1996 Paralympic Games Silver Medal - Atlanta, Georgia, USA1996 Paralympic Games Torch Marathon. Vivian Berkeley and Don Mayne (Coach 1989-2004) - Kitchener, Ontario, Canada1996 Paralympic Games Torch Marathon Award (July 10, 1996)Letter from Prime Minister Jean Chrétien (August 25, 1996)1996 Paralympic Games newspaper article - Kitchener-Waterloo RecordFire Prevention Ambassador of North America Induction - Kitchener, Ontario, Canada (October 11, 1996)2002 Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal - Manchester, England2007 Blind Bowls Association of Canada (BBAC) Gold Medal2021 Canadian Disability Hall of Fame Plaque - Metro Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada2022 Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Induction - Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Over her 21-year decorated career (1994–2015), Vivian would accumulate a total of 60 medals; including 22 straight Provincial Gold medals, 21 National Gold medals (16 straight), along with an impressive 17 International medals from 8 countries (2 Gold, 10 Silver, 5 Bronze). Berkeley is accredited to helping build the sport of lawn bowls for the blind and visually-impaired in Canada and abroad.
On November 7, 2021, Vivian was Inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame (CDHF). Founded by the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP), this public exhibit is located in Metro Hall in downtown TorontoOntario, and is where a honorary plaque with her name and etching of her portrait is on display. The Induction Ceremony took place on October 20, 2022, at the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto.
On April 24, 2022, Vivian was Inducted into the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame, located on the second floor of the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum Kitchener Ontario. The Induction Ceremony took place at the same location.
On April 28, 2023, Vivian was Inducted into the Ontario Lawn Bowls Association Hall of Fame. The Induction Ceremony took place in Oakville Ontario.
On June 13, 2023, Vivian was Inducted into the Glace Bay Old Town Hall Museum, located in her hometown of Glace Bay Nova Scotia.
"As an athlete I feel that year-round physical training and mental preparation are the keys to success. To reach your goals you must be prepared to be persistent and dedicated to your sport. An athlete must be able to accept winning as well as defeat, and meet new challenges head on. In order to succeed in any sport, this philosophy should be applied on a daily basis." - Vivian Berkeley
Born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Vivian received her primary and secondary schooling at the Halifax School for the Blind, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she won a trophy in competitive swimming, before graduating in the mid-1950s. Vivian would move to Kitchener, Ontario, in 1968, where she would work in the radiology department at Grand River Hospital for eight years, as a darkroom technician. After leaving her job at the hospital, Vivian would become an in-classroom teachers aide for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, two days a week, for 16 years. She also delivered the K-W Record newspaper for several years and took up the hobby of breeding budgie birds. Berkeley has always been very involved within her community, contributing to many committees and service groups. Her main objective, to improve the safety, mobility, and well-being of the blind and visually-impaired in the Waterloo Region. Vivian has a husband Richard (of 50 years), two children Laura-Lee and Michael, and a granddaughter Samantha. She also has a guide dog, a black Labrador retriever named Angora. In her spare time Vivian enjoys knitting afghans, puzzles, audio books, and listening to her favourite team the Toronto Blue Jays, as she "loves Jerry Howarth's work."[1]
Lawn Bowls Career
Non-competitive play (1989–1993)
Berkeley's lawn bowling career has span over 25 years, beginning in 1989. At the time she was also competing in Shuffleboard on the provincial level, along with five-pin and ten-pin bowling. Vivian initially played out of the Rockway Golf and Country Club in Kitchener, Ontario, however its lawn bowling club was forced to close at the end of 1996 for the expansion of its golf course. The following year, a new local lawn bowling club would open its doors, Heritage Greens. For the first several years, Vivian would just play one night a week with the other blind and visually-impaired members. Berkeley has had several coaches throughout her career, all of them playing a pivotal role in helping her achieve success, including Don Mayne (1989–2004), Jean McCron[2][3] (2005–2013), and Betty Mayne (2014–2015) (Don's wife), to name a few. Vivian stated that "I started (lawn) bowls because I enjoy sports and the challenge of competitions."
