For Tina Giesbrecht, volunteering with Special Olympics has been a life-changing experience.
“Volunteering with Special Olympics is the most rewarding opportunity ever,” she says. “Seeing the absolute joy on athlete’s faces when they meet up with fellow athletes, or when they compete and do their best… you can’t get any better than that!"
Giesbrecht has been making a profound impact with the movement for 13 years. In that time, she has acted as a Special Olympics BC – Burns Lake coach, Region 7 Coordinator, and a dedicated, organized, and compassionate coach and mission staff member for several regional, provincial, and national teams.
As an assistant snowshoeing coach for Special Olympics Team Canada 2025 at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, she helped lead the snowshoeing team to plenty of personal bests as well as 10 gold, 15 silver, and nine bronze medals.
However, for Giesbrecht, the World Games were about connections. “My favourite part about being an assistant coach on Team Canada is building relationships that will last a lifetime, with other coaches and athletes from across Canada, and to be able to celebrate with our athletes as they achieve their own goals.”
Giesbrecht first began with the movement when she changed teaching positions to a Life Skills Classroom. “I was asked if I would coach for the Special Olympics snowshoe program. I agreed and have not looked back since,” she says.
Throughout her time with Special Olympics BC, Giesbrecht has witnessed countless impactful moments, but one stands out above the rest. “My proudest moment with Special Olympics has been seeing an athlete I was coaching, cross the finish line with his arms raised high,” Giesbrecht says.
“Even though he was not one of the forerunners, his pride in his accomplishment was heartwarming. He had done his best, which was all I had asked, and he knew it.”
For Giesbrecht, being part of the Special Olympics community is a gift that keeps on giving. “Volunteering with Special Olympics is such a rewarding experience. I get so much more than I give,” Giesbrecht says. “More joy. More friends. More excitement. More happiness. Did I say more joy? I absolutely love every minute volunteering for this amazing organization!”