Staying active for a healthy and happy life!
A DREAM COME TRUE
The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) was established in 1995 and made possible due to the great generosity of Lilian and Fred Korman, past owners of Owl’s Head Ski Resort, the Mountain with a heart . ASF’s adaptive ski program has become the most important adaptive ski school in Quebec.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman
W Brian Edwards
Vice Chair/Secretary
Emily Webster
Treasurer
Keith Eaman
Directors
Barbara Perry Cartmel
Steve Charbonneau
Peter Dalfen
Howard Davidson
Margarita Gardiner
John Murphy
Robert Winsor
«There are many benefits to being involved in sports; it helps to gain self-confidence, self-esteem and has social benefits. To me, being active and healthy brings happiness. »
Peter Treacy, Founder
Board Members Emeritus
Peter M. Treacy
Alex K. Paterson
WORD FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
For the last 25 years, ASF has been making a difference for thousands of people living with physical disabilities. ASF assists in breaking down the barriers attached with having a disability. This is important to us because our clientele are among those who are most susceptible to living in isolation due to their disability. Looking towards the future, our goal is to continue our growth and help as many as possible. Thank you for generously supporting our cause.
Steve Charbonneau, Executive Director
THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS FOUNDATION
The ASF provides people with disabilities the opportunity to practice summer and winter outdoor sports, with the aim of building their self-esteem, developing new physical skills and increasing their self-motivation. All our activities are ones they can do with family and friends.
The Foundation was created in 1995 by Peter M. Treacy. Peter is a disabled skier from Knowlton, Quebec who became disabled following a car accident that made him an amputee. Peter dreamed of starting a ski school for children and adults with physical disabilities. He had a clear vision: to create, run and maintain educational sports programs that would encourage people with physical disabilities to discover new possibilities through winter and summer sports.
For the last 25 years we have grown to now offer 8 Winter and Summer Programs across 16 locations. Collectively, we run 90% of the adaptive winter sports programs for people with disabilities in Quebec.
We have been able to grow from serving 50 students to well over 800 with a correspondingly modest budget, thanks to our army of well-trained and big-hearted volunteers. Over 200 trained and trusted volunteers supervise and deliver our programs. They are the lifeblood of our organization and the central component of our financially viable model.
A PERIOD OF UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH
Over the past four years, ASF has grown at an unprecedented rate in our history. Our Summer Program, consisting of waterskiing, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, paddle boarding, hiking and mountain biking, is now the largest in Canada. Our Winter Program of alpine skiing remains the largest in Quebec by a country mile. During this time,we have grown from serving 50 participants to over 800 annually,with a relatively modest budget increase from $200,000 to $335,000 per year.
We have developed a winning approach for delivering adaptive sports to people with disabilities. Our record growth has largely been possible due to the dedication of our small army of volunteers and highly committed staff.
ASF serves people who have a physical disability, either by birth or through life experiences, such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, amputees, or Paraplegia amongst other conditions.
In addition, ASF runs a program helping injured soldiers of the Canadian Armed Forces, as part of their rehabilitation from physical and psychological injuries suffered during their service to Canada. During 2017, more than 125 soldiers participated in ASF’s Summer and Winter Programs, with more participants expected next year.
TESTIMONIAL
"This is one of the greatest programs for disabled people in Quebec. After three years of learning to ski, I could proudly say that I'm skiing today, with full confidence and control. Thanks to this foundation for allowing us to gain freedom and acquire more self-confidence and thanks to all devoted wonderful instructors.»
-Josée, winter and summer student
OUR PROGRAMS
The ASF's two largest Programs are alpine skiing and water skiing. We offer various other summer activities including hiking, hand cycling, rowing, stand up paddleboarding, canoe, kayaking and more. We are always on the lookout for new trends or opportunities to offer our participants in order to reach as many individuals as possible.
WINTER PROGRAM
Each season the Program's success is the result of more than 100 trained volunteers who contribute to the adaptive alpine ski and snowboard lessons. Since the very biginning, our 8 week regular ski program is offered at Owl's Head. With our mobile unit, we also serve other hills nearby to support ski schools when a client is physically disabled. To ensure the safety of our skiers, we offer training that meets the requirements of Canadian Adaptive Snowsports (CADS).
SUMMER PROGRAM
Our Summer Program is offered at many locations and it relies on over 100 volunteers that generously offer their time and expertise. We also have a mobile unit that allows us to travel and visit with different groups of people living with disabilities in Quebec.
SPORTS CAMPS FOR INJURED SOLDIER
Assisting with the rehabilitation of injured soldiers through sports!
Over the years the ASF has developed a close relationship with the Canadian Armed Forces. In order to meet the special needs of wounded soldiers, the Foundation created the Injured Soldiers Sports Camps for soldiers on active duty as well as veterans. Whether they have physical injuries, or suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, our Sports Camps makes ASF’s expertise available to any soldier in need.
TESTIMONIAL
« WOW! What a wonderful stay at Owl's Head with all the gang of the Adaptive Sports Foundation. We were treated like royalty by everyone. Nothing was overlooked. I will never forget this weekend and hats off for your excellent work. Your dedication and professionalism are exemplary. You can be proud of yourselves and all that you have accomplished. Thank you, thank you and thanks you again! »
-Marcel, injured soldier
THE DAHÜ
Since our very beginning, our goal has been to offer people living with a physical disability the chance to flourish. We have now expanded our scope and combined this objective with that of wanting to raise awareness of the daily challenges faced by an individual living with a physical disability.
Our ambition has led us to design and manufactur The Dahü, a very unique adaptive chair that allows people with disabilities to be caried into trails. For our very first challenge, we particpated in the Bromont Ultra iin 2015. A total of 6 participants took part in the 80 km run with the help of 22 runners. In 2018, we had 12 participants and 105 runners.
BROMONT ULTRA CHALLENGE
The Bromont Ultra (BU) has become an important fundraising event for ASF. Since 2015, it’s a total of $115,000 that was collected by the BU organization and donated to ASF. We know that without the great generosity of our sponsors, runners and volunteers, this event would not be possible. We owe its success to them.
TESTIMONIAL
« Thank you to all the team of the Adaptive Sports Foundation for helping me to live this unique and unforgettable experience going into the woods for my very first time! »
-Martin
Limoges, winter and summer student
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Building on our success, we seek to increase the number of people we serve, as well as the geographical footprint of our Programs and the impact achieved.
Currently, we serve over 800 people, across 7 regions, covering a terrain of 300km2.
Over the next 5 years, our goals are to:
Grow to serve over 1,200 children and adults with disabilities, by providing over 2,500 hours of adaptive sports across our Summer and Winter Programs.
Recruit 120 new volunteers across our Summer and Winter Programs, and 24 new ski instructors, contributing over 2,500 hours of sports.
Add 5 new permanent Program sites and grow our 6 existing mobile Winter Program sites.
By 2023, ASF will offer adaptive sports across 21 permanent sites and 6 mobile sites, covering the Eastern Townships, Quebec, Charlevoix and Gaspésie regions. Our total geographical catchment area will be 900km2.
Build new and expanded partnerships with 10 community organizations and schools across our summer and winter adaptive sports activities.
Current ASF activity sites
Planned ASF activity sites
VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEART OF OUR FOUNDATION
Our volunteers help us achieve our mission to help everyone living with a physical disability to receive equal opportunities in sports. They help our participants achieve independence in so many ways. Last year, more than 200 dedicated volunteers completed nearly 12,500 hours. We are truly thankful to have such a large and diverse group of dedicated volunteers who generously give their time. We thank them for their unwavering support and generosity.
THANK YOU!
