Celebrating the impact of Special Olympics BC volunteers
Through our annual Volunteer Impact Celebration, Special Olympics BC is proud and grateful to recognize the milestone anniversaries marked by life-changing volunteers across the province. Milestone anniversaries include 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 year celebrations.
These dedicated individuals have put years into empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through Special Olympics BC sport, health, and youth programs.
Each of the individuals listed below earned a Years of Impact Pin this year. These pins celebrate the milestone anniversary of when they first joined Special Olympics BC and the significant reach of the gift of their time and talents to change lives and strengthen inclusion through the power and joy of sport.
"It’s the athletes that keep me coming back,” said Special Olympics BC – Prince George volunteer Dee Neukomm to CKPG Today. Neukomm is one of four dedicated volunteers receiving a 40 Years of Impact Pin in 2026, and is a founding member of Special Olympics BC – Prince George.
“Just seeing their enjoyment and learning skills and learning sportsmanship, and just being the best they can and helping them do that through sport."
While our athletes inspire everything we do, it’s the dedication of our volunteers that brings our programs to life.
“Their commitment year after year creates opportunities for connection, growth, and joy that reach far beyond the playing field," Howe continued. "We are incredibly thankful for the lasting impact they make in communities across British Columbia. Thank you to all Special Olympics BC’s volunteers, and congratulations to the 2026 Years of Impact Pin recipients.”
These pins are a small way for us to say a big thank you. They will be sent by mail for Locals to distribute, along with our sincere appreciation for everything that Special Olympics BC volunteers bring to communities across British Columbia.
Are you celebrating a milestone anniversary (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 years) but don't see your name below? We sincerely apologize and would like to update our records! Please reach out to volunteers@specialolympics.bc.ca to connect with us.
Below are all the pin recipients who are celebrating milestone 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 year anniversaries!
Since 1986: Celebrating 40 years of impact
Anthony Loynton, SOBC – Langley
Delores Neukomm, SOBC – Prince George
Michel Elshof, SOBC – Surrey
Sylvia Wallach, SOBC – Port Alberni
Since 1991: Celebrating 35 years of impact
Mark Schnurr, SOBC – Coquitlam
Nancy Antonio, SOBC – North Shore
Since 1996: Celebrating 30 years of impact
Doris Montgomery, SOBC – Nanaimo
Fiona Waite, SOBC – Kelowna
Rita Wakely, SOBC – Abbotsford
Sandra Gallaway, SOBC – Comox Valley
Since 2001: Celebrating 25 years of impact
Edith Burgess, SOBC – Surrey
Greg Poole, SOBC – North Shore
Kim Bunnage, SOBC – Kelowna
Martha Lelik, SOBC – Surrey
Stephanie Martyn, SOBC – Nanaimo
