Building belonging through movement: The heart behind the Comox Valley Inclusive Track Meet

By Jina Taylor, District Lead Teacher for Physical Literacy, Comox Valley

When we first envisioned an inclusive track meet here in the Comox Valley, it was with a simple but powerful goal: to create a space where students with disabilities could feel celebrated, empowered, and—most importantly—valued. A few years ago, Mat Zadvorny, the driving force behind the vision for this event, brought forward the idea of launching an inclusive track meet in our district. Having volunteered for many years at the Special Track Meet in Surrey, and learning alongside Marg Geddes, the long-time organizer and principal behind Surrey’s event, Mat saw first-hand the joy, confidence, and sense of belonging these meets brought to students. He knew this kind of experience would have a lasting impact here as well. When he approached me with the idea of assembling a team to bring the event to life in the Comox Valley, I jumped at the opportunity. From there, we began planning School District 71’s inaugural inclusive track meet, joined by fellow organizer Amanda Lange.

Last spring, I had the joy of co-leading our second annual event alongside Mat and Amanda. Together, with our phenomenal volunteers and community partners, we created a day the kids—and all of us—will never forget.

In 2024, we welcomed 80 student athletes. In 2025, that number grew to 120. That’s not just growth in numbers: that’s growth in belonging, opportunity, and visibility for kids who too often don’t see themselves represented in sport.

The day featured eight adapted activity stations designed for a wide range of abilities: wheelchair races, obstacle courses, long jump, soccer, water-bottle sticker decorating, javelin, boccia, and beach volleyball. The event culminated in a minimarathon and bubble party—two moments that lit up the entire track with laughter, cheering, and more than a few happy tears.

Participants at the Comox Valley Inclusive Track Meet. Photo provided by Jina Taylor.

What struck me the most? The smiles. The hugs. The lack of meltdowns. For many of our students, life outside of this one day can be filled with barriers, sensory overwhelm, and exclusion. But here, surrounded by peers, volunteers, and a community that sees their potential, students thrive. By fostering an inclusive space, we can make kids feel valued.

Organizing an event like this requires collaboration with community partners who have experience making sports accessible. We were grateful to work with Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council, Pacific Sport Vancouver Island, SET-BC, and OneAbility. These organizations provided volunteers, introduced students to wheelchair sports, brought inclusive games that ignited excitement and co-operation among our students, and inspired us with their leadership in the inclusive sport movement. The OneAbility Games are leading the charge toward the first-ever multisport disability games in BC, slated for May 2026 at the Richmond Oval. I’m honoured to be a part of the Educator Champion Network helping to shape that historic event, and excited that we will be able to share resources and learnings from the Comox Valley Inclusive Track Meet with other school districts and educators across the province through the OneAbility Games Community Resource Hub.

We also partnered with many local volunteers and donors. Over 80 volunteers stepped up: parents, educators, support staff, high school leadership students, members of the community, small business owners, and more. They supported, cheered, coached, and celebrated every single child. Their support ensured we had the resources, equipment, and extras, like the bubble party, ribbons, and fun touches, to create a truly memorable experience for every participant.

The support of our tireless volunteers, our amazing students and families, and the wider community helped transform this track meet from an event into a true celebration of all abilities.

I’m honoured to work alongside Mat and Amanda who devoted countless hours to ensure every detail was thoughtfully managed. I’m looking forward to watching this event bring joy and belonging to our community again next year.

Let’s keep growing, together.