Paralympic Games Torch Bearer - Royal LePage WhyNot Marathon in Kitchener. PICTURE INCLUDED (1996)
Fire Prevention Ambassador of North America - Inducted alongside local sports heroes Professional Boxing Champion Fitz Vanderpool and National Softball Champion Karen Snelgrove. PICTURE INCLUDED (1996)
Kitchener Sports Association (KSA) Wall of Fame - Paralympics profile picture on display inside the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. PICTURE INCLUDED (1996)
Letter from Prime Minister, Jean Chretien. "On behalf of all Canadians, I am delighted to offer you my warmest congratulations on your silver medal win at the X Paralympiad." PICTURE INCLUDED (1996)
Meeting Walter Gretzky. "He (Walter) recognized me from a previous meeting and approached me. “Don (Mayne) and I met him in Scotland in 1999 and had dinner with him at his expense. He knew about my lawn bowling” - Vivian Berkeley (1999)
Chatelaine Presents Who's Who of Canadian Women 1999-2000[18] magazine feature (1999)
Competed at the Blind and Visually-Impaired Curling Provincials (2011)
Award Recipient from Heritage Greens Lawn Bowling Club in Kitchener. "In recognition for the work she has done for the visually-impaired in lawn bowling." PICTURE INCLUDED (2011)
City of Kitchener Athletic Awards - Award Recipient[22] (1989-2013)
Canadian Disability Hall of Fame (CDHF) - Honorary plaque with her name and etching of her portrait on display inside Metro Hall, Toronto, Ontario (2021)
Community Involvement
Blind Bowls Association of Canada (BBAC) Past-President. Established by Berkeley to represent and promote the interests of blind and visually-impaired lawn bowlers locally and abroad (2007)
Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) Director of Public Relations, Kitchener District Club (1969-1973)
Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) President, Kitchener District Club (1991-2001)
^"Debates (Hansard) No. 78 - October 1, 1996 (35-2) - House of Commons of Canada". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
^Holmes, Gillian (1999-06-01). Who's Who of Canadian Women, 1999-2000. University of Toronto Press. ISBN978-0-920966-55-6.
^"Previous Commonwealth Games | Commonwealth Sport Canada". commonwealthsport.ca. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
^Wilsie, David (2008). "AthletesCAN Interim Member". AthletesCAN Blog.
^"Reflections: Remembering the people and dogs of Guide Dogs for the Blind". gdb-reflections.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2021-04-14. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help); Check date values in: |archive-date= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^2704423. "Kitchener Citizen - East Edition March 2013". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-04-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vivian Berkeley.
