Athlete Leadership Summit 2023 Athlete Speakers Bureau 2
Athlete Speakers Bureau 2 graduates showing off their certificates!

Special Olympics BC athletes from all over the province came together from May 5 to 7 for the 2023 Athlete Leadership Summit! Participants learned new skills and ways to be empowering voices in their communities, as they took courses in public speaking, reporting, health, and anti-bullying. Everyone did an amazing job in their courses, and we can't wait to see them all be active leaders in their communities!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this empowering event!

Special Olympics BC Athlete Leadership programs help athletes build skills and confidence to become leaders, mentors, and advocates in their communities and throughout our movement. They take on a range of leadership roles including public speaking, participating on Local Committees and Athlete Input Councils, and assisting as fundraising and program athlete representatives.

Learn more about SOBC Athlete Leadership

 

 

 

Congrats to the Summit course graduates!

We sincerely congratulate these athlete leaders on their accomplishments and thank all the volunteer facilitators and peer mentors for making these opportunities possible!

Athlete Speakers Bureau 1

Athlete

Mentor

Local

Amanda Arnet

Kendal Alston

Victoria

Carmela Klassen

Audrey Fowler

Fort St. John

Carol Erika

Sean Ryder

Richmond

Drew Rhodes

Kate Wood

Victoria

Gary Wong

Phoebe Lau

Richmond

Lindsay Atkinson

Leslie Bowling

Abbotsford

Lisa Hunter

John Hunter

Vancouver

Mark Chudleigh

Dan Fainstein

Victoria

Nathan Hudson

Phoebe, Sean, and Sharon

Richmond

Samuel Hall

Jannie Hall

Abbotsford

Sandra Malku

Sharon

Richmond

Facilitators: Jackie Lowrie and Sarah Howe

Watch their inspiring speeches

“I love Special Olympics because of my great friends who encourage me and support me and my coaches who help me get better at my sports.”

- Lindsey Atkinson, SOBC – Abbotsford
Athlete Lisa Hunter and facilitator Jackie Lowrie
SOBC – Vancouver’s Lisa Hunter and facilitator Jackie Lowrie celebrating Lisa’s completion of Athlete Speakers Bureau 1!

Athlete Speakers Bureau 2

Athlete

Mentor

Local

Claire Lemaire

Corinne Lemaire

Creston

Jennifer Ferrier

Monika Miskiew

Victoria

Josh Trudell

Allie Blades

Kamloops

Lauren Philley

Shawn Philley

Northshore

Susan Wang

 

Surrey

Watch their inspiring speeches

Facilitator: Tess van Straaten

 

 

 

 

“What I like about Special Olympics is that it gives me purpose. When I started I was shy. Special Olympics gave me more confidence and let me come out of my shell. Special Olympics helped me be the person I am today, and who I was meant to be.”

- Joshua Trudell, SOBC – Kamloops

Athlete Reporters

Athlete

Mentor

Local

Chelsea Kaake

Jodi Cobden

Delta

Crystal Rousseau

 Barb Giesbrecht

Port Alberni

James Clifford

Edna Clifford

Abbotsford

Kimberly Giesbrecht

Barb Giesbrecht

Port Alberni

Levi Fowler

Kathy Turney

Fort St. John

Mark Hamblett

 

Surrey

Paige Norton

Donna Bilous

Abbotsford

Paula Prough

Alan Prough

Trail

Sheenagh Morrison

 

Victoria

Torben Schuffert

Sandra Schuffert

Smithers

Facilitators: Andrea Boyes and Megan Pollock

“My favourite thing about being a part of Special Olympics is being able to meet all the new people and being able to compete the same as all athletes. I think it’s important to get involved in Special Olympics to give back to your community and it’ll give you a different perspective in life.”

- Chelsea Kaake, SOBC – Delta

Health Messenger

Athlete

Mentor

Local

Andrea Conkin

Lynette Gula

Fort St. John

Sarah Brown

Nel Kurta

Vancouver

Nellie-Jo Kurta

Nel Kurta

Vancouver

Alex Pang

Jessica Chapelski

Vancouver

Julie Black

Jacki Sheng

Nanaimo

Laila Currie

Duncan Currie

Creston

Carmel Hashemi Dahaj

 

Surrey

Amanda Manzardo

Sandra Manzardo

Coquitlam

Lester Niody

 

Richmond

Marni Zimmerman 

Heather

Richmond

Jason Gubbels

Evy Gubbels

Richmond

Vincent Li

 

Richmond

Ryland Mallari 

 

Surrey


The participants in the Athlete Speakers Bureau 2, Health Messenger, and Athlete Reporter workshops also completed the SOBC Safe Sport Anti-Bullying and Harassment Workshop. Thanks to all for their dedication and inspiring participation!

Learn more about Safe Sport and Anti-Bullying

Join the SOBC Athlete Leadership Academy

In order to help athletes get the most out of their courses, and to inspire and recognize ongoing commitment and achievements, Special Olympics BC has launched an Athlete Leadership Academy! The SOBC Athlete Leadership Academy includes and links all of the courses that SOBC has traditionally offered, and will add new opportunities as determined by athlete interest. 

In the Athlete Leadership Academy, athletes are invited to register for a specific stream that matches their interests. After completing the required number of courses in their stream, athletes will be recognized as program graduates and will receive an Academy diploma and swag!

READ ALL ABOUT IT AND COMPLETE THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITMENT FORM 

More Athlete Leadership stories

Get involved with Special Olympics BC