At their April 2019 meeting, Special Olympics BC’s Leadership Council marked a number of changes, beginning with a salute to longtime Leadership Chair Patty Wheeldon, who stepped down after many years of dedicated and effective service, and a warm welcome to Region 3 Coordinator Donna Bilous who is taking on the role. 

The council also celebrated the addition of Jason Yan as Region 6 Coordinator, and thanked departing Coordinators Sheila Paynter (Region 2) and Marie-Helene Labonte (Region 1) for their years of commitment and leadership to help athletes and programs.
The Leadership Council provides vital guidance for our organization and movement, and SOBC benefits significantly from the efforts of these valued volunteers.

Comprised of the Regional Coordinators representing the eight SOBC Regions and respected leaders in the SOBC sport world, the council serves as the link between community and regional programs and the Board of Directors of Special Olympics BC. This group plays an important role in helping chart the course of SOBC sport program development, strategic plans, policies, and resources.

Wheeldon, the 2010 SOBC President’s Award winner, made an impact on Special Olympics BC at every level of the organization. With great caring, integrity, and insightfulness, she served as the Leadership Council Chair, as a member of the Board of Directors, as mission staff for many Regional and Provincial teams, as mission staff for Special Olympics Team Canada 2011, as a coach in multiple sports and volunteer in many different roles for SOBC – Langley, and as an insightful facilitator for SOBC Athlete Leadership programs. 

Wheeldon leaves big shoes to fill, and Bilous is very much up to the task. A nurse and parent, Bilous is a caring and accomplished SOBC – Abbotsford coach who has also been the Region 3 Coordinator and a member of many Regional, provincial, and national teams as both coach and medical mission staff. Bilous won the SOBC Howard Carter Award for exceptional coaching in both 2017 and 2011, and she won Special Olympics Canada’s 2017 Female Coach of the Year Award.

The Leadership Chair also serves as a member of the SOBC Board of Directors, a critical link between our organization’s two top decision-making groups.

Yan is an exciting addition as the Region 6 Coordinator, filled the role vacated by the dedicated and high-achieving Jean Tetarenko when SOBC snapped her up to become SOBC Competition & Youth Coordinator. Yan has been a Special Olympics coach since 2011, and he has gone above and beyond while serving as a Team BC 2018 golf coach and mission staff member for the Region 6 team at the 2019 Special Olympics BC Winter Games. Yan says he values Special Olympics for helping achieve their full potential in sport and in life.

Paynter provided incredible insights and support in her four years as Region 2 Coordinator, on top of her decade of dedicated service as a Special Olympics volunteer in Kelowna. With thoroughness, diligence, and caring, she led the Region 2 team to two Provincial Games, and served as mission staff on Team BC 2014 and the Region 2 team for the 2013 SOBC Summer Games. 

Labonte has been involved with SOBC – Golden since 2012 and served in many roles to help the Local grow. She joined the Leadership Council in 2017 and shared her valued perspective as well as dedicating time to head the Region 1 team for the 2019 SOBC Winter Games.

Sincere thanks to these valued leaders and all of the volunteer council members for generously giving so much time, energy, and insights to improve Special Olympics BC!