A St. Albert resident has reached a significant volunteering milestone.
Jim Allard has been a volunteer with Special Olympics Alberta for 30 years.
“I really enjoy it. I watch them smile and I get them going,” he said.
Allard started volunteering with the organization after he began taking his daughter, who has Down syndrome, to their bowling program when she was about seven years old.
I kept on bringing her there, and they said, ‘Well, can you give us a hand?’ So, I start giving them help and all of a sudden I was coaching,” he said.
Special Olympics Alberta offers “sports programs to over 3,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 140 communities across the province,” according to the organization’s website.
The focus of Special Olympics is to increase the physical and emotional well-being of those with intellectual disabilities, as compared to the Paralympics, which serves those who have physical disabilities.
The organization offers sports programs for people aged eight and up, youth programs, leadership programs, and health programs.
Over the years, Allard said he has been involved with coaching baseball, hockey swimming and basketball.
Currently, he volunteers once a week with bowling. He has 10 bowlers on his team
Allard, who is now retired, recently had surgery and is limited to what sports he can volunteer for.
“I’m just doing bowling, I have a health issue, so I just downsized,” he said.
He may, depending on his health, volunteer with the baseball team this summer.
Allard said he has many fond memories of trips to St. Paul, Calgary, and Red Deer.
“Lots of fun on the bus,” he said.
Allard’s favourite memory of his time volunteering is when his team won a gold in floor hockey in Lethbridge.
“The athletes were all thrilled they won gold, and the coaches too. They worked really well, they helped each other out,” he said.
Allard said his daughter is currently involved in bowling, basketball, and she is thinking about going back into hockey.
Allard said his daughter loves the organization and she also loves sports. He said it has been great for her social well-being, giving her a chance to meet people and go on trips.
Special Olympics Alberta was incorporated in 1980 and that same year they held their first Provincial Summer Games, according to the organization’s website.
There are 18 official summer and winter sports offered and a four-year competition cycle that allows athletes to compete regionally, provincially, nationally, and internationally.
In February 2023, Special Olympics Alberta will be hosting the Winter Provincial Games in Strathcona County.
When asked if he would be volunteering for provincials, Allard said, “if they need me, I’ll go.”
Allard said Special Olympics Alberta is a great organization which gives a lot of help to the athletes.
“(Special Olympics) keep (the athletes) healthy, keeps them active, and (they) have fun,” he said.
