Events, Fundraising

POWWR Serves Up a Smashing Success for Spectrum!

We’re thrilled to share the news of an amazing event held on May 18th, 2024! Pickleball of Waterloo Wellington Region (POWWR), a local organization, hosted a player clinic and tournament in support of Spectrum. It was a fantastic day filled with friendly competition, community spirit, and of course, raising awareness for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

The morning kicked off with a two-hour clinic led by skilled POWWR coaches. A total of 56 participants eagerly learned and honed their skills, creating a positive and inclusive atmosphere.

In the afternoon, things got competitive! POWWR volunteers transformed the space into a tournament zone, with matches happening across 12 gyms. A whopping 63 individuals battled it out on the court, showcasing their athleticism and sportsmanship.

But the true victory lies beyond the scoreboards. The event was a resounding success, raising almost $6,000 in support of Spectrum’s vital work in the Waterloo Region. We are incredibly grateful to POWWR for their dedication and generosity.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the POWWR volunteers who went above and beyond to make this event possible. Their hard work and enthusiasm created a welcoming and fun environment for everyone involved.

A huge thank you to our prize sponsors who helped elevate the experience for our participants:

  • Dr. Kyle Simpson, BSc, DC
  • Marlowe Grooming & General
  • The Underdog Dance Corp.
  • Kazoku Martial Arts Centre
  • Carly Pettinger & Kara McLean
  • HomeFit Exercise Equipment
  • CrossFit 1827
  • AOK Craft Beer + Arcade
  • Together We’re Bitter Co-operative Brewing
  • Wages Corp
  • Together Again Eyewear
  • POWWR
  • Bob’s Rackets
  • City of Waterloo
  • Black Knight
  • Canada Wide Sports

We also extend our deepest gratitude to our event sponsors:

This event would not be possible without the incredible support of the Pickleball of Waterloo Wellington Region (POWWR). Thanks to the generous gift of time from their volunteers, Spectrum benefitted from nearly all the ticket sales. A special shout-out to Fiona, whose vision for the event brought it to life!

We are incredibly grateful to The City of Waterloo’s Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) team for generously covering 100% of the rental cost of RIM Park (valued at $2,373.92). Their support demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering inclusivity and diversity within our community.

For a glimpse into the excitement of the day, be sure to check out the CTV News Kitchener coverage. We also had coverage from CBC News and City News. 

We at Spectrum are deeply appreciative of POWWR’s and the City of Waterloo’s incredible support. Together, we can continue fostering a vibrant and inclusive community for everyone in Waterloo Region!

Extra thanks to the following individuals for their event support:

Each of these individuals went above and beyond in some way to support our event. While we tried to list everyone, but there were so many people that helped to bring this event together:

  • Fiona MacGregor (POWWR)
  • Troy Dettwiler (Sports Coordinator, Spectrum)
  • Anette Happel (POWWR)
  • James MacLeod (City of Waterloo)
  • Scott Williams (Executive Director, Spectrum)
  • Mattie James (Facilitator, Spectrum)
  • Kita Pinheiro (Facilitator, Spectrum)
  • Jesse Hafermehl (Facilitator, Spectrum)
  • Alex (Volunteer, Spectrum)
  • Fabian Fletcher (Volunteer and Operations Manager, Spectrum)
  • Dorothy McCabe (Mayor, City of Waterloo)
  • Brian Hill (READI Member, City of Waterloo)
  • Amy Ross (READI Member, City of Waterloo)
  • Paulina Rodriguez (READI Member, City of Waterloo)
  • Adam Nerger (READI Member, City of Waterloo)
  • Bardish Chagger (MP, Waterloo)
  • Jillian Fleming (City of Waterloo)
  • Iliana Medellin (City of Waterloo)
  • Erica Brennan (Canada Wide Sports)
  • Stephanie Cormier (Unique Embroidery Promotions & Awards)
  • Shelby Knox (CTV News)
  • Justine Fraser (City News)
  • Kate Bueckert (CBC News)
  • Lexi Salt (Facilitator, Spectrum)
  • Anthony Nguyen (Conestoga College)

Wrap Up

So again, thank you! Whether you shared the event with a friend, attended, or made a donation, we appreciate the impact you made on our community. If you would like to help out in the future with this event, please reach out to our Sports Coordinator: troy@ourspectrum.com

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Awareness, SPECTRUM News

National AccessAbility Week

National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) takes place from May 26th to June 1st, 2024. We’d like to take this opportunity to share some of the work Spectrum has done to become more accessible over the past several months.

  1. One of the three Strategic Priorities in our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan is Accessibility and Inclusion in Programs and Personnel: Spectrum is committed to continuing our journey to becoming a more inclusive, equitable, and accessible organization that is welcoming and relevant to members of all 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. We will create programs and recruit personnel using an anti-oppressive and intersectional framework. We will prioritize accessibility, inclusivity, equity, and well-being – celebrating and affirming our diverse community.
  2. We worked with INNoVa to conduct an accessibility audit of our physical space and the building we are in. This audit resulted in a report with many recommendations that we have already begun to explore.
  3. We worked with Accessibrand to conduct an accessibility audit of our website. This audit resulted in a report with many recommendations that we have already begun to explore. Watch for updates that will improve the accessibility of our site over the coming months.

We’re also pleased to share that the City of Cambridge is hosting a series of webinars on dismantling ableism in the community, healthcare, and education. The webinars will feature presentations from local organizations, service providers and individuals with lived experience. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about best practices and tools on how we can create a welcoming and inclusive community.

  • Tuesday, May 28, 2024: Dismantling Ableism in the Community (Fun)
  • Wednesday, May 29, 2024: Dismantling Ableism in Healthcare
  • Thursday, May 30, 2024: Dismantling Ableism in Education

For more information and to register, visit Cambridge.ca/accessibility

You can also visit the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) for resources and ideas for observing NAAW in a meaningful way.

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