Work group created on sport for persons with a disability
TORONTO, November 25, 2003 -- Secretary of State (Physical Activity and Sport)Paul DeVillers announced the creation of a work group on sport for persons with a disability. He made the announcement at the Sport Celebrities Festival in Toronto.
"Our studies show that there are significant barriers for persons with a disability to participate in sport and physical activity," said Secretary of State DeVillers. "This work group will help lay the groundwork for effective collaboration among partners in the sport system to make sure programs and services are available to the more than 3.4 million Canadians with a disability."
The Work Group of the Secretary of State (Physical Activity and Sport) on Sport for Persons with a Disability includes experts from the various Games movements for athletes with a disability, as well as professionals in the field of physical rehabilitation. It will focus on breaking down barriers to participation in the Paralympics, Special Olympics, and Deaflympics sport movements. The Group will gather information on existing sport development models for athletes with a disability, propose a participant-based development model that includes all three sport movements, and identify short- and medium-term actions for implementation.
The Canadian Sport Policy, endorsed by the sport community and all levels of government, sets out Sport Canada's vision of an environment that enables all Canadians to experience and enjoy involvement in sport. To that end, in 2003Ñ04, the Government of Canada entered into bilateral agreements with most provinces and territories and has provided $1,272,500 in funding to National Sport Organizations under the Sport Participation Development Program to address barriers to participation for children, youth, and under-represented groups.
Overall, the Government of Canada provides $90 million in annual funding to support the Canadian sport system. To find out more about Government of Canada sport-related programs and initiatives, visit the Canadian Heritage Web site at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/sportcanada
Biographies of work group members are also available on the Canadian Hertiage Web site at: http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Media Room.
Information:
Mario Tremblay
Press Secretary
Office of the Secretary of State (Physical Activity and Sport)
(819) 953-7329
BACKGROUNDER
Work Group of the Secretary of State (Physical Activity and Sport)
on Sport for Persons with a Disability
On a broad scale, persons with a disability are not participating in physical activity and sport at rates similar to their able-bodied counterparts. As a result, these individuals are not enjoying the physical and social benefits in the same numbers as their fellow non-disabled Canadians.
Sport organizations at all levels including national, provincial, territorial, multi-sport, and disability-specific and other national sport governing bodies have well-defined mandates; however, their level of coordination has not been optimal in developing sport for persons with a disability. As partners in the Canadian sport system, they continue to struggle as to how to best collaborate in the provision of programs and services to Canadians with a disability.
Sport Canada studies, including the Sport Review Process undertaken with the Canadian Paralympic Committee and other athlete and coach representatives, reveal systemic barriers that have also been flagged in data collected through the Sport Canada contribution application process, the Sport Funding and Accountability Framework, and the developing Policy on Sport for Persons with a Disability.
Barriers vary among the three movements. For example, while Paralympic and Deaflympic sport face challenges at the grassroots level, the Special Olympics sport movement has a flourishing grassroots program.
Systemic barriers and lack of clarity with respect to roles have resulted in duplication of efforts and obvious gaps in the system.
Work Group Mandate
The work group's mandate is threefold:
Ï To determine what is known about existing sport development models for athletes with a disability. This includes sharing information gathered by partners in the sport system, examining existing participant development models, and identifying the gaps in the current sport delivery system.
Ï To propose a participant development model that incorporates the three sport movements for persons with a disability in Canada, while addressing the unique characteristics of each movement. The model should identify recruitment strategies, points of entry into the system, areas in which parallel systems are recommended, and points of intersection among the movements and with the mainstream system.
Ï To identify directions for short- and medium-term actions that should include measurement mechanisms.
JAMES HOOD
From 1985 to 1993, James coached with the Thunder Bay Thunderbolts Swim Club. He was also the volunteer Head Coach of the Superior Athletics Swim Club, a program that enabled swimmers with various types of disabilities to participate in sport and provided services to local secondary and university students. From 1993 to 1996, James coached for the GO Kingfish Swim Club in Ottawa.
