Paralympian, artist, motivator
It has been about 10 months now since the 2012 Paralympics, and it seems that most people ask me the same question: “When you were at London 2012, how was the Paralympic Village? What was that like?” I usually respond by telling them that it was awesome. There were people from every part of the world there, [...]
I remember starting to see all of the hipster tinged pictures showing up in my Twitter and Facebook feeds many months ago. It was likely around the time that Facebook acquired Instagram for $1 billion, that I realized what those sepia filtered photos were. Naturally, I decided to get an account and create my own. I made [...]
One of Dalia’s friends recommended we meet her at an art exhibition opening this weekend. It was of an artist her friend knows, on Granville Street, where Vancouver’s art galleries are concentrated. We planned to go and I was looking forward to it all week. When we arrived, we were met with stairs. No problem, [...]
Québec, 19 février 2013 – C’est avec beaucoup de fierté et d’enthousiasme que l’école Madeleine-Bergeron, une école spécialisée, recevra le médaillé paralympique Josh Vander Vies à prendre la parole et à jouer au boccia le vendredi, 22 février à 10 h, dans le cadre de l’édition 2013 de la Semaine scolaire paralympique présentée par le Comité [...]
I had a great time last weekend, honoured as a Paralympic medalist at the Great Valentine Gala. Another highlight for me was riding in a truly innovative new accessible limo service. Love My Limo picked me up from the airport in an MV-1 and I wrote about the experience at allaccesspass.ca. Check it out here: [...]
I submitted my feedback to the proposed BISFED draft rules earlier this month. In respecting the process that they laid out, I only commented on rule changes that the BISFED Rule Committee had approved and were seeking input on. I understand that BISFED is a new organisation and is just getting started as an international [...]
After each Paralympic Games, the governing body of international boccia – now BISFed (Boccia International Sports Federation) – opens submissions for changes to the official rules. The submission process from nations is now over and draft changes have just been announced, and can be downloaded here. BISFed is inviting comments on the draft changes. I [...]
At the beginning of the year the “New Years Resolution” itch is setting in for most. Resolutions are of course really goals. Like most elite athletes, I have set my share of goals in my career: win a match, win a tournament, make the national team, and win a Paralympic medal. Goals need not only [...]
A few weeks ago in the Toronto Sun I said that I believe in the power of sport. On a broad level, sport is one of the best ways for individuals to learn transferable skills like teamwork, healthy competition and performing under pressure. Participating in sport also brings the individual benefits of health, physical literacy [...]
Over the past four federal elections in Canada, an average of 39% of eligible voters did not vote (source). A staggering number of our country’s citizens are choosing not to participate in the political process. Many commentators argue that apathy is severely compromising Canadian democracy. The reasons for this are perhaps complicated, but I saw [...]