Tannis Marshall, SOBC – Surrey
Tom Advocaat, SOBC – Coquitlam
Valeen Brash, SOBC – Nanaimo
Walde Libera, SOBC – Coquitlam
Since 2006: Celebrating 20 years of impact
Aaron Leontowich, SOBC – Kamloops
Debbie Dachwitz, SOBC – Kelowna
Deborah Evans, SOBC – Quesnel
Dawn Taylor, SOBC – Prince George
Karen Milner, SOBC – Nanaimo
Katherine Taberner, SOBC – Port Alberni
Kelly Klein, SOBC – North Shore
Linda Scobbie, SOBC – Port Alberni
Sheron Lee Chic, SOBC – South Okanagan
Wayne Sargent, SOBC – South Okanagan
William Scobbie, SOBC – Port Alberni
Zachary Klein, SOBC – North Shore
Since 2011: Celebrating 15 years of impact
Angela Flannery, SOBC – Coquitlam
Andrew McGarvey, SOBC – Victoria
Brandon Ngai, SOBC – Coquitlam
Cathy Verge, SOBC – Sunshine Coast
Cheryl Giles, SOBC – Cowichan Valley
Christine Helpard, SOBC – Comox Valley
Daniel McCartney, SOBC – North Shore
Darrel Fry, SOBC – Trail
Darlene Isaac, SOBC – Delta
Debbie Bell, SOBC – Vernon
Debbie Garofano, SOBC – Langley
Diane Stevenson, SOBC – Ridge Meadows
Gail Miller, SOBC – Trail
Glen Robinson, SOBC – Kitimat
Grant Eveneshen, SOBC – Prince George
Ian Davie, SOBC – Chilliwack
Jakki Van Hemert, SOBC – Trail
Janet Hilton, SOBC – Powell River
Jasmine Ng, SOBC – North Shore
Jennifer Knoll, SOBC – Port Alberni
John Bouliane, SOBC – Vancouver
Kim Pierce, SOBC – Comox Valley
Kit Yee Lau, SOBC – Richmond
Laurie Norman, SOBC – Powell River
Lynn (Maureen) Smith, SOBC – Castlegar
Michael Blaschuk, SOBC – Surrey
Nicolette (Nicky) Gomez, SOBC – Powell River
Paul Brearley, SOBC – Campbell River
Penny-Jane Peters, SOBC – Victoria
Rose Raven, SOBC – Surrey
Sandra Mayo, SOBC – North Shore
Shelley Anderson, SOBC – Comox Valley
Steve Van Hemert, SOBC – Trail
Tony Maniezzo, SOBC – Delta
Walter Vondracek, SOBC – Abbotsford
Since 2016: Celebrating 10 years of impact
Albertha Anchikoski, SOBC – Salmon Arm
Alfred Gauthier, SOBC – Creston
Anne Falvo, SOBC – Prince Rupert
Bailey Cooper, SOBC – Abbotsford
Barbara Phillips, SOBC – Kimberley/Cranbrook
Brenda West, SOBC – Chilliwack
Bruce McKenzie, SOBC – Kimberley/Cranbrook
Carol Knodel, SOBC – South Okanagan
Carolyn McLean, SOBC – Kimberley/Cranbrook
Cheryl Jensen, SOBC – Surrey
Colleen Fisher, SOBC – Langley
Colleen Brager, SOBC – Terrace
Connie Prachnau, SOBC – Chilliwack
Coral Fauchon, SOBC – Langley
Courtney Kaler, SOBC – Revelstoke
Darren Matthews, SOBC – Kamloops
Darrel Sharpe, SOBC – North Shore
Debbie Vandrishe, SOBC – Langley
Desiree Morhart, SOBC – Abbotsford
Elizabeth Riddalls, SOBC – Port Alberni
Gerri Thompson, SOBC – Oceanside
Glenn Barker, SOBC – Victoria
Ian Templeton, SOBC – Golden
Judy Colborn, SOBC – Kamloops
Julie Hein, SOBC – Langley
Karen Ancheta, SOBC – Trail
Kathy Turney, SOBC – Fort St.John
Keiko Steeves, SOBC – Surrey
Kevin Phillips, SOBC – Kimberley/Cranbrook
Kris Baker, SOBC – Kamloops
Kristienne Krnasty, SOBC – Vernon
Kyle Sampson, SOBC – Prince George
Linda Tyler, SOBC – Surrey
Lisa Rezansoff, SOBC – Nelson
Liz Wood, SOBC – Langley
Michael Riddalls, SOBC – Port Alberni
