Julia Oliver
2008 Provincial Easter Seals Ambassador
Julia Oliver is a very active 12-year–old whose extra curricular activities include: electric wheelchair hockey, horseback riding, Girl Guides, school choir, cross county, track and field and other fitness programs. A Toronto native, Julia is excited to represent Ontario’s children and youth with physical disabilities and plans to be either a doctor or an author one day. She does well in school but particularly enjoys reading and creative writing—her favourite book being the Canadian classic, Anne of Green Gables.
Born with Cerebral Palsy, Spastic Triplegia, Julia has leg braces, uses a walker and an electric wheelchair to get around. She is also an Easter Seals Camp Merrywood camper, where she enjoyed a 4-day overnight canoe trip. Julia can relay, firsthand, how much a fully accessible camp means to kids who face physical barriers everyday. “You can choose and sign up for any activity you want to do. It’s great! I really liked learning how to aim and shoot the arrows in archery.”
If Julia could direct one message to other kids with physical disabilities it is, “Don’t give up, do more and always try your hardest.” Instead of sleeping in on Saturday mornings, Julia is committed to going to a Fit and Flex exercise program.
At home with her mom, dad and two sisters, Julia describes herself as the “jam in the sandwich,” because she is the middle child. And not to be forgotten, this close family includes a dog named Farful and a tank full of fish.
Julia is very social and is looking forward to meeting new people and participating in all the Easter Seals events that raise essential funds to help support kids with physical disabilities.
Sylvain Labelle
2008 Provincial Easter Seals Ambassador
One visit to Sylvain Labelle’s web site reveals how much he values his mobility. His personal homepage features links to pictures entitled: “My boat”, “My ride” and “My ATV.” His mobility equipment of choice is the Lamborghini, the Baja power boat and the Outlander 800 Max ATV. The mobility equipment that is a daily reality for Sylvain include: leg braces, a cane and for longer trips, a manual wheelchair or scooter.
“Stairs are my biggest challenge. Getting up and down isn’t easy, ” says Sylvain.
Sylvain belongs to a close family and lives with his mom and dad and 11 year-old sister, Josée, in Hamner Ontario, just north of Sudbury. “My dad is exactly like me. He has CP too, and gets around with the help of a scooter. My mom says we also look alike.”
A dedicated Toronto Maple Leafs fan, Sylvain plays defense for his sledge hockey team. When asked if he is competitive, Sylvain responded, &Well, let’s put it this way. I don’t go easy on people. When I play a game, I play to win. Practices are for fun.”
Sylvain looks forward to traveling, meeting new people and representing children and youth with physical disabilities across the province and being a part of the fundraising events for Easter Seals kids.
Sylvain’s message to children and youth with physical disabilities “Don’t give up. Keep trying.”
With aspirations to be a small business owner after studying with Everest Academy business coaching training, Sylvain plans to draw on his extensive interest in sports, art, music, photography, web design and video games.