James also coached for the Ontario team at the 1987 Canadian Foresters Games and was Canada's Head Coach at the World Wheelchair Games in England from1989 to 1991. In 1992, at Barcelona, Spain, James was Head Coach of the Canadian Paralympic Team, the first truly integrated team to compete at that level. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, B. C., he coached the swimmers with a disability (SWAD).
Administratively, James was the Integration Officer for the Canadian Paralympic Committee in 1993-1994 and from1994 to 1997, he was the Technical Coordinator for SWAD for Swimming/Natation Canada (SNC). He wrote the Memorandum of understanding for the integration of SWAD into SNC and supervised its implementation. James also co-authored the "I Can Swim" and "I Can Swim Fast" programs.
The volunteer organizations to which James has devoted his time and energy since 1984 include Blind Sports, Cerebral Palsy, Wheelchair Sports, the CFSOD, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the ISMWSF. In addition to serving on provincial and national swimming committees, he has helped plan fundraising and other special events. As a member of Sport For Disabled Ontario's Swim Committee from 1990-1995, James was instrumental in securing the integration of SWAD into Swim Ontario.
Technical matters have been an ongoing focus for James. As a member of the International Paralympic Committee's Sport Assembly Executive Committee, he also served on the Classification and Rules Sub Committee from 1992 to 1996, and chaired the Technical Rules Sub Committee from 1996 to 2000. He has been an International Course Conductor of the Functional Classification System since 1994, teaching in European and developing nations over the past eight years.
As an official, James has been Technical Classifier, Advisor or Co-ordinator at the IPC World Championships in Malta in 1994 and in New Zealand in 1998. In 1995, he worked at the European Championships in France and the Pre-Paralympic Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia. James also officiated at the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta and the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia.
Among the awards James has received are the 3M Coaching Award in 1990, the Government of Canada Recognition Award in 1992, Sport For Disabled Ontario's Ron Foster Award in 1995 and the IPC Recognition Award in both 1996 and 2000.
James currently lives and works in Edmonton where he has been Swim Alberta's General Manager since 1997. PAUL LANDRY
Paul Landry, deaf from birth, was a middle and long distance runner for more than 22 years. He represented Canada six times at the Deaflympics, formerly known as World Games for the Deaf, from 1973-97. A Letter Carrier since 1975 he resides in Ottawa with his wife and two sons.
In Romania 1977, he broke the 800m World Record. In Cologne, Germany 1981 he won 1500m Silver, in Los Angeles 1985 he won gold for the 1500m (first ever for Canada on the track) and in Christchurch, New Zealand 1989 he won the 5000m Bronze. Paul still holds all the Canadian Deaf records from 800m to 5000m and used to be one of the top Masters in the Ottawa area. He ran 5km to marathons and Corporate Relays (i.e. annual Jasper to Banff Relay for Canada Post) His personal best 10k is 30:43. In 1993 the City of Ottawa named a park in honour of his achievement. Since retiring from the track he has remained involved as Coach for the Deaf Canadian Track and Field leading teams to Rome 2001 Deaflympics, Venezuela 2002 Pan Am Deaf Youth Games and is currently preparing for the next Deaflympics in Melbourne 2005. As a golf enthusiast, he organizes the annual fund raising golf tournament for the Ottawa Deaf Centre and is V.P. of the Ontario Deaf Golf Association.
JANE D. BLAINE
Jane has over 25 years of experience as a volunteer and employee in the field of sport and physical activity for persons with a disability. She is currently the Executive Director of the British Columbia Blind Sports and Recreation Association, and is a founding board member of the Cerebral Palsy Sports Association of BC. Jane is a member of the International Blind Sports Federation's Sport Technical Committee, and chairs their Swimming Committee. She is also a classifier for Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports. Jane has served as Co-Chair of the Active Living Alliance for Canadian's with a Disability: Moving to Inclusion Committee (aimed at including students with a disability in physical education), and as a member of the Board of Directors of the BC Games Society. Jane's community volunteer commitments have included Scouts Canada, and The Learning Disabilities Association of BC. Jane is dedicated to working to ensure access for persons with a disability to physical activity opportunities.
RAY ALLARD
Ray Allard graduated from UWO with a Masters in Physical Education Ñ Sport Administration and from the University of Massachusetts with a Doctorate Degree in Education Ñ Curriculum Design, Development and Evaluation.