August 22, 2023
vivian, berkeley, born, august, 1941, canadian, time, world, blind, lawn, bowling, champion, 1996, paralympic, games, silver, medalist, 2002, commonwealth, games, bronze, medalist, 1996, paralympic, games, silver, medal, atlanta, georgia, usa1996, paralympic, . Vivian Berkeley born August 9 1941 is a Canadian two time World Blind Lawn Bowling Champion 1996 Paralympic Games Silver Medalist and 2002 Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist 1996 Paralympic Games Silver Medal Atlanta Georgia USA1996 Paralympic Games Torch Marathon Vivian Berkeley and Don Mayne Coach 1989 2004 Kitchener Ontario Canada1996 Paralympic Games Torch Marathon Award July 10 1996 Letter from Prime Minister Jean Chretien August 25 1996 1996 Paralympic Games newspaper article Kitchener Waterloo RecordFire Prevention Ambassador of North America Induction Kitchener Ontario Canada October 11 1996 2002 Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal Manchester England2007 Blind Bowls Association of Canada BBAC Gold Medal2021 Canadian Disability Hall of Fame Plaque Metro Hall Toronto Ontario Canada2022 Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Induction Kitchener Ontario CanadaOver her 21 year decorated career 1994 2015 Vivian would accumulate a total of 60 medals including 22 straight Provincial Gold medals 21 National Gold medals 16 straight along with an impressive 17 International medals from 8 countries 2 Gold 10 Silver 5 Bronze Berkeley is accredited to helping build the sport of lawn bowls for the blind and visually impaired in Canada and abroad On November 7 2021 Vivian was Inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame CDHF Founded by the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons CFPDP this public exhibit is located in Metro Hall in downtown Toronto Ontario and is where a honorary plaque with her name and etching of her portrait is on display The Induction Ceremony took place on October 20 2022 at the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto On April 24 2022 Vivian was Inducted into the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame located on the second floor of the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum Kitchener Ontario The Induction Ceremony took place at the same location On April 28 2023 Vivian was Inducted into the Ontario Lawn Bowls Association Hall of Fame The Induction Ceremony took place in Oakville Ontario On June 13 2023 Vivian was Inducted into the Glace Bay Old Town Hall Museum located in her hometown of Glace Bay Nova Scotia As an athlete I feel that year round physical training and mental preparation are the keys to success To reach your goals you must be prepared to be persistent and dedicated to your sport An athlete must be able to accept winning as well as defeat and meet new challenges head on In order to succeed in any sport this philosophy should be applied on a daily basis Vivian Berkeley Contents 1 Personal life 2 Lawn Bowls Career 2 1 Non competitive play 1989 1993 2 2 Competitive career 1994 2015 2 2 1 Provincial 2 2 2 National 2 2 3 International 3 Awards and honours 4 Community Involvement 5 ReferencesPersonal life EditBorn in Glace Bay Nova Scotia Vivian received her primary and secondary schooling at the Halifax School for the Blind in Halifax Nova Scotia where she won a trophy in competitive swimming before graduating in the mid 1950s Vivian would move to Kitchener Ontario in 1968 where she would work in the radiology department at Grand River Hospital for eight years as a darkroom technician After leaving her job at the hospital Vivian would become an in classroom teachers aide for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board two days a week for 16 years She also delivered the K W Record newspaper for several years and took up the hobby of breeding budgie birds Berkeley has always been very involved within her community contributing to many committees and service groups Her main objective to improve the safety mobility and well being of the blind and visually impaired in the Waterloo Region Vivian has a husband Richard of 50 years two children Laura Lee and Michael and a granddaughter Samantha She also has a guide dog a black Labrador retriever named Angora In her spare time Vivian enjoys knitting afghans puzzles audio books and listening to her favourite team the Toronto Blue Jays as she loves Jerry Howarth s work 1 Lawn Bowls Career