParaSport Ontario is already planning for the 2011 Concert for Inclusion, and is looking for interested volunteers to assist on the Organizing Committee. ParaSport Ontario held its first Concert for Inclusion in 2008 with the goal of raising awareness and funds to support ParaSport programs and adaptive equipment for athletes with physical disabilities. Hosted in Toronto at the Glenn Gould Studio in October, the event includes a welcome reception, live and silent auctions, performances by top Toronto artists and the presentation of the Dr. Robert W. Jackson Medal of Distinction, ParaSport Ontario's most prestigious award. A strong group of volunteers make up the Organizing Committee which has served to strengthen the event over the last three years. Netting $12,000 in 2008 and $28,000 in 2009, the 2010 Concert for Inclusion took the event to a whole new level raising $47,500, making it the most successful Concert yet. Our goal is to reach $100,000. If you would like to help us get there and be a part of this dynamic fundraising committee, we would very much like to hear from you. For more information, please contact Cathy Vincelli at (416) 426-7186 or cathy@parasportontario.ca. |
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Nominations for 2010 Ontario Sport Awards Now Open
Wheelchair Rugby player Erika Schmutz being presented with the 2009 Female Athlete with a Disability of the Year Award by the Honourable Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion and Sport
The Sport Alliance of Ontario (SAO) is now accepting nominations for the 2010 Ontario Sport Awards. Coaches, Team Managers and athletes are invited to submit nominations from now until Friday January 14, 2011.
All nominations must be sent to the appropriate provincial sport organization to be approved and forwarded to the SAO.
For nomination criteria and forms, please click here. |
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Four-time Paralympian (and former ParaSport Ontario staff member) Elisabeth Walker-Young named Canada's Assistant Chef de Mission for the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games
On December 2nd, The Canadian Paralympic Committee announced that four time Paralympic swimmer and former ParaSport Ontario staff member, Elisabeth Walker-Young, was named Assistant Chef de Mission for the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games.
Elisabeth competed at the 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, winning three gold, one silver and two bronze medals overall.
Congratulations Elisabeth! For more information please click here. |
Georgian Triangle, Niagara Region and Thunder Bay join the Parasport Ontario Accessible Sport Council family
It has been a busy fall for Accessible Sport Councils. With London and Area, Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury running successful councils, ParaSport Ontario is pleased to announce that three more communities are joining the Accessible Sport Council program. They are Georgian Triangle, Niagara Region and Thunder Bay.
The Georgian Triangle Accessible Sport Council will work to create awareness of accessible sport in Clearview, Wasaga Beach, Blue Mountain and Collingwood. The Niagara Accessible Sport Commission will focus its efforts in Fort Erie, Grimsby, Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls, Pelham, Port Colborne, St. Catherines, Thorold, Wainfleet, Welland and West Lincoln. The Thunder Bay Accessible Sport Council will work on increasing awareness in Thunder Bay and surrounding areas.
Stay tuned for news about the official launch of each Council in 2011.
If you are interested in starting an Accessible Sport Council in your community or if would like more information about the existing Accessible Sport Councils, please contact Lauren Dickler at lauren@parasportontario.ca or 416-426-7426. |
Woolwich Sledge Hockey Heads into Exciting Second Season
Woolwich Sledge Hockey Demonstration May 2010
After becoming a part of ParaSport Ontario's Community Sport Development program in 2009, the Woolwich Sledge Hockey club has been hard at work raising money and recruiting new members. With much dedication and enthusiasm guided by Sandy and Keith Metzger, the club hit the ground running through the securement of sledges and the formation of an Executive Board. The last twelve months has seen the club run several awareness events in the community which has allowed the club to double its number of athletes!The good news keeps coming as the club recently secured funding for ice time through the Rick Hansen Foundation and several Conestoga College students run a Charity Pizza Fundraiser and Sledge Awareness day, raising even more money to be used to run the club. Congratulations Woolwich - looking forward to an even better second season! |
Alicia Denoon at SNC's Para Outreach Training Camp in Florida - February 2010 (Photo courtesy of Swim Ontario)
Courtesy of Swim Ontario, Para Swimmer Alicia Denoon, penned this open letter about what participating in the sport has meant to her:
My name is Alicia Denoon and I am a competitive swimmer. I'm also a brain tumour survivor with 4 acquired brain injuries (from treatment) that have left me with balance and coordination difficulties as well as a visual impairment. I am functionally blind due to permanent double vision.
Swimming is my sport, my hobby and my passion. I train with the Guelph Marlin's Aquatic Club. This summer one of my National swim coaches (Vicki Keith) who has devoted her life to getting kids with disabilities into competitive sport asked me to start talking to my peers about what competitive swimming has done for me. I want to encourage other kids with disabilities to give the Marlins a try. It has changed my life so much I want other kids to experience this. To continue reading, click here. |
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Para Alpine Skiing - OPART/ODART
OPART, the Ontario Para Alpine Race Training program, is offered on Sundays in January and February. Any para alpine skiers who are interested in learning to race are invited to contact Gwen Binsfeld at gwen.binsfeld@gmail.com for more information.
Try outs for ODART, the provinical Para Alpine Ski Team, take place December 27 - 30. For more information, please contact Gwen Binsfeld at gwen.binsfeld@gmail.com. |
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Interested in Volunteering at the 2011
Ontario ParaSport Summer Games?
The 2011 Ontario ParaSport Summer Games promise to be a fun and exciting opportunity for volunteers! We look forward to welcoming volunteers to join us August 19 - 21, 2011. Timers, Goal Judges, SCorekeeps and Spotters are just a few of the voluneer opportunities we are looking to fill. Stay tuned to this newsletter for more information as it becomes available.
For more information about volunteering at the Ontario ParaSport Summer Games, please click here. |
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Coming Up
CP Ambulatory Soccer
Sundays 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm from October 17 to December 12
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab,
150 Kilgour Road, Toronto
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Comments or suggestions? Let us know!
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