Burns Lake volunteer heads to Special Olympics Summer Games

Burns Lake’s Tina Giesbrecht will play a key role behind the scenes when athletes from across the country gather in Medicine Hat for the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games. [...]

Burns Lake volunteer heads to Special Olympics Summer Games Published 11:31 am Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Burns Lake’s Tina Giesbrecht will play a key role behind the scenes when athletes from across the country gather in Medicine Hat for the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games. Giesbrecht will serve as a mission staff member for the bocce team during the Aug. 11 to 15 event, helping manage the team’s administrative, logistical and medical needs. The Games will host 244 athletes, 75 volunteer coaches, and 22 mission staff from over 42 communities across B.C.

In addition to bocce, sporting events also include soccer, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, basketball, golf, softball, swimming, track and field, and 10-pin bowling. Qualifying athletes will move on to represent Canada at the 2027 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Santiago, Chile. For Giesbrecht, she is most looking forward to “getting together with the athletes, coaches, and the Special Olympics family.”

“When we get together at provincial games or national games, it’s family getting together ... seeing the camaraderie and the true sportsmanship of Special Olympics athletes, when they cheer each other on... it’s wonderful,” she said. Giesbrecht first became involved with Special Olympics BC (SOBC) roughly 13 years ago, after taking over leadership of the organization’s snowshoeing program. Recently, she represented Canada at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, as part of the snowshoe coaching team, where the athletes brought home 10 gold, 15 silver, and nine bronze medals.

This past February, Giesbrecht helped organize SOBC’s Region 7/8 Snowshoe Regional Qualifiers at the Omineca Ski Club where two Burns Lake athletes Matthew Sallenback and Josh Waters delivered podium performances. “I like to run and meet new people, and make new friends. It gives good footage for my YouTube channel,” said Matthew Sallenback, who trains in various winter and summer sports.

His YouTube channel further documents his experiences with Special Olympics BC. SOBC is a non-profit grassroots organization, aiming to enrich the lives of Canadians with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport. Year-round sports related activities, training, and competitive opportunities are available in 55 communities across B.C.

For local athletes in Burns Lake, the group meets roughly once per week. “It’s all volunteer run, and the more volunteers we have, the more programs we can run,” explained Giesbrecht. Over the years, she has taken on many roles within the organization, including working as the coordinator for SOBC’s Region 7, which spans from Prince Rupert to Burns Lake.

When it comes to volunteering, “just do it. You’ll never regret it,” Giesbrecht said. “It’s very rewarding.”

Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to email Marnie Sallenback, Special Olympics BC’s local coordinator at burnslake@specialolympics.bc.ca