This award is to recognise an individual who has significantly contributed to the development and promotion of the sport. They are the unsung hero of curling who makes things happen behind the scenes. Judy has been instrumental in the development of Wheelchair Curling in Scotland over the last decade and has been involved in every aspect from Club Development to Coaching and International Championships. She has served on the Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association since 2004, holding various positions culminating in her becoming the Chair in 2010. Judy has introduced many people to the sport through her work at the participation level with Braehead and Stirling Wheelchair Curling Club and also developed athletes through the performance ranks while continuing her coaching with the SWCA Development and Spokes Squads and Area Institute Athletes. As a supporter Judy has attended many World Wheelchair Championships and Paralympic Games and also attended the 2008 Championships as Assistant Coach for Team Scotland. Judy is pictured with sponsor Iain Baxter of Murrayfield Curling Limited who presented the award.
In an email recieved by the blog this morning is seems a few questions have been answered for the up coming season.
1. Joe Rea will remain has Head coach for the up coming season
2. Jim Armstrong will remain OUT of the Team Canada line up
3. New faces will be added to the selection will NO old or expereinced faces being added
A mass email went out a day or so ago to a few players and this is how it read:
I
am sending this letter to inform you that we are moving forward with a group of
8-12 players for the 2012-2013 season.
The
current list of potential candidates, as of May 2012, includes; Darryl
Neighbour, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet, Jack Smart, Anne Hibberd, Dennis
Thiessen, Benoit Lessard, Mark Ideson, Mike Munro, Joanne MacDonald, Darwin
Bender and Frank LaBounty.
As
we get closer to 2014, there is an expectation by our funding partners that we
will reduce the athlete pool in which they invest, therefore the
candidates list will be shortened as our season progresses and as our budget
allows, (note - our National Team Program funding was reduced by 15% for the
coming season).
Our
primary focus will be to groom the strongest positional candidates for
selection to the 2013 National Team. This will be accomplished through training
camps, domestic competitions, and workshops. We do not want to disrupt your
provincial teams’ activities; however there may be occasional scheduling
overlap with one of your athletes.
We
will continue to circulate relevant skills development information from our
Coaching Staff and IST to you.
Team
Saskatchewan, will be invited to a fall training camp, as winners of the
Canadian Wheelchair Championships.
Good
luck in your 2012/2013 season and stay in touch with us to let us know how you
are doing!
Vince Miele, chair of the Richmond Centre for Disability and long-time advocate for the disabled in the city, is concerned about wheelchair access being eroded.
Forty years ago, energetic 21-year-old Vince Miele’s life changed forever.
While out driving, Miele slid across some black ice, causing his car to spin out of control and flip over.
Miele, who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, broke his back, severing his spinal cord. He’s been in a wheelchair ever since.
In those four decades, Miele — now chair of the Richmond Centre for Disability (RCD) — has witnessed a sea of positive change in the attitude toward and treatment of people with disabilities.
Much of that metamorphosis has arrived in the shape of greater access for disabled people, particularly for those in wheelchairs.
But it’s the very recent and steady “erosion of access,” as Miele calls it, which worries the RCD chair the most.
And that’s why this week, of all weeks — National Access Awareness Week runs May 27 to June 2 and the City of Richmond has proclaimed June 2 as Access Awareness Day — Miele wanted to shine the spotlight on things we all see, but miss every single day.
“We’ve fought for decades to get the access. But now that access has slowly eroded and we need to get it back,” said Miele, who believes between 16 and 20 per cent of Richmondites have some form of disability.
“For me, it’s now more about the erosion of the access than anything else. The access is there, thanks to building codes and bylaws nowadays.
“But all it takes is a change of ownership of a building or a parking lot and perhaps the new owner is not aware of the purpose of that access.
“What you will find then is that, whatever it is, has become inaccessible once more.”
To get a realistic sense of just what Miele was talking about, the News took a walk around town with the RCD chair, who Rick Hansen recently described as one of his mentors.
We didn’t need to go far before coming across example after example of the very “erosion of access” that vexes Miele.
Within one square block, almost all in the Ackroyd Road strip mall parking lot off No. 3 Road, Miele had managed to point out dozens of instances where access for people in wheelchairs had been thought of, but had been either poorly maintained or designed.
Disabled parking spots were too narrow; ramps to the sidewalk were cut in front of the parking spot instead of to the side, thus blocking off any access when the motorist pulls in; disabled parking signs taken away and never replaced and parking meters too high up for wheelchair-bound people to read.
“People with disabilities need to bring it up; we need to bring it to the attention of city hall or the owner or whomever,” said Miele.
