Program Profile – Brock Niagara Penguins
Although not a Toronto or even GTA based organization, we had the opportunity to join in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Brock Niagara Penguins in Niagara Falls on Tuesday, April 5th. Our first impression was, wow. 10 years! They must be doing something right! The Penguins are a proud bunch of parents, athletes and volunteers who get together weekly for swimming, bocce and wheelchair basketball. Their members range in age from 10-46 years old and from absolute beginners to more experienced athletes.
With their long-standing partnership with Brock University, the Penguins program is a win-win for both organizations as the bulk of the Penguin volunteers are drawn from the student body and the facilities are fully accessible.
I was impressed by the thoughtful and meaningful words expressed by one of their volunteer alumni who spoke of her time with the Penguins leaving a lasting impression on her. Now in 2nd-year of Medical School, she will always cherish the memories and friendships she made during her tenure with the Penguins. While we all recognize the importance of volunteers in the not for profit sector, we rarely get to hear what kind of lasting impact those volunteers carry with them beyond their time with those organizations.
As a member of the Niagara Accessible Sport Committee, volunteers from both organizations helped put together a valuable guide outlining the available opportunities within Niagara.
We wish the Penguins continued success for the next 10 years!