Special Olympics Nanaimo
July Newsletter

The annual meeting for Special Olympics Nanaimo was held on July 8th and elections for committee positions were held at that time. Thankfully many familiar faces are continuing on in their role with the committee:

Local Coordinator – Dave Forrester
Program Coordinator – Angela Behn
Treasurer – Heiko Behn
Secretary – Tracey Murphy
Registration Coordinator – Deborah Munday
Fundraising Coordinator – Jacky Sheng
Parent Representative – Heather Phillips
Volunteer Coordinator – Vacant

The local committee meets the third Thursday of each month and if you would like to bring something to our attention please don’t hesitate to touch base with one of the committee members or email us at so.nanaimo.local.coordinator@gmail.com.

On behalf of the local committee, volunteers and athletes we want to say thank you to the committee members that have completed their terms with SO Nanaimo. This has been a challenging period for the local and we’re grateful for all that you do for Special Olympics and hope to see you continue to volunteer with the organization in other roles!

Geoff Lowe – Local Coordinator
Marcela Mulcahy – Program Coordinator
Kate Lowe – Secretary

All of us are eagerly anticipating and hopeful for a more normal return to sport this fall. With that in mind the local committee has already been discussing plans for the upcoming year. Considering that things may change here’s how we see the next couple of months playing out:

August: Registration info will be sent out to athletes and volunteers

September: We’re planning to host a welcome back type event for all volunteers and athletes. Date and details to be confirmed. We’ll also be organizing a coaches meeting for this month.

October: Due to the uncertainty of facility availability we are hopeful for a return to sport programs in early October.

While we wait for programs to start again this Fall, Special Olympics BC wants to help everyone stay active, healthy, moving – and having fun!

All athletes are encouraged to join the #SOBCSuperSummer Wellness Challenge to stay active together and be ready for the next sport season!

This eight-week calendar includes:

Daily workouts and wellness challenges

Trainer Tuesday Facebook Live workouts weekly July 6 to August 24

Chances to win prize packs

Joining the SOBC Wellness Challenges Facebook Group to share encouragement and motivation

Full registration and challenge details can be found here.

TheSpecial Olympics BC Provincial Challenge Games were a huge success, thanks to the determination and spirit shown by about 1,000 athletes and volunteers from all over the province!

From May 1 to June 18, the Challenge Games athletes completed 49 days of at-home challenges including sport training sessions, workouts, and wellness activities. They showed remarkable dedication as well as creativity in the range of ways they stayed active. Congratulations to all of the SO Nanaimo athletes and training coaches that represented us so well!

SO Nanaimo athlete Miranda Orth (pictured above) wrote a report on the experience and you can read it here. Great job Miranda!

If you have SO Nanaimo stories, results and pictures to share for the newsletter please send them to SOnewsnanaimo. Feedback on the newsletter always welcome!

Special Olympics Nanaimo

Special Olympics Nanaimo
June Newsletter

Well what a year it has been! Starts and stops, different looking programs at different times of the year, virtual games and soooooo much zoom! Despite it all I’ve been encouraged by the athletes and coaches that continue to give so much to Special Olympics. With Winter Sport Regional Qualifiers taking place next year I have no doubt your hard work will pay off!

I for one am hopeful for a more normal return to our sport programs in the Fall and I know we can’t wait until we get to see many of you again! The first step to that return is the hosting of our annual meeting which will take place on Thursday, July 8 at 6:30pm. As long as the provincial health restart plans stay on track we plan to hold this meeting at the soccer/softball fields at Beban Park (the natural grass ones not the turf). Weather permitting and please bring a chair.

We will be providing an update on the local and holding elections for the committee this evening. If you have any questions, interest volunteering on the committee or in the direction of the local, I look forward to hearing from you!

The top priorities for the upcoming year are going to be very simple:
1. Secure facilities for our programs
2. Increase the number of volunteer coaches
3. Welcoming back our athletes

Everyone welcome to attend and I hope to see many of you there!

How It Works:

1. Register with us if you haven’t already this year! A reminder that registration is free this year. If you are already registered just reply to this email to let us know you would like to participate in the Games. Each registered Games participant that completes the challenge activities through the months of May and June will receive a Games uniform piece. If you haven’t registered yet please fill out the sobcnanaimoreg.
2. Complete the challenges in the SOBC Provincial Challenge Games calendars. There will be daily physical and wellness activities! Training group leaders will connect weekly with their local athletes to provide encouragement and help track points. (Training group leaders do not have to be trained coaches. Interested parents and administrative volunteers are encouraged to get involved!)
3. Help your Regional team claim top spot in the province! While this event will not be a qualifier, every challenge activity that an athlete completes will earn points toward your Regional team’s total. Plus, athletes who complete their challenges will be entered in weekly prize draws! Regional team point totals will be averaged based on the number of participants per team, so every Region has the potential to come out on top – no matter their size!
4. Experience the Games spirit by connecting with your local training group and your Regional team, and by attending the virtual ceremonies!
   Virtual Opening Ceremony on Facebook Live, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. PT
   Virtual Closing Ceremonies on Facebook Live, June 23 to 24

The challenge calendars will be very similar to those SOBC has offered throughout the past year – check out the past calendars for examples. But there will be some new activities and new creative ways to win points!

Timeline:

APRIL 12 TO 30: Registration!

• Each registered Games participant that completes the challenge activities through the months of May and June will receive a Games uniform piece.
• Registration closes April 30.

MAY 1 TO JUNE 18: SOBC Provincial Challenge Games Competition!

