Vancouver, BC – For the first time in Vancouver sports history, Canucks Autism Network (CAN) will bring all five professional sports teams together with provincial sport organizations for an unforgettable family event. On Sunday, May 12th, from 1:00-4:00 pm, over 250 families living with autism (850 individuals) will hit the field at BC Place for the 7th Annual CAN Sports Day, sponsored by Centaur Products Sports Contracting, The DB Perks Group and BC Place.
As in previous years, professional players, alumni and mascots from the Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Vancouver Canadians will lead activity stations at the multisport event.
New this year:
The Vancouver Warriors will join the fold alongside BC Rugby, British Columbia Golf, BC Athletics, Tennis BC, BC Lacrosse Association and Jays Care Foundation Challenger Baseball.
Confirmed athletes include:
Antoine Roussel & Manny Malhotra – Vancouver Canucks
Jake Nerwiknski & Brett Levis – Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Jordan Herdman & Claudell Louis – BC Lions
Professional sports heroes and community rec leaders alike will lead children, youth and young adults with autism in an unprecedented array of sports activities.
In addition to giving CAN participants a truly memorable experience, the hope is to connect hundreds of individuals and families living with autism to a greater range of community-based sports organizations and spark a lifetime of physical activity.
“Individuals with autism face many barriers for participating in community recreation,” says Stephanie Jull, Canucks Autism Network’s VP of Programs, Training and Community Engagement. “By uniting an entire community of BC sports leaders, we can work together to take individuals with autism off the sidelines and back into the field of play.”
Media are invited to attend between 1:15pm and 3:45 pm and are asked to enter through the East Gate entrance. Players and families will be available for interviews throughout the event.
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ABOUT CANUCKS AUTISM NETWORK (CAN) Canucks Autism Network (CAN) provides year-round sports and recreation programs for individuals and families living with autism, while increasing awareness and providing training in communities across British Columbia.
Founded in 2008 by Vancouver Canucks Co-owners Paolo and Clara Aquilini, CAN’s vision is for every individual with autism to be understood, accepted and supported in all community spaces.
In junior and college, he competed against current NHL stars like Tyler Bozak, Kyle Turris and Jake Gardiner. After turning pro, he traveled the world and played in the United States, Hungary and France.
Though he is now retired, Michael hasn’t come close to hanging up his skates. Since settling back home in Surrey, he has found a new calling on the ice as a Canucks Autism Network (CAN) volunteer.
Every Wednesday evening, he laces up at Cloverdale Arena to support CAN participants in our skate program.
“I love being on the ice,” Michael explained. “And CAN has allowed me to pass on my skills and joy of skating to the kids.”
His enthusiasm has helped countless CAN participants develop confidence on the ice and a shared love of skating. The CAN staff in Cloverdale have taken notice.
Whenever they encounter a participant who may need some extra motivation and encouragement, the staff are quick to pair them with Michael.
“The kids gravitate to him because he’s got such an advanced skill set on the ice,” said one of our CAN skate coaches. “But he’s been able to support them in ways that show a natural ability to connect with our participants too.”
While April 7-13 marks National Volunteer Week in Canada, it is also Autism Awareness Month. Like many CAN volunteers, Michael came to us with no experience supporting children with autism. But through a clear passion, desire to give back and guidance from CAN staff, Michael has developed the understanding of autism necessary to make a lasting impact on our participants.
“It only takes an hour out of my week,” Michael shared. “And to be able to put a giant smile on a child’s face – that’s something special. Getting to build relationships with the children and seeing not only their skating skills improve, but also their confidence and interpersonal skills, has been tremendously rewarding.”
Outside of CAN programs, Michael is starting a career as a firefighter with the City of Delta. He will be joining a first responder community in BC that is becoming increasingly aware and accepting of individuals with autism, as well. This past January, CAN launched a free and online training tool for first responders. In the three months since, over 600 fire fighters, police officers, paramedics, search and rescue officers and more have completed the training.
Michael will be starting his new role with valuable hands-on experience and is eager to utilize his newfound understanding of autism.
“I have gained so much knowledge and so many communication skills volunteering with CAN,” Michael said. “As a firefighter, it is extremely reassuring that I can use my knowledge about autism to respond to calls involving individuals on the spectrum.”
As an organization, we are uplifted that volunteers like Michael will continue to support the autism community long after their time in our programs.
Daniel Sedin & Kirk McLean with representatives from CAN & Modern Green Canada (Photo: Paul Yates)
Feb 8, 2019
“This was the best weekend of my life. And I got married on a weekend.” – Jeff, CAN Pro-Am participant
After months of tireless fundraising for Canucks Autism Network (CAN), 16 rec and corporate teams laced up for the inaugural CAN Pro-Am Hockey Tournament, presented by Modern Green Canada. Featuring 19 NHL Alumni, including the surprise addition of Vancouver Canucks legend Daniel Sedin, it was truly a weekend to remember.
