On The Road
April 7, 2010
Paralympian inspires at the Power Smart Village
Posted by Brigitte Drescher
Where: Vancouver
During the 2010 Winter Games, I was fortunate to find myself in the heart of Vancouver as a Community Outreach representative at the Power Smart Village – which was not only an Olympic, but a Paralympic celebration site.
While many tourists and British Columbians waited in long lines to view medals at the Canadian Mint, BC Hydro’s paralympic exhibit showcased genuine Paralympic medals and memorabilia, contributed by three inspiring Paralympians. Lauren Woolstencroft and Jeff Stanfield, both BC Hydro employees, and Trevor Hirschfield, son of a BC Hydro employee, are also all members of Team Power Smart.
Throughout the Paralympic Games, I had the pleasure of meeting and working alongside Trevor Hirschfield, a wheelchair rugby player. Trevor plays on the Canadian National Wheelchair Rugby team and helped his team win bronze in 2008 in Beijing; he will be competing in the 2012 Summer Games in London, England.
Trevor volunteered numerous days greeting and educating visitors at the Power Smart Village in the Paralympic exhibit. He shared his personal experience as a Paralympian, and was even subject to paparazzi, doling out countless autographs and posing in many photos with visitors. We had a number of school groups visit the Power Smart Village, and Trevor exemplified a true role model for the children, answering their questions and inspiring them to pursue their goals and dreams.
Brigitte Drescher is a Community Outreach representative based out of Burnaby.
