The Comox Recreation Centre received a 2010 Outstanding Community Support award at the BC Wheelchair Basketball Society (BCWBS) annual awards.

Outstanding contributions and achievements in the sport of wheelchair basketball in British Columbia were recognized Saturday evening in Burnaby at the BC Division of the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League (CWBL) awards banquet.

The BCWBS notes that in February of 2008, a small group of individuals got together and attended the BCWBS camp in Nanaimo. "Out of this grew a desire to play wheelchair basketball in Comox.

"With enthusiasm, Mandy Johns, program director at the Comox Recreation Centre, worked to make it possible. Since then, wheelchair basketball has been present in the Comox Valley. Thanks to the support of the Centre's Roger Smith and Glenn Ponsford, the little Comox team continues to grow," the BCWBS stated in a press release.

"It is the visionary 'can do' attitude of the staff at the Comox Recreation Centre that has enabled wheelchair basketball to thrive in the area. It is the consistent support of Mandy Johns, Roger Smith and Glenn Ponsford with the assistance of all the staff of the Comox Recreation Centre that gives the Comox Club its ease of continuance, accessibility to the community and affordability for all."

The BC Wheelchair Basketball Society (BCWBS) is a non-profit organization, formed in 1983 and registered with Revenue Canada as a charity since 1985. Since its inception, the society has been a catalyst in creating awareness about disability issues and has provided support to wheelchair basketball programs throughout British Columbia.

"Our programs are offered to people who have physical disabilities and people who do not, and to all age groups. Wheelchair basketball is for anyone who wishes to participate," a BCWBS spokesperson said.