EditNon competitive play 1989 1993 Edit Berkeley s lawn bowling career has span over 25 years beginning in 1989 At the time she was also competing in Shuffleboard on the provincial level along with five pin and ten pin bowling Vivian initially played out of the Rockway Golf and Country Club in Kitchener Ontario however its lawn bowling club was forced to close at the end of 1996 for the expansion of its golf course The following year a new local lawn bowling club would open its doors Heritage Greens For the first several years Vivian would just play one night a week with the other blind and visually impaired members Berkeley has had several coaches throughout her career all of them playing a pivotal role in helping her achieve success including Don Mayne 1989 2004 Jean McCron 2 3 2005 2013 and Betty Mayne 2014 2015 Don s wife to name a few Vivian stated that I started lawn bowls because I enjoy sports and the challenge of competitions Competitive career 1994 2015 Edit Provincial Edit 1994 2015 Ontario Blind Bowls Association OBBA 1stTOTAL NUMBER OF GOLD MEDALS 22National Edit 1994 Canadian Blind Sports Association CBSA 4th1995 1997 Canadian Blind Sports Association 1st1998 Canadian Blind Sports Association 3rd1999 2006 Canadian Blind Sports Association 1st2007 2015 Blind Bowls Association of Canada BBAC 4 5 1stTOTAL NUMBER OF GOLD MEDALS Singles Competition 19 Pairs 2 21International Edit 1995 International Paralympic Committee IPC World Championships Worthing England 4th1996 10th Paralympic Games 6 7 Atlanta United States 2nd1997 6th International Blind Bowls Association IBBA Championships Hamilton New Zealand 4th1998 International Paralympic Committee IPC World Championships Germiston South Africa 2nd1999 International Tri AM Mixed Pairs Paisley Scotland 2nd2000 International Lawn Bowls Open Tel Aviv Israel 2nd2001 7th International Blind Bowls Association IBBA Championships Girvan Scotland 3rd2002 International Paralympic Committee IPC World Championships Adelaide Australia 1st2002 17th Commonwealth Games 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Manchester England 3rd2004 International Paralympic Committee IPC World Championships Kuala Lumper Malaysia 3rd2004 International Paralympic Committee IPC World Championships Pairs Kuala Lumper Malaysia 3rd2005 8th International Blind Bowls Association IBBA Championships Johannesburg South Africa 2nd2006 International Paralympic Committee IPC World Championships Quadram Edinburgh Scotland 1st2007 International Bowls for the Disabled IBD World Championships Sydney Australia 2nd2007 International Bowls for the Disabled IBD World Championships Pairs Sydney Australia 3rd2009 9th International Blind Bowls Association IBBA Championships 16 Melbourne Australia 2nd2010 International Lawn Bowls Championships for the Blind ILBCB Tel Aviv Israel 2nd2010 International Lawn Bowls Championships for the Blind ILBCB Pairs Tel Aviv Israel 2nd2011 International Bowls for the Disabled IBD World Championships Pretoria South Africa 2nd2013 10th International Blind Bowls Association IBBA Championships Worthing England 4thTOTAL NUMBER OF MEDALS 2 Gold 10 Silver 5 Bronze Singles Competition 2 Gold 8 Silver 3 Bronze Pairs 2 Silver 2 Bronze 17Awards and honours EditParalympic Games Torch Bearer Royal LePage WhyNot Marathon in Kitchener PICTURE INCLUDED 1996 Fire Prevention Ambassador of North America Inducted alongside local sports heroes Professional Boxing Champion Fitz Vanderpool and National Softball Champion Karen Snelgrove PICTURE INCLUDED 1996 Kitchener Sports Association KSA Wall of Fame Paralympics profile picture on display inside the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium PICTURE INCLUDED 1996 House of Commons Canada Recognized with other members of the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games such as Donovan Bailey and Clara Hughes TRANSCRIPT 17 1996 Letter from Prime Minister Jean Chretien On behalf of all Canadians I am delighted to offer you my warmest congratulations on your silver medal win at the X Paralympiad PICTURE INCLUDED 1996 Meeting Walter Gretzky He Walter recognized me from a previous meeting and approached me Don Mayne and I met him in Scotland in 1999 and had dinner with him at his expense He knew about my lawn bowling Vivian Berkeley 1999 Chatelaine Presents Who s Who of Canadian Women 1999 2000 18 magazine feature 1999 Represented Canada at the Commonwealth Games as the oldest