“An example of this was a recent visit to a Chinese restaurant. I went to the washroom and there was an accessible cubicle, but it had been turned into a storage room of some kind; erosion of access.
“Able-bodied people don’t see it and I don’t expect them to see it. It’s only when you’re disabled that you start to see things.”
The more we moved around the parking lot, the more glaring examples of access erosion we encountered.
Someone with a genuine disabled parking permit was parked in a disabled spot with a ramp. But they were not in a wheelchair and their parking blocked off the ramp access.
“It’s a recurring problem everywhere in the city,” said Miele, who counts himself lucky enough to be a friend of Rick Hansen, who just completed his 25th anniversary of his Man in Motion tour.
Two wide-ramped parking spots in front of the Pricesmart store used to be marked with “disabled parking only” signs.
Now, two empty poles exist, causing people to park there illegally all day, every day, according to a supermarket employee, who remarked that the store has asked the landlord, Dorset Realty, many times in the last two years to fix the signs.
“These are great spots for us because of the proximity to the store and the wide ramps, but it’s another example of that erosion,” said Miele.
Inside the store was a different story.
Miele said he often shops at Pricesmart because of its accessibility and wheelchair-friendliness.
At the checkout, all the pin machines swivel up and all the way down, allowing people in wheelchairs to see the display properly.
“This isn’t the case everywhere. In Safeway, there are only two machines like that,” said Miele.
The washrooms, Miele pointed out, are “visible, with proper signage, nice and big and kept really clean.
“Cleanliness is important as we generally have to touch more surfaces than everyone else to move around in there.”
More blocked-off disabled ramps in the parking lot and on Ackroyd Road were followed by a parked delivery truck encroaching way into a disabled parking spot.
And then something as simple as a parking meter was too high for Miele to what the display read because of the sunshine hitting off it.
“I just gamble I won’t get a ticket. But, of course, I generally do,” he bemoaned.
“When I call to complain and explain, I’m told I won’t be charged out of courtesy, but I don’t want to have to make that call, I’d rather just pay for the parking. I keep asking them to make it accessible.”
As evident as the access erosion has become, even in one square block of the city, Miele still attests that Richmond is way ahead of many others.
“It’s way up there in terms of accessibility,” he said.
“I’ve traveled all over and Europe is way behind on this. But their buildings are hundreds of years old.
“Richmond gets better all the time, but work, as we can see today, still needs to be done.”
To halt and repair the erosion of that access, Miele urged everyone, especially people with a disability, to find their voice.
“Call RCD, talk to the owners or call the city when you see something, that’s the only way we’re going to make it more accessible,” he said.
“Sometimes people don’t realize their facility is not as accessible as they think. People in my position need to speak up about that erosion. If we don’t speak up, who will?”
Entries are now being taken for the British Open and Star Refrigeration National Pairs, closing date for both Competitions is 30th June 2012. Click on links below for Entry Forms.
The SWCA intends to build a strong pathway which delivers and aligns with the World Class Programme and which identifies and develops athletes.
The SWCA Spokes Development Programme aim is to invest programme support in athletes who are committed to the Spokes programme and with the prospect to progress to the World Class Programme. Inclusion on the SWCA Spokes Programme should be seen as “investment” for future potential at World Championships and for 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics. The ultimate outcome is to be able to medal at World/Paralympic level.
If you are interested in applying for the SWCA Spokes Programme please complete the SWCA Spokes Development Squad Registration Form and Mindset Questionnaire and return it by close of business on Wednesday 6th June to:
Please ensure that you have participated in a GB Ranking during the Season 2011-2012 or register for the GB Ranking on Thursday 14th June at The Peak , Stirling from 12.30pm – 2.30pm.
Click here for SWCA Spokes Development Squad Registration Form and Mindset Questionnaire
Click here for further information on SWCA Spokes Development Programme
Each spring the Richmond
sports community holds a banquet to recognize outstanding individual and team
achievement in local sport. Categories for recognition include Male and Female
for: High School, Junior, University/College, Adult, Senior; and Youth Team,
Adult Team, Coach, Administrator, Athlete with a disability, and Special
Olympics.
170 sportspeople and guests attended the sold-out Awards Dinner at McMathSchool
on May 3rd 2012 to
honour the winners and finalists of the 2011 Richmond Sports Awards.
Finalists
for athlete with a disability were Travis Murao –wheelchair Rugby
and
Darryl
Neighbour-wheelchair curling
Winner
Athlete of the Year with a Disability (2011)
Darryl
Neighbor - Wheel Chair Curling - Richmond
Curling Club
Parasport
in Canada receives $346,500 investment in grassroots programs
Canadian
Paralympic Committee and RBC Insurance Announce Recipients of 2012-13
Recruitment Program Fund
OTTAWA,
May 29, 2012 - The Canadian Paralympic Committee is pleased to announce the
recipients of the 2012-13 Recruitment Program Fund, presented by RBC
Insurance and supported by the Government of Canada's Sport Support Program.
