UPDATED: February 15, 2024
When it comes to speed skating, the last handful of years have been nothing short of amazing for Ezekiel Liu.
In February 2019, Ezekiel participated in the Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games. He won four medals in total: two gold and two silver. Twelve months later, the Richmond Hill, Ont. native captured a gold, silver and two bronze medals in the national spotlight at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Thunder Bay, Ont. After competing in the Special Olympics Provincial Winter Games in 2023 (where he won won gold, silver and bronze medals), Ezekiel qualified to compete at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024!
Ezekiel, who has autism, demonstrated a knack for the sport since he first laced up skates at around the age of four. He started speed skating when he was eight and loved it because it allowed him to go fast. Now 18, he is also a swimmer and track and field athlete.
Ezekiel was a summer camp guest of Muskoka Woods for the better part of a decade. I had a chance to catch up with his mother, Fiona Goy, about how his experiences at Muskoka Woods have helped Ezekiel in both day-to-day life and athletics.
How has Muskoka Woods had an impact on Ezekiel’s life both on and off the rink?
In the summer of 2015, Ezekiel attended Muskoka Woods City Camp when it was held at our church (Richmond Hill Christian Community Church). Thereafter, he looked forward to City Camp every summer, even though it was held at a different location.
We made the leap to Muskoka Woods overnight camp when he turned 13, and it was tremendously helpful that he was already familiar with Muskoka Woods’ camp cheers and activities. The management team extended the Test Drive option to us since this was his first overnight camp. That, plus the 1:1 support arranged for him, was reassuring because we weren’t sure if he could cope with a whole week away from home, all by himself. It turned out that he loved being away at camp and spent a week at Muskoka Woods each summer until he was too old to attend.
We view his time at Muskoka Woods as a form of “independence training.” This involves a range of skills from taking care of daily needs to advocating for himself. Independence is important as he travels with his sports teams and as he grows into a young adult.
Has he been able to apply any skills from camp to his athletic endeavours?
Ezekiel’s autism makes it challenging for him to pay attention to instructions in a group. Attending camp helped him to practise listening to the counsellors’ instructions throughout the day. This translated into him being able to pay closer attention at school and at sports. He had ample opportunities to socialize with other campers and counsellors, and that helps him communicate better with school friends and teammates. We also noticed increased independence in other areas, such as being more responsible about his own belongings and sports equipment.
What were Ezekiel’s favourite activities/experiences at Muskoka Woods?
When Ezekiel was a guest at Muskoka Woods, he enjoyed a wide variety of activities at camp but his favourite was Swim Beach, and every day he looked forward to having his own time at the Sensory Garden. He also enjoyed shopping at The Camp Store. In fact, even though Ezekiel is too old to attend camp now, in 2023 he was able to transfer the skills that he gained from working at his high school co-op at Shoppers Drug Mart to a week-long volunteer stint at The Camp Store.
As a parent, can you comment on the importance of Muskoka Woods in Ezekiel’s life?
Muskoka Woods has helped Ezekiel to cultivate his independence, his sense of self and his faith in God. We are very pleased that he could do that while enjoying God’s creations in nature and supported by trusted people who care about him.
