Vancouver 2010 Paralympics Anniversary

Tomorrow will be the one-year anniversary of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, an amazing sporting event that was a very sweet ending to largest global event in our city’s history.

It all started out with a bang at the opening ceremony. I remember how lively it was – bright colours, talented dancers, paralympians, and one giant party under the marshmallow dome of BC Place. It was the perfect way to usher in a tremendous showing for Canadian athletes at the Paralympics who would come away with 18 medals, 5 of which were gold won by 2011 BC Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Lauren Woolstencroft.

To celebrate the 2010 Paralympics, there will be an event at Jack Poole Plaza tomorrow, March 12, 2011 from 10:00am – 11:30am. Para-alpine skiers Lauren Woolstencroft, Josh Dueck, Karolina Wisniewska, Lindsay Debou (guide) and wheelchair curlers Darryl Neighbour, Ina Forrest, Jim Armstrong and Sonja Gaudet will be in attendance.

Photo credit: John Biehler on Flickr

The Province of BC is also designating days in honor of paralympians who won medals. Josh Dueck and Lindsay Debou Day (March 13), Lauren Woolstencroft and Karolina Wisniewska Day (March 15), Ina Forrest, Jim Armstrong, Sonja Gaudet and Darryl Neighbour Day (March 20), and an Olympic and Paralympic Blue Jacket Volunteers Day (March 21).

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is currently preparing for the London 2012 Games. “I think London will bring a different perspective,” said Assistant Chef de Mission Elisabeth Walker-Young when I spoke with her a few months ago. “The one thing that’s really unique to the London Games is that’s where the Paralympic games all began, and I think they’ll use that as a catalyst.”