Annual Gala coming May 29, Raise the Roof, Winter Season Wrap Up, Call for Summer Volunteers... and more!

SPRING 2014 NEWSLETTER

Annual Gala Fundraiser

Thursday, May 29

Join supporters of the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club for an evening to help “Adapt the Playground” and support athletes at every level. The event will be attended by Canadian Paralympic athletes and Whistler Adaptive Sports Program alumni/members.

Enjoy a delicious three-course dinner surrounded by spectacular views. Join in the fun with live and silent auctions and a Heads and Tails draw prize. Our generous sponsors have contributed $11,000 in auction items, with some of the items up for grabs including:

Seven night rental of an oceanfront cottage in Sechelt - $1,800 value
Whistler Blackcomb Season Pass - $1,799 value
Motivational speech by Canadian Paralympic Swimmer Donovan Tildesley - $1,500 value
Harbour Air vouchers for 10 Vancouver to Victoria flights - $1,400 value
Flightseeing in a Cessna Turbo 182 compliments of Innovation Building Group - $800 value
Day of riding with Paralympian Michelle Salt + Olympian Mercedes Nicoll - $900 value
Co-host the Après Lounge with Gord Rutherford on Whistler FM - $800 value
Golf gift package from TD Securities - $564 value and Golf Rounds at Nicklaus North
Gift pack from Switchback Entertainment and Salomon - $500 value
Giant Liv Simple Cruiser Bike from Whistler Adaptive - $400 value
Plus, additional products and experiences from: Canadian Para-Alpine prospect and free-ride athlete Alex Cairns, The Barefoot Bistro, Sacredasia Thai Massage, Westart Custom Framing, Whistler Bungee, The Whistler Sliding Centre, Canada Snowboard, Rocky Mountain Chocolate, Love Child Organics, Whistler Bums, and more!

Funds raised at the gala help the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Society athletes with disabilities at every level. By supporting sport for life, Whistler Adaptive breaks down physical, social and financial barriers, as well as cultivates skills that lead to independence and confidence.

Reserve Your Seat or Table Today!
Tickets are $95 or secure a table of 8 for $700. Tax receipts will be issued. Link to the store here or call 604-905-4493 to reserve your seat.

Share and invite your friends through our Facebook event page.

Donations
If you are unable to attend the event, you can easily make a donation online or contact us to donate to the silent auction. Every dollar helps ensure individuals with a disability enjoy adaptive sport in Whistler. Funds raised at this gala event will:

Support the development of innovative sports programming
Ensure the greatest number of individuals with a disability have access to sport and recreation
Create sport for life for all of our athletes and participants
Help expand our current programming to reach more individuals with a disability who face age or geographical barriers and build the future generation of Canadian athletes
Contact Whistler Adaptive today!

Raise the Roof Fundraiser

Friday, June 13

Please join us for the 6^th annual Raise the Roof event, a fundraiser for the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program and Habitat for Humanity on June 13 from 5-9 p.m. at the Delta Whistler Village Suites (4308 Main Street). Tickets are just $15 and include a variety of appies and are available in advance at the Delta Whistler Village Suites or at the door. Complimentary parking is available during the event (see front desk for instructions).

Hosted by the Delta Whistler Village Suites and Tantalus Resort Lodge, the event features a silent auction featuring numerous hotel stays, restaurants, activities and local artists. To date $71,000 has been raised for the two charities and we are gearing up for our best year yet. Link to the event on Facebook.

Para-Alpine Nationals

Whistler Adaptive Sports Program co-hosted the Sport Chek Canadian Championships in March. This was the first time that the para-alpine team raced at the nationals on the same course as the alpine athletes.

Congratulations to all the athletes who competed! Thanks to Alpine Canada, Whistler Blackcomb, the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and the Weasel Workers for partnering on this fantastic event.

An even bigger THANK YOU goes to all of the volunteers who helped and officiated!

For race results please visit Alpine Canada's website: http://www.alpinecanada.org/results

Renew Your Membership

Memberships for Whistler Adaptive are available for $15 per athlete and participant or $10 per volunteer and are valid to October 23, 2014.

Why become a member of Whistler Adaptive?

Join programs run by highly trained staff and volunteers
Participate as an athlete in our insured programs
Receive communications and newsletters
Attend Society events
Volunteer at functions and programs
Book training and certification
Vote at the AGM
Get involved on committees for fundraising, events and races
Meet new people and have loads of fun!