athlete at age 61 19 2002 Lions Foundation of Canada Life Membership Recipient 2006 AthletesCAN Paralympic Athlete Council Elected as an Interim Member 20 for a meeting in Whitehorse Yukon 2007 International Blind Bowls Association IBBA Elected to the World Executive 2009 Guide Dogs for the Blind Alumni photograph of Vivian her new guide dog Angora and her puppy raisers 2010 Guide Dogs for the Blind Newsletter Article written by Vivian about her previous guide dog Paka 21 2011 Competed at the Blind and Visually Impaired Curling Provincials 2011 Award Recipient from Heritage Greens Lawn Bowling Club in Kitchener In recognition for the work she has done for the visually impaired in lawn bowling PICTURE INCLUDED 2011 City of Kitchener Athletic Awards Award Recipient 22 1989 2013 Canadian Disability Hall of Fame CDHF Honorary plaque with her name and etching of her portrait on display inside Metro Hall Toronto Ontario 2021 Community Involvement EditBlind Bowls Association of Canada BBAC Past President Established by Berkeley to represent and promote the interests of blind and visually impaired lawn bowlers locally and abroad 2007 Canadian Council of the Blind CCB Director of Public Relations Kitchener District Club 1969 1973 Canadian Council of the Blind CCB President Kitchener District Club 1991 2001 Canadian National Institute for the Blind CNIB Volunteer Kitchener 1992 1997 City of Kitchener Barrier Free Advisory Committee Member 1994 2012 City of Kitchener Fire Safety Committee Member 1997 Lioness Club of Kitchener 2005 Ontario Lawn Bowls Association of the Blind OLBAB President 1997 2001 Pioneer Lions Club of Kitchener Past President 2005 2006 Royal Canadian Legion Branch 50 Kitchener 2008 2017 Waterloo Catholic District School Board WCDSB Teachers Aid Volunteer 1985 2000 two days per week Waterloo Regional Block Parent Program 1987 1999 References Edit Sawkiw Warren September 26 2015 Tweet Twitter Retrieved 2021 04 14 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a archive date requires archive url help CS1 maint url status link Sports Hall of Fame Inductees www richmondhill ca 2020 10 27 Retrieved 2021 04 14 Love Ishi amp 2012 12 19 Lawn Bowls Using the Head Confidence and Blind Lawn Bowls Lawn Bowls Using the Head Retrieved 2021 04 14 Allen Sean 2014 09 09 Blind lawn bowlers compete for national points Toronto com Retrieved 2021 04 14 Two golds for blind bowler therecord com 2014 09 23 Retrieved 2021 04 14 Vivian Berkeley Lawn Bowls Paralympic Athlete Profile International Paralympic Committee Retrieved 2021 04 14 Calgary Herald from Calgary Alberta Alberta Canada on August 23 1996 57 Newspapers com 23 August 1996 Retrieved 2021 04 14 Canadian and US Bowls News nflbc tripod com Retrieved 2021 04 14 Christie James 5 July 2002 Wrestler risks his back for Canada The Globe and Mail The Globe and Mail Retrieved 2021 04 14 Comments RDS ca in French Retrieved 2021 04 14 Lawn Bowls Overview CBC Sports July 23 2002 Games results NZ Herald Retrieved 2021 04 14 BBC SPORT Commonwealth Games 2002 Statistics news bbc co uk Retrieved 2021 04 14 Results m2002 thecgf com Retrieved 2021 04 14 Lawn Bowls Para Sport Singles Visually Impaired Women Bronze Medals Commonwealth Games Federation thecgf com Retrieved 2021 04 14 World Blind Championships amp couriermail com au April 24 2009 Retrieved 2021 04 14 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a archive date requires archive url help CS1 maint url status link Debates Hansard No 78 October 1 1996 35 2 House of Commons of Canada www ourcommons ca Retrieved 2021 04 14 Holmes Gillian 1999 06 01 Who s Who of Canadian Women 1999 2000 University of Toronto Press ISBN 978 0 920966 55 6 Previous Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Sport Canada commonwealthsport ca Retrieved 2021 04 14 Wilsie David 2008 AthletesCAN Interim Member AthletesCAN Blog Reflections Remembering the people and dogs of Guide Dogs for the Blind gdb reflections blogspot com Retrieved 2021 04 14 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a archive date requires archive url help Check date values in archive date help CS1 maint url status link 2704423 Kitchener Citizen East Edition March 2013 Issuu Retrieved 2021 04 14 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vivian Berkeley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vivian Berkeley amp oldid 1166480421, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