As Vice-President, Sport for Special Olympics Canada Ray oversees the Sport Department, including the National Team, National Games and Coach Development. Previously he has worked for the Canadian Red Cross Society Ñ revising the National Water Safety Program and for Swimming Natation Canada Ñ as Director of Participation Services. He spent 16 years with Sport Canada as a Senior Program Officer with primary responsibility for the athletes with a disability file.
Former Chair of the Sport Committee of the Canada Games Council, he has served on four Paralympics Games missions and worked with the governments of New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa and Australia on inclusion of athletes with a disability into mainstream sport.
CHRIS BOURNE
Chris Bourne is the Partnerships Manager with the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability. Working with a nation-wide network of stakeholders, he manages partnerships with 20 other national organizations that deal with active living and/or disability, and with Alliance representatives in each province and territory.
In 1990 Chris was involved in a car collision with a train and became a paraplegic. After spending 4 months in rehabilitation he went on to finish his university degree, became involved professionally in the active living field and subsequently returned to school to complete a Masters degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies with a focus on the development and management of opportunities for persons with a disability.
Coming from a wheelchair racing background, Chris is an accomplished triathlete. In 2001 he won a gold medal at the World Triathlon Championships. In 2002 he won bronze at the 2002 World Triathlon Championships and a silver at the 2002 World Duathlon Championships. In addition to these multi-sport events, Chris is an avid water skier and he competed in the 2003 World Disabled Water Skiing Championships. He also loves to downhill ski and take part in any activity that lets him enjoy the great outdoors.
In addition to his vocational and athletic interests, Chris is an active volunteer in his community. With Water Ski Canada, Chris manages the Adapted Water Sports portfolio and focuses on making towed water sports more available to people with a disability across Canada. Working as a speaker with the Preventing Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (PARTY) program that is delivered at the Ottawa Rehabilitation Centre, he educates young people about the consequences of risk-taking behaviour and how to insulate themselves from associated injuries. From its inception, Chris has also been in the CPA Peer Support Program in Ottawa.
HENRY WOHLER
Henry Wohler, a retired school principal, has been involved in organizing and providing opportunities for Canadians with a disability to participate in recreational and competitive sport since 1976. Currently in his tenth term as President of The Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing, Henry is also on the Boards of the Canadian Paralympic Committee and The Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability.
Even while serving as the Chef de Mission for the Canadian Paralympic Team at the 2002 Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City, Henry maintained his interest and personal involvement in the delivery of learn-to-ski programs for persons with a disability at the grass roots level. The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons presented Henry with the King Clancy Award at their Great Valentine Gala in Toronto in 2003 for his contribution to increasing the awareness of the abilities of persons with disabilities.
CATHERINE DANBROOK
Catherine Danbrook is President and CEO of The Rehabilitation Centre and Vice President, Rehabilitation Services with The Ottawa Hospital. She holds a Master's degree in Health Administration, a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and is a Certified Health Executive. Since 1999, Ms. Danbrook has been with The Ottawa Hospital, serving as Corporate Director, Palliative Care and Director, Executive Services. Prior to this, she was Executive Director of the Restructuring Coordination Task Force. With the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, Ms. Danbrook held several roles over six years including Senior Advisor - Community Long Term Care Development, Executive Director Home Care and Assistant Executive Director, Home Care. Ms. Danbrook has also worked at the Victorian Order of Nurses and the Royal Ottawa Hospital.
PATRICK JARVIS
Patrick Jarvis has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) since 1993 and has served as the President of the CPC since January 1999. One of his proudest sport moments was serving as the Chef de Mission (Team Leader) for the Canadian team at the 1998 Paralympic Winter Games in Nagano. He was also the official Canadian delegate at the 2000 Paralympic Summer Games in Sydney.
Although losing his right hand in an industrial accident at the age of eight, Patrick continued to pursue and excel in his life passion Ñ sports. Always an active athlete in non-disabled sports, his initiation with sport for disabled was in alpine skiing. He then moved successfully into athletics, competing at the 1990 World Championships in Assen in the 800m, 1500m, 5000m and javelin, as well as in the 800m and 1500m at the 1992 Paralympic Summer Games in Barcelona. Patrick still competes in several "able-bodied" sports including basketball, curling, baseball and running.
In his other' life, Patrick is a Certified Engineering Technologist with a degree in Education and owner of Amarok Training Services, a technical training firm.
VALERIE L. RAVARY
Valerie Ravary was appointed the position of National Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Paraplegic Association in May, 2003. Supporting ten divisions presents many challenges, but Valerie's considerable experience working in similar environments have made her a valuable asset to the organization. For example, as CEO of Canada WorkinfoNET Partnership Inc., a not-for-profit national organization, Valerie worked with a volunteer board of directors representing all ten provinces and three territories, as well as a number of private sector corporations and the federal government.
A Certified Management Consultant with a Masters in Business Administration, Valerie is well-acquainted with all aspects of general corporate management, including organizational development, strategic planning, human resources management, sales and marketing, fundraising, and communications planning. A specific area of her expertise is in designing and conducting needs assessment strategies to determine organizational, management and training improvements required in organizations.
She has relevant experience working in public, private, for profit, not-for-profit and charitable sectors. Most recently, she led a team providing professional services in support of the RCMP CPIC (Canadian Police Information Centre) Renewal Project. Her previous positions include chair of a Canadian Labour Force Development Board external national working group, coordinator of fundraising for the annual IWK Children's Hospital/Children's Miracle Network Telethon, Director of the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Board, marketing representative at IBM Canada, and instructor of business courses at Saint Mary's University. Valerie was also a Senior Director of a community home care service provider, which provided supports and health care to elderly people and persons with disabilities.
MARY BLUECHARDT
Dr. Mary Bluechardt joined Special Olympics Canada July 2001 as Director of Coach Development. Dr. Bluechardt has degrees in Physical and Health Education, a Masters in Coaching, and a PhD in Exercise Science. Prior to joining Special Olympics, she was a Professor and Program Head in the Faculties of Kinesiology and Education for 16 years at the University of Regina (Saskatchewan). She was a consultant for Bluechardt Consulting Inc. in Mediation and Negotiation, facilitated numerous planning sessions, and led seminars on conflict in the workplace.
Dr. Bluechardt has been working with people with disabilities for 26 years from the local to international level. She was Project Manager of the Special Olympics Canada Level II Technical Course, is a Master Course Conductor, Alpine and Water Ski Coach, and member of the Special Olympics North America Indigenous Peoples Committee. She was instrumental in establishing Coach Development programs for the Commonwealth Sport Development Program in Barbados, Guyana, St. Kitts, and Nevis, and has done development work in China and Thailand.
Dr. Bluechardt has received numerous awards for her work, including the University of Regina Award of Excellence in Public Service, and YWCA Women of Distinction for Health and Wellness. BRADFORD BENTLEY
Bradford Bentley graduated from the Manitoba School for the Deaf. A business owner in Winnipeg, Bradley was actively involved in the Winnipeg's deaf community. He moved to Vancouver in 1980 where he also became actively involved in the deaf community and worked as a counsellor at the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Bradley, now retired, is currently President of the Canadian Deaf Curling Association and serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Deaf Sports Association. NORMA LORINCZ
For ten years Norma Lorincz was a member of Canada's Paralympic Team competing in Track in the 1500m, 800m, and 5000m cross-country and in Cycling in the 5k, 10k, and 20k time trials and 20k road race. She is a former world record holder for the 1500m in track and the 5000m cross-country and 5 and 10k time trials in cycling. Norma also holds the unofficial world record for the 20k Road Race. Norma won a silver medal at the 1988 Paralympics in the 800m track event. Norma also qualified for the 1996 Paralympic Team in the 20 k Road Race.
Norma is a former Board member of SportAbility Alberta and athlete representative for the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sport Association. Norma successfully developed a multi-sport and weight training program for youth with a disability that promotes the fundamentals of motorplanning and sport skill development.
Currently she is Chair of the CPC Athletes' Council and Executive Director for SportAbility Alberta. Norma is working within the provincial mainstream sport system (i.e. Swim Alberta & Athletics Alberta) to create a sport development/delivery model for athletes with a disability.
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