Each team’s journey began with a pledge to raise at least $20,000 for CAN. By the time the dressing rooms at Rogers Arena were cleared, the CAN Pro-Am had raised an incredible $575,000 to support programs for individuals and families living with autism across BC.
Pre-tournament festivities
The weekend festivities kicked off Friday afternoon in the Rogers Arena Captains Room with the Hotstove Luncheon, sponsored by Zerto. VIP guests were treated to decadent family-style fare while listening to unheard stories from Canucks Alumni spanning all three of the team’s Stanley Cup Final runs (1982, 1994, and 2011).
Brought in to moderate the panels was Sportsnet 650 personality Scott Rintoul. In addition to hosting the exclusive Q&A, Sportsnet 650 was live on location broadcasting for the duration of the weekend.
That evening, business attire was swapped for jeans and jerseys, as players and sponsors headed to the Imperial Vancouver for Draft Night, sponsored by Odlum Brown. Having raised a tournament-leading $75,667, the Odlum Brown Bulls lifted the inaugural “CANley Cup” and earned the right to select first overall. With the top pick, they selected former Canucks winger Raffi Torres.
The Odlum Brown Bulls lift the CANley Cup as the Top Fundraisers
In true NHL style, the showstopper on Draft Night was a surprise trade. Comprised of five CAN parents, the Healthy Scratches swapped their second overall pick to the tenth-ranked fundraising team in exchange for a $5,000 donation to CAN.
NHL Alumni hit the ice
With each team boasting a former NHL star on their roster, the stage was set to hit the ice on Saturday morning. Over the next two days, CAN Pro-Am players lived out their wildest hockey fantasies, competing alongside the likes of Daniel Sedin, Josh Gorges, Kirk McLean and more.
While there were many close games on Saturday, the action at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre was highlighted by a thrilling shootout win from Dave Babych and the Healthy Scratches. Featuring a CAN parent in goal, Lee McCormick went head to head against former Canucks 30-goal scorer Mikael Samuelsson and came out on top.
Mikael Samulesson (left) during the CAN Pro-Am All-Star Game | Photo: Paul Yates
For CAN parents like Lee and John Carinha, the tournament experience was especially impactful. “The CAN Pro-Am has brought together a group of strangers with NHL greats for a common goal,” said John. “And it has nothing to do with the score of the game. We’re all here to highlight the opportunities that CAN offers the autism community. And most importantly, to fundraise for them to continue growing their reach.”
With games transitioning to Rogers Arena on Sunday, the tournament culminated in a highly-anticipated All-Star Game that showcased the top 22 individual fundraisers and eight NHL Alumni. Despite names like Daniel Sedin, Brendan Morrison, and Cliff Ronning on the ice, players and spectators were reminded of the real stars of the weekend during the pre-game ceremony.
Top fundraiser Bob Shanks was joined by 10-year-old CAN participant Noah Zanatta and Carleen Pauliuk from Presenting Sponsor Modern Green Canada to drop the ceremonial puck between Kirk McLean, and Daniel Sedin. Then, with a number of CAN hockey participants lined up at centre ice, Daniel shook the hand of each of the aspiring youth athletes.
Daniel Sedin greets members of the CAN hockey program. | Photo: Paul Yates
Like every pre-game ceremony at Rogers Arena, players were invited to remove their helmets for the singing of the national anthem. Taking the mic was 9-year-old Jayden Weiss, a member of the CAN/Sarah McLachlan School of Music program. Incredibly, Jayden sang ‘O Canada’ by heart, just four years after being unable to speak
Needless to say, the CAN Pro-Am was full of inspiring moments that are sure to bring rec and corporate teams back year after year. In an interview with Sportsnet 650 after the tournament, former Canucks star Brendan Morrison reflected on the impact that the CAN Pro-Am had on everyone involved.
“There was such positive energy all weekend,” Morrison shared. “Guys were talking about how they can’t wait until next year and how it’s going to grow and get bigger, which is huge for CAN.”
The collective fundraising effort of each team was bolstered by support from community sponsors, most notably the tournament’s presenting sponsor, Modern Green Canada.
Daniel Sedin returning to Rogers Arena for a cause! | Photo: Paul Yates
“This weekend was truly every hockey fan’s dream,” said Raymond K. Li, President of Modern Green Canada. “All the NHL Alumni were phenomenal and every player was smiling from ear to ear all weekend long. As a real estate developer and the Presenting Sponsor, we are honoured to partner with Canucks Autism Network to showcase our shared commitment to our community. Thank you to everyone involved for making this inaugural event such a success.”
With $575,000 raised, CAN Pro-Am players and supporters can take pride that their participation has helped ensure that individuals with autism will also have the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of sports province-wide.
FREE E-LEARNING MODULE LAUNCHES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BC PARKS AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION
In an innovative effort to increase accessibility for individuals with autism in community recreation, Canucks Autism Network (CAN), in partnership with BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA), has launched a free E-Learning Module for recreation providers across BC. Funded by the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD), the online resource represents an unprecedented collaborative effort among government, recreation, and the non-profit autism sector.
