Sheana McDermott

Induction 2026 - Builder

Volunteer Extraordinaire
Over 40 years Coaching
Bowling Head Coach for Special Olympics Wetaskiwin Bowling Program 1989-2026
Over 25 years President of the Board of Special Olympics Wetaskiwin
Coach of the Year Award Special Olympics Alberta 2013

Countless Volunteer Hours during Forty Plus Years

Sheana McDermott is being inducted into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame for the countless volunteer hours she has devoted to the Wetaskiwin Special Olympics Program. Her over forty years of dedication to the special needs children and adults in our community has been exemplary and is deeply worthy of this recognition.

Volunteerism has been a part of Sheana’s life since her Junior High years in Wetaskiwin. In Grade 7, when Lynn Lauren School needed volunteers for their swimming program, Sheana stepped forward, marking her first experience working with special needs children. In high school, she continued this path as a Candy Striper at the Wetaskiwin Hospital.

Super Team of Volunteers

After raising a family and working as a Certified Nursing Assistant in Daysland, Sheana returned to Wetaskiwin in 1975. She began working with special needs children in residence at the Wetaskiwin Centre and, from 1987 to 2017, she was employed by the Wetaskiwin School District in Special Education, serving at Lynn Lauren, Norwood, and the Wetaskiwin Composite High School.

In the early 1980s, Sheana was looking for an activity where her two adopted daughters with special needs could find exercise and friendship. Betty Kovacs had a casual bowling group for her special needs foster children, and Sheana and her daughters joined in. When Betty retired, Sheana took over the group.

A turning point came in 1989 when a delegation from Special Olympics Alberta introduced Wetaskiwin to a structured way for special needs community members to socialize and grow through sport. Sheana and her bowling group, along with Blain Fuller and his floor hockey team, were in the founding groups and initial coaches of the Special Olympics Wetaskiwin Program. In the years that followed the organization expanded into swimming, ball, track, bocce and basketball. Membership in the Wetaskiwin program grew, with more than 60 athletes, aged 10 to adult, participating with many athletes were involved in more than one sport at a time. The program provided the athletes many chances to travel. Throughout her tenure with Special Olympics Wetaskiwin, Sheana chaperoned and coached athletes on travels across Alberta, British Columbia, and as far as San Diego, Montreal, and Halifax.

Volunteer Milestones

Sheana truly values the opportunity to work alongside a 'super team' of volunteers, coaches, and supporters who sustain all the different program levels. She deeply cherishes her experiences, highlighted by those moments the athletes themselves savour - whether it is a good day at practice, a first trip, meeting a sports idol, besting the opposition, or the simple thrill of winning their first ribbon. Sheana especially prizes witnessing the personal growth of the athletes and sharing in their 'over the moon' excitement." Two memorable trips stand out. On two occasions, her athletes represented Team Alberta at the National Championships.

Some of the notable achievements of Wetaskiwin Special Olympic athletes include:

1998 Summer Games in Halifax, N.S. - Bronze Medal for one athlete in Track
1998 Provincial Slow Pitch Champions, competed as Team Alberta in the Canada Cup - Team Inducted into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame 2019
2002 San Diego - Gold Medal in floor hockey
2006 Montreal - Silver Medal in floor hockey
2015 Grand Prairie Summer Games - Gold in Bowling
2017 Medicine Hat Summer Games - 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 8 Bronze
2019 Calgary Winter Games - Floor Hockey Gold, Curling Gold, Bowling 2 Bronze, 2 Silver - All 21 Wetaskiwin athletes came home with a medal
2020 Canadian National Winter Games - Team Alberta Curling Gold Medal, Floor Hockey Bronze

Coach of the Year Award

In 2013, Sheana was named “Coach of the Year” by Special Olympics Alberta, and in 2024, she received her 35-Year Service Award. Today, she continues to serve as the President of the Wetaskiwin Special Olympics Board and Head Coach of the bowling team. In recent times, because of a lack of coaches the Wetaskiwin program has decreased in the number of sports in which they participate and the number of athletes involved. The sports being offered in the program this year are 5 and 10 Pin Bowling, Floorball, Curling and Bocce.

“Her efforts over the years have increased the quality of life for so many..."

Sheana has logged many miles traveling to competitions and events in support of Special Olympics Wetaskiwin athletes. Besides coaching, she has been an event planner and frontline volunteer, booked the rooms, driven the bus, and has done whatever it took to provide opportunities for athletes to compete. According to one of the parents of a Special Olympics Wetaskiwin athlete, “Her efforts over the years have increased the quality of life for so many and given hope to families that their family member has respect and is treated as an athlete should be: pushed when needed, mentored when necessary, respected and honoured for doing their best.”

As a coach, Sheana’s personal belief is that winning is not a priority, she wants her athletes to do their best, have fun and display good sportsmanship.

We recognize Sheana’s commitment to the Special Olympics Wetaskiwin Program, her many years of volunteer service to the youth of our community and her caring way of dealing with her special athletes. She has made Wetaskiwin a better place and we are proud to induct her into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame.