Celebrating the life and contributions of Cindy Simpson
The BC Games Society is saddened to learn of the passing of Cindy Simpson. Cindy was a career sport volunteer, holding numerous positions on the Board of the BC Senior Games Society over the last 25 years and serving as the longtime Provincial Advisor for badminton at the BC Games.
Her passion for sport, badminton, and Games was contagious. Cindy’s impact in the sport sector has been far and wide reaching, and she was a major proponent of the benefits of sport and the impact of Games to athletes, coaches, officials, and communities.
We have compiled tributes to Cindy below from the members of the BC Games Society staff who worked closest with her over the years.
Cindy was a force … always stepping up and following through, generous with her time, talents, and expertise, giving of her seemingly never-ending energy, and as an articulate and outspoken advocate, her passions always shone through in the most respectful and considerate ways. I was fortunate to have worked alongside Cindy in multiple capacities – at some BC Games or another, at functions and events, collaborating with her to improve BC Games Society and BC Seniors Games Society systems, and most notably, as a member of our Mission Staff team for the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games. I consider myself fortunate to have had her as a colleague and privileged to call her a friend. The little decorated shuttle she made has had a home on my desk since she gave it to me many years ago – it always brings a smile to my face and warms my heart with memories of Cindy and times spent with her!
– Irene Schell | Senior Manager, Operations and Technology, BC Games Society
“I have been fortunate enough to cross pathways of life with Cindy in many forms, either through projects with the 55+ BC Games, Badminton community, and the BC Winter Games, or even through small world connections as her daughter, Debra, was a well-liked afterschool care manager for my children. Debra takes on her mom’s values of leadership and effectiveness with a caring and genuine approach to people. Cindy was a special person and it’s sad that she has played her last match, but I feel she excelled in the tournament of life.”
– Andrew Pitre | Senior Manager, Winter Games, BC Games Society
Cindy was a tireless champion of the 55+ BC Games and a fierce advocate for the BC Seniors Games Society and its members. Beyond that, she was a passionate contributor to British Columbia’s sport community – especially in her beloved sport of badminton. Most of all, Cindy was an incredibly kind and thoughtful person. I’ll always treasure the memories we shared – whether it was sharing stories on the bus during the Sport Venue Tour in Vernon, hitting a few balls on the driving range in Cranbrook, or receiving a surprise hand-knit blanket she made for my newborn daughter. Cindy will be deeply missed.
– Kyler Nurmsoo | Senior Manager, Summer Games, BC Games Society
