As we marked 45 years of providing sport, physical activity, and recreation programming for Albertans experiencing disability, supporting professional development and training of those who will work in the sector, and contributing to asking and answering questions that will inform our practice; I am so proud of what we have achieved. 

We wouldn’t be here without the vision and initiative of our founder, Dr. Steadward. I had a chance to sit down with Dr. Steadward to talk about the impact of the 45th anniversary and he shared:

“45 years is a long time, and I suppose it's really a dream that's become a reality, and that dream has been building into a reality over those 45 years. I remember we had such a small, meek, meager, humble, little corner of the Van Vliet Complex 45 years ago, and now we've got a centre that's really such a wonderful opportunity to showcase our programs and our members, as well as the outstanding contribution that our staff and volunteers have and are making to the to the centre. So it really means an awful lot, because I never, ever thought it would be here today like it is, compared to what it was like 45 years ago.”

Dr. Steadward echoes the gratitude and appreciation I feel towards our team, which includes our full time and part time staff, volunteers, and all of our supporters- including committee members, donors, and families:

“I want to extend a huge congratulations and thank you to all of the staff, all of the volunteers, all of the student interns that  continue to work so very hard to make themselves and others proud of what they're achieving by providing wonderful opportunities for people living with a disability”.

We wouldn’t be able to have such a positive impact on the community- to run programs, offer training for volunteers, or contribute to research projects, without financial support. We are grateful for the partnerships we have with funders who share our vision for accessible and inclusive physical activity. I really want to express our appreciation to the families that contribute to annual fundraising events such as Going the Distance, our foundation partners such as the Melton Family Foundation who continue to say yes in support of our ideas, and to the long term support from the Government of Alberta who shares our vision for inclusion in sport, physical activity, and recreation for Albertans with disabilities. 

In looking to the future, Dr. Steadward shared a very pragmatic vision:

“We can continue to dream and continue to push forward to achieve. Achieve even greater things than we've achieved to date. There's some very practical things, like we have to be sustainable, financially sustainable. So it's a situation where we have to continue to look for ways to increase the financial revenue into the centre, because we need to be able to support the students, the staff and the costs associated with running the centre.” 

The Steadward Centre is a place for community. In my conversation with Dr. Steadward, he captured the essence of the community feel:

“Every time I come over to visit, and when I go into the different rooms and chat with the people, I always feel like I'm coming home to the family…Everyone gets along, everyone's got smiles on their faces, and yet everyone's working still very hard”. 

Looking ahead to 2024-2025, I can’t wait to continue building relationships and learning with and from our community- whether that’s adult members experiencing disability, young para athletes, children and youth experiencing disability, volunteers, family members, part time staff wrapping up their degrees, full time staff sharing their expertise, or community partners asking questions and offering their support- these relationships all matter. Stay tuned for exciting things to come!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Leo 

 Director

The Steadward Centre for Personal and Physical Achievement