Page 10 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 126

10 Issue #126 July 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

various locations. cerebral palsy, and all kind of when you are in the water, it is the
Continued from page 8
O’Hara said that “it is very sad handicaps. It is quite something next best thing to flying, you are
Chair of the Great River Network, to take somebody who doesn’t totally weightless. I was so glad I
to see how the river is used, it
an organization part of the River see, there is a whole protocol to was able to give something back to
is actually disturbing to realize
Institute that includes over fifty follow with a blind person. Hubert people who are handicapped. That
that every harbour is a used as a
groups, agencies, and individuals. Chretien did a great wonderful is what drove me to take the course
garbage dump.”
During her tenure as Chair, she job. to be certified to dive with people
was involved in various projects, Diving with people with with disabilities.”
the last one being the ‘Great River disability. “A few years ago, I had to have
both my knees replaced and to Plans for the 2023 summer.
Clean-Up’ on September 23rd, Hubert Chretien M.S.M. founded
quit diving was not an option. I As for Patricia O’Hara summer
2021. They had hired commercial Freedom at Depth Canada, a
didn’t want to stop diving, so I planning, it is simple - DIVE.
divers and a crane, and with handicap scuba association whose
had to change my equipment and
volunteers, they removed over mission is to teach, certify, and Of course, the number of dives
modified it a bit.
almost three tonne of metal and coach handicapped people so they will depend on the weather. But
several cubic feet of garbage. They can enjoy scuba diving. This is “Before my first surgery I was in the highlight of her summer is
retrieved bicycles, grocery carts, great given the fact that we are such pain, the knees were rubbing a trip to Nova Scotia where she
tires, car seats, etc. weightless underwater. O’Hara bone on bone. They had to take the plans to do some whale-watching
It is reported that since they got certified to be a buddy and whole joint out and that summer I and some diving. Hopefully, she
started the clean up operation seven accompany people with disability. could not walk at all, but when I will be able to try underwater
years ago, almost forty tonnes of She said, “I volunteer for that in was in the water, I enjoyed having scallop fishing in an area open to
garbage have been removed from the summer as well because they the sensation of total freedom, the public to collect scallops for
the River at Akwesasne, Cornwall, need two buddies to go down with and being weightless is such a their own consumption.
and Lancaster sites. A series of them, that’s quite exciting. They feeling that it recharges you. And
“I want to thank my two
‘Great River Clean-Ups’ are are paraplegic, quadriplegic, blind, I said to myself, if I can help
divemasters Ron MacDonald and
planned for 2023, to take place in suffer from muscular dystrophy, somebody and assist the person
Don Foster and the eleven divers
to enjoy that, no matter what that came diving with me and
Brought to you by Ming & Associates handicap. It recharges you. And numerous people who were on
Athlete of the Month
Athlete of the Month my divemasters used to help me shore. I felt pretty special, I did
get on-off the boat, and I dove all
1000 dives before I was 75. Ron
Lukas Rozon-Ouellette that summer. It was the only relief was there for my first dive and Dan
from the pain I got, you know for my 1000th.”
Age: 15
Hometown: Ingleside Patricia O’Hara
https://www.facebook.com/patricia.ohara.942
School: La Citadel
Dan Foster
Grade: 11 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057222019722&sk=about
July’s Athlete of the Month works as a referee
for the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Save Ontario Shipwrecks
“I have been playing lacrosse since I was 5 years old,” says Lukas. “So, https://saveontarioshipwrecks.ca/
Hubert Chretien
for ten years now. I play hockey for the Rapids in between seasons. I love
http://www.fadc.ca/hubert-chretien.html
the intensity and the physical aspect of the games. Being aggressive and
River Institute
fighting hard for a win is a great feeling. I play offense and the skills https://riverinstitute.ca/

transfer well when I’m center on the ice.” Continued on page 10
Continued from page 10 Lukas’s notable accomplishments
Lukas wants to graduate from high include being named La Citadel’s
school on the honour roll. “I plan football rookie of the year and
to work each lacrosse season as scoring five touchdowns in three
a referee but am hoping to find a games. “I am currently sitting at 28

Maxwell Ming - P.Eng, CFP ® part-time job in between seasons. points for eleven games in lacrosse
Financial Planner Eventually I’d like to go to college for this season. This makes my point per
Financial Planning • Investments • Insurance sports physiotherapy, while hopefully game average at 2.5,” Lukas says. “I

613-932-7526 • Max@mingassociates.com playing lacrosse for that school,” he was also appointed to the captaincy of
explains. my U16 Rapids team this past year.”