The one-hour online module outlines behaviours associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as effective strategies for supporting children and youth with autism in recreation settings. The interactive module also highlights interviews with experienced recreation leaders who have successfully implemented these strategies, which include communication tips, behavior support, and teaching tools. The E-Learning Module can be accessed at no cost at elearn.bcrpa.bc.ca or canucksautism.ca/recreation.
“Canucks Autism Network has been providing workshops to the recreation sector since 2012, and demand grows exponentially every year,” said Dr. Stephanie Jull, VP of Programs and Training at Canucks Autism Network. “This new online training module provides an exciting opportunity to spread knowledge and build capacity across BC and beyond, creating a positive impact for the thousands of families living with autism in our province.”
The project began after CAN successfully pitched the need for a widely-accessible online resource to the MCFD in 2017. With 1 in 66 Canadian children diagnosed with autism, and over 16,000 children and youth with autism in BC alone, MCFD recognized the growing need for community accessibility.
“All kids deserve the opportunity to participate in sports and other activities,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development. “I’m pleased that MCFD could collaborate with CAN and BCRPA to bring this specialized training to recreation providers so that they can provide the supports kids need to join in with their peers.”
Research shows that individuals with autism are far less likely to participate in community recreation than their typically-developing peers. Furthermore, research indicates that physical activity can increase attention and cognition while decreasing anxiety, among children and youth with autism.
“We are thrilled to be presenting this valuable E-learning module in partnership with CAN, said Rebecca Tunnacliffe, CEO of BCRPA. Our members who manage and work in recreation facilities across BC hold very highly the importance of creating a positive experience for all their participants. This module will directly assist staff to amplify their awareness of the needs of autistic individuals, and implement strategies to provide them with a positive experience so they will want to return again and again.”
Since 2012, CAN’s province-wide team of training facilitators has delivered hundreds of workshops to well over 10,000 individuals in the public sector across BC. In addition to supporting the sport and recreation sectors, CAN’s live training team builds capacity for first responders, education staff, and a variety community spaces including YVR, Science World, and the Vancouver Aquarium.
CAN is proud to unveil three online training resources for various sectors in January 2019. In addition to the launch of the E-Learning Module for recreation providers, CAN has also released an online training module for first responders and will be unveiling an online resource for sport coaches in late January.
The inaugural Canucks Autism Network (CAN) Pro-Am Hockey Tournament, presented by Modern Green Canada, is set to take place from January 25 to January 27, 2019, at the UBC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre and Rogers Arena, home of the Vancouver Canucks. In partnership with the NHL Alumni Association and Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association, the tournament will bring together former NHL greats with amateur players in support of CAN and families living with autism in British Columbia.
Themed as the “Best of BC”, the tournament will feature a uniquely local spin on the classic pro-am format, as each team will include a member of the NHL Alumni who was either born in BC or has competed for the Vancouver Canucks. As 2019 also celebrates the 100-year anniversary of hockey in BC, the CAN Pro-Am is of particular significance to the province’s historic hockey community.
To participate, players need to raise a minimum of $1,500 which will go towards the team’s fundraising total. CAN Pro-Am teams will have the opportunity to select NHL Alumni in the order of their fundraising ranking on Draft Night at The Imperial in Vancouver.
The following NHL Alumni will be draft-eligible, with additional NHL Alumni to be announced soon.
Dave Babych
Garth Butcher
Geoff Courtnall
Gerard Diduck
Thomas Gradin
Chris Higgins
David Jones
Jyrki Lumme
Kirk McLean
Dana Murzyn
Cliff Ronning
Raffi Torres
Kyle Wellwood
“We are very proud to announce the upcoming CAN Pro-Am,” said Glenn Healy, Executive Director of the NHL Alumni Association. “We know there is strong community support in Vancouver and we look forward to making this an annual success.”
The weekend will also feature a Hot Stove Lounge and Luncheon, where attendees will gain a unique insight about life in the NHL while enjoying a first-class lunch catered by Chef Robert Bartley in the Captain’s Room at Rogers Arena.
“The Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association is proud to be part of this wonderful fundraising initiative that supports one of our key beneficiaries,” said Bob Murray, President of the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association. “Having a Pro-Am with NHL Alumni in Vancouver is a huge plus for the game of hockey and to the families who benefit from Canucks Autism Network programs throughout BC.”
Funds raised from the 2019 CAN Pro-Am Hockey Tournament will support the delivery of CAN’s sports and recreation programs for children, youth and young adults with autism. An estimated 1 in 66 Canadian children is diagnosed with autism and over 16,000 are impacted in BC alone.
“The CAN Pro-Am Hockey Tournament represents a unique and valuable opportunity,” said Paolo Aquilini, Vancouver Canucks Co-owner and Canucks Autism Network Co-founder. “While tournament participants spend the weekend making lifelong memories, funds raised will help ensure that individuals with autism province-wide will also have the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of sports.”
For more information, or to register your hockey team, please visit www.canproam.com.
