Vancouver woman honoured with good citizenship award

A Vancouver mother who launched an inclusive soccer league for kids with disabilities after her own daughter was denied the right to play, will receive the province’s new Medal of Good Citizenship.

Abbe Gates, the founder of Blazin’ Soccer Dogs, will be honoured Aug. 10 at a ceremony for her efforts to include children, teens and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities in sports, Premier Christy Clark announced Thursday.

“Few people can match Abbe Gates’ passion, dedication and energy,” Clark said in a statement.

“The list of causes and events she has donated her time and talents to is humbling, but even more impressive is the difference she continues to make in the lives of people with special needs.”

First practice of the Blazin’ Soccer Dogs in 2008 — a team for children with special needs. Pictured is Abbe Gates and her daughter Sadie.

Gates started the inclusive soccer league in 2007 after her then 11-year-old daughter, Sadie was told by a coach in a local league that she couldn’t play because her Down syndrome was a “liability” against the team’s chances of winning.

The story was featured in The Province and prompted an outpouring of community support, donations and volunteers who helped get the league up and running. It has since grown to more than 130 players, many of whom have had Down syndrome, autism, anxiety disorders, brain injuries, fetal alcohol syndrome, limited sight or even cancer. 

Gates, 58, said she was “blown away” by news of the award. “I’m just so honoured,” she said.

The soccer league has become about more than just sports, teaching kids lessons about teamwork, leadership, friendship and mentoring. It’s also a meeting place and support group for parents of special needs children, said Gates.

“In retrospect, I’m so glad it happened to us because the Blazin’ Soccer Dogs would never have formed if this situation hadn’t happened,” said Gates. “It was so heartbreaking. But the first day of the first season it was worth every tear I shed because of seeing all these children come out so being so excited to put on their uniforms.”

Sadie, now 20, is the league’s volunteer coordinator. Gates’ son Lucas, 23, who has Asperger syndrome, runs the Rain City Wolves division. Gates and her husband Gary still help organize the league. It remains free.

The Medal of Good Citizenship was created by the government in 2015 to recognize exceptional community volunteers. 

Burnaby resident Marilyn Rushton was also named Thursday as a medal recipient. Rushton, who has been blind since birth, has been a longtime musical volunteer in the community and helped direct a choir for blind and partially-sighted children. Rushton is also a former Burnaby school trustee.

rshaw@postmedia.com

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