– Newman is the 2020 recipient of the W.A.C. Bennett Award  

(July 20, 2021 – TORONTO, ONT.) – Wheelchair Basketball Canada congratulates Board President Kathy Newman on her induction into the BC Sports Hall of Fame. Newman is the 2020 recipient of the W.A.C. Bennett Award, which is presented to an individual who has made significant, unique and lasting contributions to sport in British Columbia.
 
Newman, who was elected President of Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s Board of Directors in February, received the award during a virtual ceremony on July 15, 2021.
 
“Kathy is a true leader and pioneer in the development and growth of wheelchair sports and is most deserving of this honour,” said Wheelchair Basketball Canada Executive Director Wendy Gittens. “Her work has changed countless lives for the better while transforming the wheelchair sports landscape in B.C. and across Canada.”
 
Newman served as the Executive Director of BC Wheelchair Sports Association for 25 years, where she created programs such as ‘Bridging the Gap’ and ‘Have a Go’ that encouraged people with disabilities to try sports.
 
She helped facilitate world-class events such as the 2014 Women’s World Wheelchair Basketball Championship and the inaugural Women’s U25 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships.
 
“I was shocked when I heard the news. It’s an amazing honour, for sure,” said Newman. “I just wanted to continue to solve challenges and remove barriers—try and do the best I could possibly do. It has been and always will be a passion for me to continue to improve the parasport movement across Canada and around the world.”
 
In 2012 Newman received the Daryl Thompson Award for lifetime achievement from Sport BC for her leadership and advocacy in disability sport.  As well, she was awarded the “In Her Footsteps” award, which recognizes significant contributions by women to girls and women in sport in 2010. Additionally, in 2006 Newman was named to the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity’s (CAAWS) Women of Influence list.

About the BC Sports Hall of Fame

The BC Sports Hall of Fame celebrates extraordinary achievement in BC sport history and inspires future generations to make their dreams come true. Each year, a diverse audience of over 35,000 visitors from around the globe are educated and enthralled by the collection of 27,000 artifacts and 100,000 archival documents representing 150-years of sporting accomplishments in British Columbia. Through the Hero in You Youth Education Programs, the BC Sports Hall of Fame reaches over 6,500 youth across the province, advancing its mission of building outstanding community legacies by honouring the past and inspiring the future.

About Wheelchair Basketball Canada 
 
Wheelchair Basketball Canada (WBC) is the national sport governing body responsible for the organization of the sport in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization that is committed to excellence in the development, support and promotion of wheelchair basketball programs and services for all Canadians from grassroots to high performance. Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport in which Canada is held in high esteem around the world for winning a combined six gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the last seven Paralympic Games. For more information, visit wheelchairbasketball.ca.  
 

Media Contact: 

Dhiren Mahiban
Communications & Digital Media Manager
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
dmahiban@wheelchairbasketball.ca or 416-574-6682