For Immediate Release
October 02, 2018 (Vancouver B.C.) BC Wheelchair Basketball Society is excited to announce the two recipients of the 2018 BCWBS Education Bursary. This new bursary is open to any current BC wheelchair basketball members who are currently enrolled in a post-secondary education program, or will be enrolled in a post-secondary education program by December 31, 2018.
The goal of this bursary is to widen the scope of how BCWBS enriches its member’s lives! Thanks to one of our generous donors, we are able to select two recipients for the 2018/19 academic year.
The selection committee was tasked with choosing bursary recipients based firstly on their commitment to or involvement in the game of wheelchair basketball and/or to the BCWBS organization. Congratulations to Joel Ewert (Prince George) and Kady Dandeneau (Pender Island) for their continued outstanding contribution to our sport and our organization.
Joel Ewert is a current member of the Prince George Lumberjack wheelchair basketball club. He first started playing at age 5. “Growing up in an athletic family, I always wanted a sport of my own. I would hear my Dad and brother come home and talk about their games, and I would be jealous and envious. Once I was introduced to wheelchair basketball that all went away, because I could now tell my own stories about my own experiences,” states Ewert. “As I've grown up, BCWBS has remained a part of my life every basketball season. The game of wheelchair basketball has given me an identity throughout school: I was known as the athlete.” Ewert represented Team BC at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in his home town of Prince George and is one of the dedicated athletes who hopes to be selected to the 2019 Canada Winter Games team. He is currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Health Science- Major, Biomedical Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia with plans to continue his education into Pharmacy or Medicine.
Our second recipient, Kady Dandeneau is not only a member of the BC Breakers; Women’s provincial team, and the BC Royals; CWBL team, she also just completed her rookie season as a member of Team Canada, which finished in 5th place at the 2018 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Hamburg, Germany. Having been a former standup player, Dandeneau was forced to stop playing due to a knee injury. She was introduced to wheelchair basketball a few years later by coach and mentor Tim Frick. “Had it not been for the opportunities given to me by the sport of wheelchair basketball and the people/organizations within its community, my life right now would probably be very different,” affirms Dandeneau. “Guaranteed it would not encompass playing basketball at an elite level, and as that has always been my passion, I am forever grateful to the sport itself and those who make it possible for me to be able to play.” Dandeneau is currently enrolled at York University, studying Kinesiology and Health Science. She will continue her studies and training with hopes of getting the chance to represent Canada at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
About British Columbia Wheelchair Basketball Society
The BC Wheelchair Basketball Society (BCWBS) is the provincial sports’ governing body which provides support to wheelchair basketball programs throughout BC. BCWBS’s mission is to provide experiences that inspire inclusion, participation and excellence through wheelchair basketball. Check out what wheelchair basketball is all about. Click for video
For more information:
Please contact:
Michelle Comeau
BCWBS Communications Manager
M: 403-512-7671 E: michellercomeau@gmail.com