• SOBC hosts a virtual Provincial Challenge Games Opening Ceremony on April 29 at 6:30 p.m. PT.
• SOBC issues a Provincial Challenge Games activity calendar for each month and maintains a leaderboard tracking regional team rankings.
• Athletes complete challenges and count their points.
• Training group leaders connect at least once a week with athletes and submit points to team.
• Regional teams come together virtually for monthly pep rallies.

JUNE 23 TO 24: SOBC Provincial Challenge Games Ceremonies!

• Virtual awards, dance parties, and more.

Are you ready to compete, connect, and take on a challenge? Be part of the 2021 Special Olympics BC Provincial Challenge Games!

How It Works:

1. Register with us if you haven’t already this year! A reminder that registration is free this year. If you are already registered just reply to this email to let us know you would like to participate in the Games. Each registered Games participant that completes the challenge activities through the months of May and June will receive a Games uniform piece. If you haven’t registered yet please fill out the sobcnanaimoreg.
2. Complete the challenges in the SOBC Provincial Challenge Games calendars. There will be daily physical and wellness activities! Training group leaders will connect weekly with their local athletes to provide encouragement and help track points. (Training group leaders do not have to be trained coaches. Interested parents and administrative volunteers are encouraged to get involved!)
3. Help your Regional team claim top spot in the province! While this event will not be a qualifier, every challenge activity that an athlete completes will earn points toward your Regional team’s total. Plus, athletes who complete their challenges will be entered in weekly prize draws! Regional team point totals will be averaged based on the number of participants per team, so every Region has the potential to come out on top – no matter their size!
4. Experience the Games spirit by connecting with your local training group and your Regional team, and by attending the virtual ceremonies!
   Virtual Opening Ceremony on Facebook Live, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. PT
   Virtual Closing Ceremonies on Facebook Live, June 23 to 24

The challenge calendars will be very similar to those SOBC has offered throughout the past year – check out the past calendars for examples. But there will be some new activities and new creative ways to win points!

Timeline:

APRIL 12 TO 30: Registration!

• Each registered Games participant that completes the challenge activities through the months of May and June will receive a Games uniform piece.
• Registration closes April 30.

MAY 1 TO JUNE 18: SOBC Provincial Challenge Games Competition!

• SOBC hosts a virtual Provincial Challenge Games Opening Ceremony on April 29 at 6:30 p.m. PT.
• SOBC issues a Provincial Challenge Games activity calendar for each month and maintains a leaderboard tracking regional team rankings.
• Athletes complete challenges and count their points.
• Training group leaders connect at least once a week with athletes and submit points to team.
• Regional teams come together virtually for monthly pep rallies.

JUNE 23 TO 24: SOBC Provincial Challenge Games Ceremonies!

• Virtual awards, dance parties, and more.

Are you ready to compete, connect, and take on a challenge? Be part of the 2021 Special Olympics BC Provincial Challenge Games this spring!

Fundamental Movements and Mental Training

We hope you can join us for this SOBC Youth Engagement Project initiative created by Nanaimo’s Emily Hoppe.

Emily is teaming up with Mental Performance Consultant Geoff Hackett from PacificSport Vancouver Island to offer a virtual event about mental training!

This event is designed for athletes, coaches, parents, students, and even teachers. It will help with learning about what mental performance is, understanding mental and physical health, knowing your body and its emotions, thoughts and actions, and developing specific mental tools to help performance in sport and daily life.

Participants also have the opportunity to win a T-shirt or gift card for attending!

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, March 20

Time: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT

Register here

If you have any questions, please contact Emily at movementskillsworkshop.

COMING SOON

Emily is also developing videos to help with training fundamental movements – stay tuned!

Special Olympics BC’s Youth Engagement Project is generously supported by

Special Olympics Nanaimo
December Newsletter

This has been a year unlike any other and we’re grateful for everyone’s willingness to roll with the changes and keep working to provide sport opportunities in our region as best we can. We know there’s still a lot to do but I want to thank the local committee members that have been meeting monthly to create plans and work to get as many athletes as active as possible. A huge thank you to our coaches that have embraced the changes and to the athletes for bringing your energy and effort back to the programs!

While the holidays will be different this year, there will still be opportunities to connect with others and we hope you take advantage of those. Special Olympics BC is organizing a holiday party for all athletes and volunteers on December 16th so please take a moment to read the info below. We all know how many of you like to join a dance party!

A reminder to stay active and healthy over the holidays and fingers crossed that we’ll get to see you as many of you as soon as possible in the new year!

As we gear up to start our Athletics program next Wednesday night and Club Fit on September 28th we realize that there has been a lot of changes since you were last able to attend a sport program. Our guess is that you have some questions about the changes and what the year ahead looks like and we want to make sure you have an opportunity to ask them!

Next Thursday night, September 24th, from 6-7:30pm we’re going to be hosting an online zoom conversation open to all athletes, coaches and caretakers. If you don’t have zoom you’ll also be able to call in to the conversation. In order to answer as many questions as possible we’re hoping you will respond to this email with your questions before 6pm on Wednesday.

Please also let us know if you want to attend the session by responding to this email and we’ll share the login information closer to the event date.

A quick reminder that we are asking for all athletes and volunteers to fill out their registration forms as soon as possible so that we have your updated information and can keep you informed as more programs and training opportunities are announced. Registering is also important as the data is used when applying for funding for our programs and when you indicate which sports you’re interested in it will help us determine who will participate when more sports safely reopen.

Considering that some athletes may not be able to participate right away we will not be collecting a registration fee at this time.

Have a great weekend!