Vivian Berkeley

**Vivian Berkeley** (born August 9, 1941) be Canadian two-time World Blind Lawn Bowling Champion,1996 Paralympic Games Silver Medalist den 2002 Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist.

Over ein 21-year decorated career (1994&#x2013;2015), Vivian go accumulate total of 60 medals; wey dey include 22 straight Provincial Gold medals, 21 National Gold medals (16 straight), along plus impressive 17 International medals from 8 countries (2 Gold, 10 Silver, 5 Bronze). Dem accredit Berkeley make she dey help build de sport of lawn bowls give de blind den visually-impaired insyd Canada den abroad.

For November 7, 2021, na dem Induct Vivian into de Canadian Disability Hall of Fame (CDHF). Found by de Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP), dis public exhibit dey locate insyd Metro Hall insyd downtown Toronto Ontario, wey ebe wer honorary plaque plus ein name den etching of ein portrait dey for display. De Induction Ceremony take place for October 20, 2022, for de Fairmont Royal York insyd downtown Toronto. 

For April 24, 2022, na dem induct Vivian into de Waterloo Region Hall of Fame, wey dey locate for de second floor of de Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum insyd Kitchener Ontario. De Induction Ceremony take place for de same location.

For April 28, 2023, na dem induct Vivian into de Ontario Lawn Bowls Association Hall of Fame. De Induction Ceremony take place insyd Oakville Ontario.

For June 13, 2023, na dem induct  Vivian into de Glace Bay Old Town Hall Museum, wey dey locate insyd ein 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*

## Personal life
Dem born am insyd Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Vivian receive ein primary den secondary schooling for de Halifax School for the Blind, insyd Halifax, Nova Scotia, wer na she win trophy insyd competitive swimming, before she graduate insyd de mid-1950s. Vivian move go Kitchener, Ontario, insyd 1968, wer na she go job insyd de radiology department for Grand River Hospital for eight years, asdarkroom technician. After she lef ein job for de hospital, Vivian go cam turn in-classroom teachers aide give de Waterloo Catholic District School Board, two days a week, for 16 years. She sanso deliver de K-W Record newspaper for chaw years wey she take up de hobby of she dey breed budgie birds. Na Berkeley always be very involve within ein community, dey contribute to chaw committees den service groups. Ein main objective, make she improve de safety, mobility, den well-being of de blind den visually-impaired insyd de Waterloo Region. Vivian get husby Richard (of 50 years), two kiddies Laura-Lee den Michael, den granddaughter Samantha. She sanso get guide dog, black Labrador retriever dem name Angora. Insyd ein spare time Vivian dey enjoy knitting afghans, puzzles, audio books, den dey listen to ein favourite team de Toronto Blue Jays, as she dey "loves Jerry Howarth's work."

## Lawn Bowls Career

### Non-competitive play (1989&#x2013;1993)
Berkeley ein lawn bowling career span over 25 years, dey begin insyd 1989. For de time na she sanso dey compete insyd Shuffleboard for de provincial level, along plus five-pin den ten-pin bowling. Vivian initially play out of de Rockway Golf and Country Club insyd Kitchener, Ontario, however na dem force ein lawn bowling club make e close for de end of 1996 for de expansion of ein golf course. De year wey dey follow, fresh local lawn bowling club go open ein doors, Heritage Greens. For de first several years, Vivian go just play one night week plus de oda blind den visually-impaired members. Na Berkeley get chaw coaches thru out ein career, all of dem dey play pivotal role insyd make dem help ein achieve success, wey dey include Don Mayne (1989&#x2013;2004), Jean McCron (2005&#x2013;2013), den Betty Mayne (2014&#x2013;2015) (Don ein wifey), to name few. Vivian state dat "I started (lawn) bowls because I enjoy sports and the challenge of competitions."

### Competitive career (1994&#x2013;2015)

#### Provincial

#### National

#### International

## Awards den honours

* Paralympic Games Torch Bearer - Royal LePage WhyNot Marathon insyd Kitchener. *DEM INCLUDE PICTURE* (1996)
* Fire Prevention Ambassador of North America - Dem induct am alongsyd local sports heroes Professional Boxing Champion Fitz Vanderpool den National Softball Champion Karen Snelgrove. *DEM INCLUDE PICTURE* (1996)
* Kitchener Sports Association (KSA) Wall of Fame - Paralympics profile picture for display insyd de Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. *DEM INCLUDE PICTURE* (1996)
* House of Commons Canada - Dem recognize am plus oda members of de Olympic den Paralympic Summer Games, such as Donovan Bailey den Clara Hughes. *TRANSCRIPT* (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." *DEM INCLUDE PICTURE* (1996)
* She meet 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 magazine feature (1999)
* She represent Canada for de Commonwealth Games as de oldest athlete for age 61 (2002)
* Lions Foundation of Canada - Life Membership Recipient (2006)
* AthletesCAN Paralympic Athlete Council - Dem elect am as Interim Member for meeting insyd Whitehorse, Yukon (2007)
* International Blind Bowls Association (IBBA) - Dem elect am to de World Executive (2009)
* Guide Dogs for the Blind Alumni photograph of Vivian, ein fresh guide dog Angora den ein puppy raisers. (2010)
* Guide Dogs for the Blind Newsletter - Article Vivian wey she wrep about ein previous guide dog Paka (2011)
* She compete for de Blind den Visually-Impaired Curling Provincials (2011)
* Award Recipient from Heritage Greens Lawn Bowling Club insyd 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 (1989-2013)
* Canadian Disability Hall of Fame (CDHF) - Honorary plaque plus ein name den etching of ein portrait for display insyd Metro Hall, Toronto, Ontario (2021)

## Community Involvement

* Blind Bowls Association of Canada (BBAC) Past-President. Berkeley establish am make e represent den promote de interests of blind den visually-impaired lawn bowlers locally den abroad (2007)
* Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) Director of Public Relations, Kitchener District Club (1969-1973)
* Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) Presido, 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-Presido (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



## External links
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