Michelle Battie, SOBC – Nanaimo
Mike Willemsen, SOBC – Langley
Ralph Eastland, SOBC – Cowichan Valley
Sandra Poole, SOBC – Comox Valley
Shaun Penner, SOBC – Kimberley/Cranbrook
Shawn Carter, SOBC – Summerland
Shelley Lindstrom, SOBC – Quesnel
Sherrin Upgaard, SOBC – Oceanside
Shyla Francis, SOBC – Fort St. John
Stuart M Stephenson, SOBC – Kimberley/Cranbrook
Tina Ingram, SOBC – Campbell River
Valerie Beebe, SOBC – Chilliwack
Victor Hegan, SOBC – Quesnel
Since 2021: Celebrating 5 years of impact
Anna Dan-Qing Feng, SOBC – Vancouver
Anna Hirschkorn, SOBC – Vernon
Andrew Gosbee, SOBC – Delta
Arjan Basra, SOBC – Surrey
Armandeep Minhas, SOBC – Abbotsford
Ben Orpilla, SOBC – Surrey
Betty Anne Marino, SOBC – Trail
Birgit Giesser, SOBC – Coquitlam
Brenda Zoobkoff, SOBC – Castlegar
Brian Cronkhite, SOBC – Langley
Brittany Eldridge, SOBC – Surrey
Brooks Lehtonen, SOBC – Port Alberni
Carol Ramey, SOBC – Oceanside
Claire Peachey, SOBC – Kelowna
Cliff Babcock, SOBC – Port Alberni
Colin Semple, SOBC – Coquitlam
Coralyn Siytangco, SOBC – Vancouver
Corinne Bertoli, SOBC – Kamloops
Chris Dunn, SOBC – Powell River
Christine Hillick, SOBC – Vancouver
Christina Whang, SOBC – Coquitlam
Cynthia Chartier, SOBC – Victoria
Curtis Sim, SOBC – Coquitlam
David Ell, SOBC – Campbell River
Davina Maestas, SOBC – Campbell River
Devon Antalek, SOBC – Coquitlam
Edward Stepski, SOBC – Kelowna
Elizabeth Thomson, SOBC – Kelowna
Emma Audet, SOBC – Port Alberni
Fred West, SOBC – Victoria
Gail Kipp, SOBC – Kamloops
Glen Sayer, SOBC – Coquitlam
Gustaf Hagland, SOBC – Kimberley/Cranbrook
Hayley Ferguson, SOBC – Chilliwack
Henry Kikkert, SOBC – Chilliwack
Ian Baird, SOBC – Coquitlam
Jane Johnston, SOBC – Kamloops
Janet Cronkhite, SOBC – Langley
Janette Martin-Lutzer, SOBC – Campbell River
Janis Sibley, SOBC – Coquitlam
Jennifer Fraser, SOBC – Richmond
Jonathan Almas, SOBC – Richmond
Joshua Seipp, SOBC – Coquitlam
Jun Terado, SOBC – Comox Valley
Kasra Karimzadehshirazi, SOBC – Vancouver
Kelly Henault, SOBC – Cowichan Valley
Ken Blackburn, SOBC – Campbell River
Kevin Hayes, SOBC – Coquitlam
Kelsey Phillips, SOBC – Port Alberni
Kerri Kikkert, SOBC – Chilliwack
Kiera Kam, SOBC – Vancouver
Kristi Watkins, SOBC – Abbotsford
Kristine Lawson, SOBC – Coquitlam
Kyle McCleery, SOBC – Vancouver
Lara Gribben, SOBC – Delta
Leila Ellwood, SOBC – Port Alberni
Mariah Wagner, SOBC – Abbotsford
Mark Stanley, SOBC – Abbotsford
Mike Jolliffe, SOBC – Kamloops
Mike McKay, SOBC – Port Alberni
Nancy Brennan, SOBC – Cowichan Valley
Norm Nieken, SOBC – Coquitlam
Nora Smart, SOBC – Dawson Creek
Rachel English, SOBC – Coquitlam
Richard Bayliss, SOBC – South Okanagan
Richard Reeves, SOBC – Creston
Sandra Leah, SOBC – Coquitlam
Samantha Seipp, SOBC – Coquitlam
Sean McGill, SOBC – Delta
Shirley Chan, SOBC – Richmond
Susan Hillyard-Seipp, SOBC – Coquitlam
Sylvia Sheldon, SOBC – Powell River
Teena Mangan, SOBC – Kamloops
Tiffany Richards, SOBC – Campbell River
Tom McIlwaine, SOBC – Campbell River
Trevor Long, SOBC – Kelowna
William Burk, SOBC – Coquitlam