This year, a total of $346,500 in funds will be distributed to 51 sport
organizations across the country.
"It's
inspiring to see the time, effort and energy these organizations have
committed to creating and enhancing programs that encourage athletes to
become more active in sport at the community level," said Neil Skelding,
president and CEO of RBC Insurance. "We are extremely proud to be
involved with the Recruitment Program Fund and believe that through this
program, we will see more Canadians with a disability compete on the world
stage and pursue their Paralympic dreams."
The
Recruitment Program Fund delivers grants of up to $10,000 to sports
organizations across Canada to support the creation of a new sports program
or financially support the expansion of an existing successful program that
provides a positive introductory sport experience for participants with a
disability. Funds may be used towards enhancing program options, such as
facility rental space, coaching, volunteer training and more.
"The
Government of Canada is proud to support the Recruitment Program Fund and to
play a leading role in the inclusion of people with disabilities in
sport," said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport).
"Our Government is committed to promoting meaningful opportunities for
people with disabilities to become involved in and develop through sport,
according to their interests, abilities, and talents."
Over
the years, grant recipients have made substantial contributions to valuable
programs and initiatives across Canada. One of them is Curl BC, an
organization that wants to increase participation in wheelchair curling in
British Columbia and build on the tremendous success of the 2010 Paralympic
Winter Games.
"Thanks
to the Recruitment Program Fund, we are pleased to be offering
professionally-coached and facilitated CAN Curl More: Discover Wheelchair
Curling clinics across the province," said Scott Braley, CEO, Curl BC.
"Our goals are to facilitate more wheelchair curlers joining leagues and
to double the number of teams competing in the BC Wheelchair Curling
Championships over the next five years."
"Making
the benefits of sport available to everyone is important," added Henry
Storgaard, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. "To do this, it is
critical to make quality introductory sport programming available as widely
as possible to give those with a disability not only a place to play, but a
positive sport experience. I would like to congratulate all the recipients of
the Recruitment Program Fund and thank all those involved in the programs for
their dedication and efforts in helping develop Canada's parasport
system."
More
information about the recipients and the Recruitment Program Fund can be
found by visiting www.paralympic.ca/funding.
Click
HERE for
the 2012-13 Recruitment Program Fund Recipients.
About the Recruitment Program Fund (RPF)
Launched in 2010 (formerly called the First Contact Fund), the
Recruitment Program Fund (RPF) is intended to support the creation of a new
program, or go towards the expansion of an existing successful initiative
providing a positive introductory parasport experience. Funds may be used
towards enhancing program options, such as facility rental space, coaching,
volunteer training and more.
About RBC Insurance
RBC Insurance, through its operating entities, provides a wide
range of travel, life, health, home, auto, wealth and reinsurance products
and solutions, as well as creditor and business insurance services, to
individual and group clients. RBC Insurance has more than four million
clients in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. Our products and services
are offered through a wide variety of distribution channels, including call
centres, retail insurance branches, independent brokers, travel agents, a
proprietary sales force and the Internet.
About Sport Canada's Sport Support Program
The Sport Support Program provides National and Multi-Sport
Organizations with financial assistance they need to develop Canada's amateur
sport system and to achieve world class athletic results. This financial
support strengthens our national sport system and benefits our athletes and
coaches. For more information, please visit www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1267385942671.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private
organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening
the Paralympic movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be
the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development
of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to
reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic
athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires
all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs
delivered by its member organizations. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: 613-569-4333 ext. 243
Cell: 613-298-4927
This award is to recognise an individual who has significantly contributed to the development and promotion of the sport. They are the unsung hero of curling who makes things happen behind the scenes. Judy has been instrumental in the development of Wheelchair Curling in Scotland over the last decade and has been involved in every aspect from Club Development to Coaching and International Championships. She has served on the Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association since 2004, holding various positions culminating in her becoming the Chair in 2010. Judy has introduced many people to the sport through her work at the participation level with Braehead and Stirling Wheelchair Curling Club and also developed athletes through the performance ranks while continuing her coaching with the SWCA Development and Spokes Squads and Area Institute Athletes. As a supporter Judy has attended many World Wheelchair Championships and Paralympic Games and also attended the 2008 Championships as Assistant Coach for Team Scotland. Judy is pictured with sponsor Iain Baxter of Murrayfield Curling Limited who presented the award.
