Whistler Adaptive Sports Program welcomes new Executive Director Sian Blyth
Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is pleased to announce Sian Blyth as their new Executive Director, as the charity enters its 26th year of offering recreational programs to individuals with disabilities and neurodiversity in British Columbia’s Sea to Sky corridor.
Sian joins the organization after a decade serving as the Executive Director of BC Wheelchair Basketball Society, preceded by her position as the High-Performance Director of BC Adaptive Snowsports.
Originally from the UK, Sian moved to Vancouver 25 years ago having started her working life as a neurological/neurosurgical nurse and later applying these skills to work with a UK adaptive sports charity. Upon visiting Whistler and seeing the potential for a year-round adaptive sports program, Sian presented a proposal, in 1998, to Whistler Blackcomb Resort for the creation of Whistler Adaptive Sports Program and soon brought on Scotiabank to create enough resources to hire the charities first employee, Chelsey Walker, now Director of Whistler Operations for the Invictus Games.
Sian Blyth, Executive Director said: “I am as passionate now about inclusivity in sport as I was when I first established Whistler Adaptive Sports Program over two decades ago. It is incredible to see the growth and impact of the charity, both as a year-round core community service provider and as an internationally recognized brand that people from around the world travel specifically to visit. I am excited to return to Whistler to lead this incredible organization.”
Matthew Hallat, Whistler Adaptive Chair of the Board and High-Performance Director, Alpine Canada said: “We are super excited to welcome Sian to the team, she brings a huge amount of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm and will be an invaluable asset to the next chapter of Whistler Adaptive. We’re excited to continue to build Whistler Adaptive into the fabric of the community, helping tie together participants, volunteers, communities, Whistler Blackcomb, Invictus and great partners who’ve helped build this organization over the past two decades and will continue to help us thrive for the next decades. Welcome Sian!”
Sian continues: ‘Whistler Adaptive has evolved to where it is today because of the long-term support of our incredible community partners. Whistler Blackcomb’s commitment to our vision and daily operations has enabled the charity and community it serves to flourish; this is obvious from the number of families who have stayed with the program since its inception, as well as the increasing demand from new participants. All our partners throughout Whistler and the Sea to Sky corridor give so much support and continue to play such a huge part in the success of our programs.