The Power of Sport

Variety Village to Host the 2008 Ontario ParaSport Summer Games Variety Village in Scarborough won its bid to host the 2008 Ontario ParaSport Summer Games on July 25 and 26. The theme for these Games is The Power of Sport – inspiring competition between elite athletes and embracing the unique powers they possess to showcase their abilities.

Margarett Best, Ontario’s Minister of Health Promotion, made the announcement at a press conference held at Variety Village on Tuesday, January 22. “The McGuinty government is committed to supporting Ontario athletes and opportunities to help them compete at their best,” said Minister Best. “These Games are particularly important because these athletes inspire all of us to strive for personal excellence while leading active and healthy lives.”

“Variety Village is proud to host these Games,” said Steve Bialowas, Co-Chair of the Host Organizing Committee (HOC). “Our community is excited about welcoming this region’s athletic talent, as well as trumpeting its support for amateur sport.”

The Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion provides funding to the Games, which are delivered by the Sport Alliance of Ontario in partnership with Paralympics Ontario. Paralympics Ontario’s Games Council conferred a unanimous “yes” vote upon Variety Village’s bid to host the Games. The Games Council represents the Ontario Blind Sports Association, Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports Association, Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, Ontario Amputee Les Autres Sports Association and Ontario Therapeutic Riding Association.

Shoppers HomeHealthCare has committed to a financial sponsorship of the Games, which is greatly appreciated. Many other sponsorship opportunities are still available.

This set of Games is the Provincial Championships for many of the summer sport opportunities for athletes with a physical disability within Ontario. Sports include Track and Field, Boccia, Wheelchair Tennis, Goalball, Para Equestrian and Powerlifting.

Variety Village is working in partnership with Centennial College for the hospitality and accommodation of the athletes, their families, trainers and coaches. The Community Association for Riding for the Disabled (C.A.R.D.) will host the Para Equestrian event, and the Scarborough Bluffs Tennis Club will host the Wheelchair Tennis event.

The Games will build pride in the community by celebrating the determination and accomplishments of Ontario’s finest athletes.

Volunteers play an important role in making the Games a success. For information about volunteer opportunities, please email volunteers@varietyontario. ca. For sponsorship opportunities, email rrimer@varietyontario.ca


Variety on the Road™ Keeps on Rolling

Since November, there have been some exciting developments for Variety in Ontario’s Variety on the Road™ (VOTR) program, which gives youngsters with disabilities access to a wide range of dynamic sports and recreation programs and equipment to help improve their physical and developmental well-being. VOTR programs promote inclusion, so children and youth with disabilities and their brothers, sisters and friends can attend and participate together.

VOTR’s unique programming employs highly trained staff members who travel from Variety Village in Scarborough to deliver programs in other communities.VOTR programs have been operating in Vaughan since January 2007 with great success. Over the past year, Variety has been working hard to determine how it could best be of service to other communities in Ontario. In early January 2008, Variety held two open houses in Brampton to evaluate interest and needs for specialized programming by inviting children with disabilities and their guardians to participate in program activities. The VOTR programs are designed to allow children and youth from age 3 to 21 to experience physical activities in a supportive, inclusive and fun environment.

Community response in Brampton to the VOTR program has been overwhelming, and registration for the first three sessions filled up quickly. Variety realizes that the demand for inclusive and adapted recreational programming in Brampton is higher than first assumed, and it also recognizes the need to expand its programs to other Ontario communities.

Open houses have been held in Newmarket, and plans are now underway to launch a VOTR program there in April. Fees for programs are $7.50 per participant, per class. Classes usually run for 11-week sessions and can include VOTR’s Children in Motion™, Aquatics for Everyone™ or Adapted Physical Education™* programs.

For more information on VOTR and how to bring welcoming, exciting and inclusive programming to your community, visit www.varietyontario.ca or contact Garth Riley at griley@variety village.on.ca or 416-699-7167 x 237.


*Adapted Physical Education™ program is for schools only.