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Peter Taylor and Makiko Harada Honoured by CWSA

The Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) named BC Provincial Coach Peter Taylor the winner of the 2009 Stephan Dubuc Memorial Award as Coach of the year & Makiko Harada the recipient of the Judith Zelman Memorial Award for Rookie of the Year.
 

Stephan Dubuc Memorial Award: Peter Taylor

Peter Taylor has been the head coach of the BC Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team since 1997. In that time, he has led the team to four national championships, including the last one in May of 2009. In that time, he has also helped many of the BC male athletes to develop, and move up to our National Team. At this time, three BC athletes are included on the men’s national team, and four were on the 2008 Beijing Paralympics team that won a silver medal.

Peter has been instrumental in the regional and grassroots programs in BC, coaching at camps and in the BC CWBL second division league since he moved to Vancouver from Australia. Peter also played in the CWBL first division for many years, leading his team to the championship in 2006.

Peter’s passion for the game, ability to give of himself for the betterment of the program and its players, and his coaching ability has made him a very valuable part of wheelchair basketball in British Columbia. These traits also make him a great candidate for the 2009 Stephan Dubum Memorial Award for Coach of the Year.

Judith Zelman Memorial Award: Makiko Harada

Makiko Harada joined the BC Wheelchair Basketball Society as its Program Coordinator in October of 2008. While she was a wonderful addition to the office, she was also an amazing addition to both the women’s provincial team and the CWBL National Championship Douglas Royals team.

As a first year player, Makiko contributed right away with the women’s team, helping them earn a Silver Medal at the National Championships. Makiko was dedicated, putting in more than the required practice time each week, sometimes in the early mornings before work. Her work ethic on the floor was contagious, and her ability to help coach the younger players was an unquestionable asset as well. While at the 2009 CWBL National Championships, she gave the eventual national champions valuable minutes off the bench, contributing to the team’s overall defensive and offensive play on the court.

As a player with a very high understanding of the game, Makiko works tirelessly to improve her own game. I have no doubt that she will be a great player on BC teams for years to come. It would be wonderful to award her landmark first year as an athlete with the Judith Zelman Memorial Award.