We are delighted to announce that five Special Olympics BC volunteers have been recognized with local community awards this month, celebrating their selfless contributions, uplifting spirit, and dedication to the Special Olympics movement. These inspiring champions have helped individuals with intellectual disabilities discover the transformative powers of sport!

Congratulations to June Lum, Jessica Chapelski Souza, and Wilson Wong from Special Olympics BC – Vancouver, who are three of the five 2020 Vancouver Community Sport Champions, and to SOBC Youth Engagement Project volunteers Bremiella de Guzman and Pavneet Kalsi, who are 2020 winners of Surrey’s Top 25 Under 25 Awards!

The City of Vancouver Community Sport Champions Recognition Program is a Vancouver Community Sport Hosting Grant that recognizes and celebrates citizens who are making sport accessible in our community.

This program offers grants to advance the efforts and accomplishments of residents and organizations who deliver sport and physical activity to make a positive impact in the community.

Lum is the Co-Head Coach of the SOBC – Vancouver speed skating program and has been the Liaison Officer of the Vancouver Speed Skating Club since November 2014. She has been instrumental in engaging many Special Olympics athletes, and has helped many fall in love with the sport. She continues to be a passionate champion of the Special Olympics movement and is enthusiastic about promoting speed skating within the Special Olympics community. She uses her ever-positive and infectious can-do attitude to smooth out any administrative wrinkles in a timely manner.

“I am very grateful for the SOBC – Vancouver speed skating program,” said Stanley Chang, father of athlete Trevor. “My son is a bundle of energy and this has been a positive activity for him. This club has been so kind and understanding, especially when he struggled at times. With the club’s encouragement Trevor has been competing more regularly in non-SOBC meets, which has helped him deal with long days in competition.”

Chapelski Souza has been a committed and valued figure skating coach with SOBC – Vancouver for the last 10 years. For the past two years, she has served as the Head Coach of SOBC – Vancouver’s figure skating and Learn to Skate programs. She consistently gives generously of her time, often meeting with athletes for additional one-on-one training in order to instill self-confidence, a positive mindset, and allow for the athletes to find pride in their accomplishments. She has also been an empowering provincial leader for the sport of figure skating.

Wong is the Co-Local Coordinator for SOBC – Vancouver and has served as an inspiring advocate for the abilities of Special Olympics athletes. He started coaching with Special Olympics in early 2015 and went on to serve as a swimming coach for the Region 5 team at the 2017 Special Olympics BC Summer Games and for Special Olympics Team BC 2018. Prior to his current leadership role, Wong was the SOBC – Vancouver Volunteer Coordinator and actively recruited many new coaches across the community.

Known for his diverse skill set and infectious positivity, Wong has changed the lives of many athletes. He has pushed them to achieve personal bests, succeed, and develop the confidence to continue a life of activity. When asked what his favourite thing about being involved with SOBC is, he replied, “It definitely would be the opportunities to meet and speak with athletes and volunteers from many different walks of life. There are so many stories to hear about, lessons to learn, and memories to be made.”

Please click here to read more about the City of Vancouver 2020 Community Sport Champions and watch their videos at the bottom of this page.

Congratulations to SOBC Youth Engagement Project leaders Bremiella de Guzman and Pavneet Kalsi on being named among Surrey’s Top 25 Under 25 Award recipients! These recipients are chosen based upon their business or community achievements, leadership ability, community involvement, professional achievements, and uniqueness of their business or community projects. These awards celebrate the incredible initiatives of Surrey’s youth and highlight leaders throughout the community.

The reigning Ms. Canada 2020, de Guzman has been an active volunteer in her community since high school and currently works as a social worker supporting individuals and families going through changes in their lives. She was selected to participate in the SOBC Youth Engagement Project in both 2019-20 and 2020-21, due to her passion and inspiring ideas for community projects to build a more inclusive province. Guzman leads Spread the Word>>Inclusion events in Surrey to promote inclusion and respect for people with intellectual disabilities.

Kalsi is a champion of equality, inclusion, and wellness. She consistently supports three soccer fundraising tournaments in collaboration with the City of Surrey and BC Tiger Sports Club with the goal of raising awareness for female youth in sports and to raise money and food for the Surrey Food Bank. She is currently the Events Executive for Best Buddies, a University of British Columbia club that supports people with physical and intellectual disabilities and recognizes them for their capabilities.

Congratulations again to all of the amazing award winners; your efforts continue to make the world a better and more inclusive place!

If you know of an inspiring individual being celebrated in your community, we want to hear about it! Please send all stories to Joseph Knowles, Communications Coordinator, at jknowles@specialolympics.bc.ca.