Sport: Bocce

PROVINCE: British Columbia 

HOMETOWN: Kelowna 

Biography: 

David has been a volunteer with Special Olympics for 17 years. He attended the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria in 2017 and was thrilled to watch his son, Tony, win gold and silver medals in snowshoeing. David currently coaches bocce and snowshoeing, and has also coached bowling, athletics and golf. His wife, Paola, assists with coaching at the Kelowna, B.C. snowshoeing program. David’s other son, Ty, assists with coaching snowshoeing and curling. David says it’s amazing to witness the transformative power of sport. He finds it very rewarding to be able to make a difference in athlete’s lives and help them experience a sense of achievement that leads to increased confidence, improved communication skills and independence. Participating in the World Games and representing Canada is a dream come true. His goals for the 2019 Games are to ensure his athletes are prepared to perform at the highest level and enjoy the entire experience, so they create friendships and memories that last a lifetime.