Sunshine and seashores. These are two of the primary issues individuals affiliate with Kelowna, however there are many enjoyable (and accessible) issues to do right here within the winter too!
Powderhounds Adaptive Snow Sports activities at Large White Ski Resort
The Powderhounds program was “designed to help anybody with bodily, cognitive, or sensory challenges who wish to benefit from the slopes at Large White.” They supply upright ski (and snowboarding) classes with no matter aids are wanted for every particular person, in addition to sit-skiing for many who want further assist and steerage. Everybody concerned with this system is an authorized Adaptive Ski teacher and they’re all volunteers! They’ve runs between 10 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm, 7 days per week. When you’re curious however don’t wish to decide to a complete season ($52/12 months), or are solely visiting Kelowna for a number of days, they do supply a one-lesson trial with a “one-day” membership. I personally know a number of individuals who have skied with the Powderhounds they usually have completely liked it.
Adaptive Snowshoeing and Cross-Nation snowboarding with CRIS Adaptive
CRIS (Neighborhood Leisure Initiatives Society) is a volunteer-run group that presents a number of fully-guided adaptive adventures all through the Okanagan all year long. These adventures permit all individuals, no matter their skills, to take part and revel in out of doors actions. Within the winter months, they provide each adaptive snowshoeing and cross-country snowboarding. Each actions are related, as they are going to have the participant loaded into what appears like a dogsled (see image) with an Expedition sleeping bag, which retains visitors heat because it’s thermal insulated. Behind the sled, a information pushes and units the rear brake. Whereas out entrance may have one to a few people who find themselves there to drag and steer the sled and act because the entrance brakes. The setup is identical for cross-country snowboarding, aside from the truth that the sled has skis on the underside of it! Primarily based on the person wants of every particular person tools and the variety of individuals aiding will fluctuate. It prices $15 for an annual membership with CRIS, after which every tour has a separate price which is listed as soon as the registration course of is full.
Ice Skating
Skating will be simply tailored for individuals with bodily or developmental disabilities. Folks assume that wheelchairs and ice don’t combine, when in actual fact wheelchairs glide on the ice identical to skates!
Within the winter, skating at Stuart Park is a must-do. Positioned in downtown Kelowna, proper on the waterfront, the plaza transforms into an outside skating rink and is free to the general public. The rink is open each day between 6 am – 11 pm, apart from Mondays when it closes from 6 – 8 am for ice upkeep. Skate and helmet leases can be found onsite between 11 am – 8 pm, they usually even have EZ bars for lease for individuals who want just a little further assist on the ice. Make a day of it as a result of there are many meals choices close by, together with meals vans proper on-site. Earlier than heading out, examine ice circumstances and crowd ranges on the reside cam or should you wish to skate indoors, Kelowna additionally has rinks at Capital Information Centre, Memorial Area, and Rutland Area.
Curling
The Kelowna Curling Membership (KCC) is among the largest and most energetic in Canada and they’re geared up to welcome gamers of all skills. When you’ve by no means seen accessible curling, it is rather much like able-bodied curling. The foundations are principally the identical however there are a number of variations, the principle one being that the rocks are delivered from a stationary wheelchair and there’s no sweeping concerned. Relying on the person’s LOA (stage of damage) the rock is both delivered by hand whereas leaning over the aspect of your wheelchair, or it will be pushed down the ice with a supply stick. My spouse Cara (a t6 paraplegic) tried it out final 12 months and he or she stated had a ton of enjoyable! The KCC has put in a ramp to get gamers down onto the ice, they usually have a supply stick that’s out there to make use of freed from cost. They’re open 7 days per week and you’ll examine their web site for out there time slots. In addition they have a completely licensed lounge upstairs, with a full menu and several other huge screens so that you’ll by no means must miss a reside sporting occasion!
Indoor actions
Kelowna Rockets Hockey, Picture by: Marshall Lu
If sports activities/chilly climate isn’t actually your factor, there are different choices round Kelowna that may maintain you each entertained and inside. You may catch a fast-paced WHL Rockets sport at Prospera Place, which is near downtown and has a number of totally different accessible seating choices. Or you’ll be able to soak up a film at Cineplex, who (in my view) goes above and past to decide to the inclusion of all individuals, no matter their wants. They’ve partnered with eSSENTIAL Accessibility, which presents a free assistive app that helps individuals with disabilities navigate the online and entry info to the companies out there at Cineplex. They’re additionally a founding companion and participant within the Entry 2 Program, which provides free admission for a assist one that is required to accompany an individual with a incapacity. Final however actually not least, they’re an affiliate of Autism Speaks, which supplies Sensory Pleasant Screenings within the type of a lights up, sounds down atmosphere. They maintain these particular screenings each 4-6 weeks on Saturday mornings at 10:30 am, and costs are the identical as a toddler’s admission value for all visitors.
So no matter should you’re a heat-seeker or a powder-chaser, there’s at all times one thing enjoyable (and accessible) to do in Kelowna!