It only takes a minute: click here to renew your membership today!

Stay Connected

Like the Whistler Adaptive Facebook Page

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program page helps our members and community stay up-to-date with what's happening each season. Like our page, share stories, photos, videos and help build our network online.

Follow us on Twitter

For up-to-the minute information about Whistler Adaptive and accessibility initiatives, follow @WAdaptive.

Help us build our network in the Twittersphere and spread the news!

A Busy
Winter Season Wraps Up

Over the 2013/14 season, Whistler Adaptive has offered a range of programs for all levels of participants. The winter season was a great success for Whistler Adaptive Sports Program. The Ski & Snowboard Program saw record numbers with over 1,100 lessons being taught. We saw a lot of never-evers start the day with hesitation and leave with a huge smile alongside one die-hard skier who put in 5 days per week for 2.5 months. The Sport Academy continued in full force with alpine racing, Nordic skiing, swimming, strength training and yoga. And we have more and more requests each year for drop-in lessons in Nordic sit-skiing and snowshoeing.

The demand for adaptive sport training continues to grow. Here’s how the year has shaped up from May 2013 to mid-May 2014:

Adaptive Ski & Snowboard: 1,156 lessons
Adaptive Alpine Race: 172
Bonus Activities: 147
Nordic Program: 85
Strength & Conditioning/Yoga: 405
Swimming: 201
Canoe: 93
Kayaking: 91
Mountain Biking: 104
Hiking: 107
Rowing: 32
Trail Rider Rentals & Hikes: 62
Hand Cycle Rentals: 60
Running Races: 20
Triathlon Races: 8

Special thanks to our many volunteers who donated their time in the Ski & Snowboard and Sport Academy programs. We simply could not offer this many lessons without the dedication of our awesome volunteers!

Thanks to our Sponsors and Donors

Whistler Adaptive is fortunate to have the following grants and donations over the last season:

Teck Resources
Abercrombie Foundation
Resort Municipality of Whistler Community Enrichment Grant
Delta Whistler Village Suites
TD Securities
TELUS Community Fund
Whistler Healthcare Foundation
Canada Student Works
BC Adaptive Snowsports Equipment Fund
Rotary Clubs of Whistler and Pemberton
Creekbread Pizza
Subaru IRONMAN Canada

We appreciate these contributions and are thrilled to have such generous support for adaptive sport!

Learn more about how to support Whistler Adaptive.

Volunteers Needed for Summer Activities

Stay fit, play outside and be part of an amazing group of community members. Whistler Adaptive Sports Program offers kayaking, canoeing, hiking, biking, rowing, yoga, running and swimming to people with cognitive and physical disabilities. We are recruiting volunteers to coach or provide support for these summer activities. Trust us: this may be a highlight of your summer because our volunteers keep coming back for more!

Shifts range from 1.5 hours to 6 hours, so you decide how much time is best for you! Volunteer once a week with our local Sports Academy, sign on for a multi-day camp or just call us when you have time. We’ll find a way for you to get involved in this rewarding program.

Training sessions in mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking and rowing are taking place in May and June and space is filling up fast!

Volunteer and win! For every volunteer shift you complete your name is entered into a contest to win a one-week stay at a beachside bungalow in Baja, Mexico!

Contact Ali at Whistler Adaptive Sports Program for more information or to sign up: 604-905-4493 or admin@whistleradaptive.com.

Volunteers are required year-round for administration, event management, coaching, program delivery and fundraising to ensure the best possible experiences for participants. Out-of-town volunteers can book accommodation at the Whistler Athletes’ Centre Lodge this fall season. Take a look at the lodge in this video. Contact us at info@whistleradaptive.com or call 604-905-4493.

Book Upcoming Programs and Events

Plan your next visit, register for courses, confirm participation in weekly events, book sport programs, accommodation, lessons and activities.

Learn more about the range of year-round and summer programs offered here.

Now Recruiting:
Summer Program Leader

Student Job Opportunity
Whistler Adaptive is looking for a summer student to support program coordination for 40 hours per week. Applicants must be registered as a current university or college student. Learn more about the job posting here. Deadline for application: Tuesday, May 23 at 5:00 p.m.