Carlene Lewall
After growing up in Vancouver, and a short stint living in Winnipeg and St. Albert, Carlene with her husband Rick and 2 children moved to Tsawwassen in 1979. Carlene began helping with the Delta Gymnastics club which soon become her passion. Carlene strongly believes in the youth of Delta and believes that by building self esteem and confidence through sport we are developing children to be responsible young adults.
Carlene has her Bachelor of Education, physical education major, has been a volunteer, coach and administrator for Delta Gymnastics Society for 38 years, retiring in June 2017. She was a substitute teacher in Delta for many years.
In 2003 she became chair of the Delta Spirit of B.C. Community Committee, one of 90 plus committees in communities throughout BC who were to raise the excitement of the 2010 Olympics in their respective community. The Delta committee was one of the more active committees in the province, who not only raised enthusiasm in their community holding many successful events such as inviting the community to watch either the opening or closing ceremonies of each of the summer or winter Olympic games leading to 2010. They coordinated the Delta Rivermania to celebrate with BC 150 years. They left legacies in Delta with the establishment of the Delta Sport Hall of Fame Society, the send off’s for Delta athletes who earned the privilege of representing Delta and Team BC to the multisport games such as BC Winter and Summer Games, Western Summer and Winter Games, Canada summer or winter games, Pan Am games, Commonwealth Games and Olympics. With the partnership of the Tsawwassen Kiwanis Club for 8 years they awarded an up-and-coming Delta athlete with $1,000 to assist and encourage them in their quest for representing Canada.
Since the Olympics Carlene has continued to support and encourage sport in Delta. She is one of the founders of the Delta Sport Council, who helped all sport groups in Delta to achieve the best that they can be and since 2008 has been the Chair of KidSport Delta – KidSport Delta assists children in Delta who may not otherwise be able to afford the registration cost to participate. Since 2008 Kidsport Delta has assisted 1400 kids with over $400,000, presently averaging 175 children per year ($70,000) and rising. The money raised comes from local donations and their annual “Gift of Sport” fundraiser.
She was a committed volunteer and Chair of Operation Red Nose a ‘safe drive’ program for Delta/ Richmond which through Delta Gymnastics Society operated for 10 years until 2019.
In the gymnastics world she was a board member with Gymnastics BC for 15 years, the Gymnastics BC Chair for Zone 4 now 5 for 22 years and has chaired and participated with and on many committees with Gymnastics BC, and was a National level gymnastics judge. For Delta Gymnastics Society she chaired the Kids First Campaign that raised the 3.2 million needed for the Delta Sport Development Center.
Presently she on the executive for the Ladner Business Association and Tourism Delta.
Since 2018 has been on the board of the Delta Community Foundation. Delta Community Foundation is our community Foundation’s where your donation, endowment and or gift is invested to assist the charities in Delta, giving where you live to help Deltan for years to come.
Carlene. has received many awards and recognition for the development of the sport of both provincially and in Delta and helping athletes of Delta to achieve their goals and other volunteering.
Gymnastics BC – 2000, Volunteer of the Year and Sport BC's President Award –at the Sport BC’s annual awards night.
Gymnastics BC Member of Distinction -2003
Nominated and finalist for the YWCA Women of Distinction Award- 2005
Burn's Bog Women of the Crane award for Community Spirit – 2006
Lifetime Achievement Award – Gymnastics BC – 2007 – (highest achievement for Gymnastics BC)
Delta Chamber of Commerce Hats off to Excellence – Volunteer Service Award - 2008
BC Provincial Achievement Award – 2011
Delta Chamber of Commerce Hats off to Excellence - Delta Citizen of the Year – 2011
Life Member of Delta Gymnastics Society – 2017
Rotary Club of Tsawwassen Paul Harris Award
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Pin 2022
“Youth are our future – I believe in helping them to grow and develop into fine young adults” This is the reason for her work with children and to be an advocacy for physical literacy.
Carlene believes in helping to see Delta grow and prosper. We can all do this by helping each other, being positive and giving back.
Children today are not getting the physical activity that they need to be physically literate – meaning to have the confidence and competency to move and participate n their surroundings and learn from taking risks. Children are not allowed to take ‘risks’ which are as simple as walking to school, playing in the neighbourhood or at the park unsupervised. I see this as a very large societal problem, one will lead to emotional, social and mental concerns in the future. Generations before this group where allowed unsupervised play. Children need to learn and be given responsibility. With the support of communities sectors I hope that we can make more leaders aware of this problem and together we can help make change. (sorry for my rant!!)
- Carlene Lewall
Proud to be an advocate for physical literacy. Play for children is so essential to childhood, it's like love, sunshine and broccoli all juiced together.