Vivian Berkeley

Vivian Berkeley (born August 9, 1941) is a Canadian blind lawn bowler, 1996 Paralympic silver medalist and world class athlete. Berkeley is the #1 ranked women's singles B1 blind lawn bowler in the world.

Career

Berkeley has competed in the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta, USA, and the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. She has competed in several international blind lawn bowling events earning the ranking of the world's #1 female total blind lawn bowler. Berkeley continues to lawn bowl and recently won the gold medal in the Women's B1 (completely blind) Singles at the Blind Bowls Association of Canada (BBAC) Nationals in Windsor, Ontario. With this newest achievement, Vivian has qualified for and will be attending an International Lawn Bowling Competition for the Blind and Physically Disabled in Australia in October 2009.

Personal life

Berkeley was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. She received her primary and secondary schooling at Sir Frederick Fraser boarding school for the blind and/or visually impaired, where she graduated in the mid 1950's. She has 2 children (Laura and Michael) and has recently celebrated 35 years of marriage to her husband, Richard.

Berkeley participates on several boards/committees within the region of Waterloo including: Block Parents, Fire and Safety Committee, The Royal Canadian Legion, Lions Club of Canada, Lioness Club of Canada, Canadian Council of the Blind, and Blind Bowls Association of Canada (created by Berkeley for blind lawn bowlers in Canada).

External links

* [http://www.realchampions.ca/athletes/vivian Vivian Berkeley on Real Champions]
* [http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:cN7uL0cU-P4J:www.kingswoodbowlingclub.co.uk/quadram/index.htm+vivian+berkeley+bowling&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=ca Vivian Berkeley 2006 Blind Bowlers Quadram Results, Glasgow Scotland]
* [http://www.asrab.ab.ca/lawn_bowling.htm Vivian Berkeley 2006 CBSA National Lawn Bowls Championships Results, Alberta Canada]
* [http://www.svlbc.org/clinic.html Vivian Berkeley and SVLBC Hosts Coaching Clinic for Visually Impaired in Sunnyvale, California USA, November 2006]
* [http://www.bcblindsports.bc.ca/graphic/sports/bowls/results.htm Vivian Berkeley 2001 to 2005 CBSA National Bowls Championships Results]
* [http://www.chrisandron.com/english/bowling-ipcworld.shtml Vivian Berkeley 2004 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Lawn Bowls Championships Results, Kuala Lampur Malaysia]
* [http://www.kitchener.ca/pdf/access_files_spring_2004.pdf Vivian Berkeley in City of Kitchener Access Files Newsletter, Issue 17, Spring 2004]
* [http://www.gbrathletics.com/commonwealth/bowls.htm Vivian Berkeley 2002 Commonwealth Games Results, Manchester England]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2002/07/23/cglawnbowls020723.html Vivian Berkeley CBC Sports newspaper article, July 2002]
* [http://www.bowlscanada.com/news/02news/02_news_berkeley.htm Vivian Berkeley 2002 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Lawn Bowls Championships Results, Adelaide Australia]
* [http://www.kwa.on.ca/newsletters/nov96.shtml Vivian Berkeley in K-W Access-Ability Newsletter, November 1996]
* [http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2332617&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=35&Ses=2 Vivian Berkeley being recognized at the House of Commons for 1996 Paraympics in Atlanta USA, Transcript Ottawa Canada, October 1996]