Special Olympics BC-Cowichan Valley

Twelve days of training tips for a healthy new year! 10/12: Hand washing in six easy steps. Washing our hands can help prevent the spread of bacteria and viruse...s. Follow these six steps for proper and effective hand washing: https://www.specialolympics.ca//hand-washing-six-easy-steps Find more health and wellness resources: https://www.specialolympics.ca/bri/athlete-health-resources

In the 1960s, Canada’s Dr. Frank Hayden was studying the effects of regular exercise on the fitness levels of children with intellectual disabilities. The preva...iling mindset of the day was that the disability itself prevented children with IDs from fully participating in play and recreation. Through rigorous scientific method, Dr. Hayden challenged that mindset and proved the limiting factor was simply a lack of opportunity to participate. Given the opportunity, people with intellectual disabilities could acquire the necessary skills to participate in sport and become physically fit. With his groundbreaking research and years of work at the forefront of the Special Olympics movement, Dr. Hayden played a pivotal role in launching and building our organization worldwide. He has changed so many lives and opened so many minds and hearts to the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities. Monday, January 11, is Dr. Hayden’s 91st birthday! Special Olympics Canada is collecting well wishes to share with him. Please click here to share your message and read more about this iconic member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame: https://www.specialolympics.ca/Dr.Frank-Birthday (Special Olympics Canada will be collecting messages until Monday at 11 a.m. PT!) : Dr. Hayden with SOBC Coquitlam athlete Amanda Manzardo at the 2010 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.

Twelve days of training tips for a healthy new year! 9/12: Make your new year’s resolutions SMART. You give yourself a better chance of success when your goals... are Specific, Measurable, Agreed upon, Realistic, and Time-based. Get started making SMART goals here: https://www.specialolympics.ca//make-your-new-years-resolu Special Olympics BC Surrey athlete Kayley Olund-Rak has set 2021 goals to live independently and stay more organized. What goals do you have this year?! Find more health and wellness resources: https://www.specialolympics.ca/bri/athlete-health-resources

Return to Sport status update: All Special Olympics BC in-person programs and training remain paused until further notice. The current province-wide restriction...s are in place until January 8 at midnight, and we must wait to hear updates this week from the Provincial Health Officer and viaSport British Columbia. We’ll let everyone know next week how SOBC will proceed. A big virtual hug to everyone staying strong and protecting each other by following the provincial health guidance! And shoutouts to all the SOBC athletes, coaches, volunteers, families, and supporters who are staying active safely! Find resources for staying active, connected, positive, and informed: https://www.specialolympics.ca/british/staying-healthy-home

Twelve days of training tips, 2/12! Remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather when you dress so you can stay active outside in all weather! https://www.spe...cialolympics.ca//theres-no-such-thing-bad-w Catch some inspiration from Special Olympics BC Kelowna athlete Roy Stephens, who walked hundreds of days in a row in 2020, and has gotten right back at it in 2021. Roy always dresses appropriately for activity, and has a big smile to share. Thank you, Roy! Find more health and wellness resources: https://www.specialolympics.ca/bri/athlete-health-resources

Join us for two more Special Olympics BC Virtual Healthy Athletes sessions! Health Promotion November 30 at 6:30 p.m. PT. In this session, athletes will le...arn about the importance of healthy habits, healthy education, proper hydration, how to achieve strong bones, physical activity, and much more! Register here: https://www.specialolympics.ca//sobc-healthy-athletes-heal Virtual Healthy Athletes Education Session about Healthy Hearing December 3 at 6:30 p.m. PT. Athletes can connect with health professionals who can share strategies to protect and support your hearing. Register here: https://www.specialolympics.ca//virtual-healthy-athletes-e

Have you registered to attend the virtual Special Olympics BC Anniversary Ceremony and Dance Party yet?! Register before 4 p.m. PT today and join us this evenin...g from 6 to 7 p.m., where legendary broadcaster Bernie Pascall will lead a ceremony featuring stories, tributes, and performances by SOBC athletes! To keep the party going we invite all registered participants to join us after the ceremony for a SOBC Dance Party. Register and learn more here: https://www.specialolympics.ca/br/sobc-anniversary-ceremony

Continuing with great discussions in the Special Olympics BC Virtual Athlete Health Series! Join us for conversations about sexual health on November 25. The wo...men-only session is at 4:30 p.m. PT and the men-only session is at 5:30 p.m. PT. Women’s health will be the next topic of discussion on December 2 at 4:30 p.m. PT. Register and learn more here: https://www.specialolympics.ca//sobc-virtual-athlete-healt

Special Olympics BC Anniversary Ceremony and Dance Party Join us virtually from 6 to 7 p.m. on November 24, 2020 to celebrate four decades of the Special Olympics movement in B.C., and the inspiring individuals that have made it possible! Participants of the SOBC Dance Club will showcase the routine they have been practicing for the past eight weeks before we invite everyone to join in on the fun with a free-for-all dance party! ... Once you have registered by submitting your information at https://www.specialolympics.ca//special-olympics-bc-annive you will receive two links via email on November 24. 6 to 6:30 p.m. PT: Ceremony with tributes and SOBC Dance Club performance 6:30 to 7 p.m. PT: Dance party for all! If you have any questions, please contact SOBC Communications Coordinator, Joseph Knowles at [email protected]

Special Olympics BC is consulting community members and provincial experts in order to react to the November 19 guidance from the Provincial Health Officer. We ...want to do our due diligence and seek the course of action that is most appropriate at this time. The safety of our community members remains our absolute priority. At this time, all in-person Special Olympics BC programs in Regions 3, 4, and 5 remain paused until our next announcement, which will come mid-next week. Programs in Regions 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8 can continue, but must follow the new Provincial Health Officer order requiring mask wearing in all indoor public spaces. And everyone must continue to rigorously follow all the SOBC Return to Sport safety protocols. Read more: https://www.specialolympics.ca//sobc-return-sport-news-nov