Angelo loves hockey so much, his dad often jokes that he was born holding a hockey stick.
Seventeen years later, Angelo dares to make a difference both on the ice and off.
Throughout his life, Angelo has traveled across Ontario playing hockey. When he’s not scoring goals, he’s busy playing video games, listening to rock music and hanging out with his friends and three younger brothers.
Today, he has different kind of goal: to help Holland Bloorview increase access to pediatric disability care across Canada by proudly using his voice as a Capes for Kids ambassador.
“It feels awesome being a part of the campaign to help the hospital,” Angelo says. “I want to help make it fun for the kids.”
Angelo, who has spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, mild hearing loss and vision loss, started coming to Holland Bloorview when he was three-years-old. While he attended the hospital’s on-site school until Grade 1, he was easily able to go to his occupational therapy and physiotherapy appointments.
Always the avid sports fan, his fondest memories are of gym class and learning to ride his bike. Throughout his care journey, he formed meaningful bonds with his speech therapist and teachers—and he still misses them to this day. His graduation ceremony from the school was emotional for his entire family.
But his connection to Holland Bloorview didn’t end there. Throughout elementary school, Angelo participated in research studies for the hospital’s Lokomat, a robotic treadmill that helps people with neurologic conditions improve their walking skills. And more recently as an ambassador, he dared to show up for the hospital’s Together We Dare campaign.
Now in his final year of high school, Angelo plans to keep playing sledge hockey. He describes himself as “a great friend who looks out for his friends and family.” It’s no surprise that when it comes to using his voice to speak up for others, he’s fearless.
“I am never scared of speaking up to anyone unless I am being told to stop talking about anything and everything. No matter the topic—especially hockey.”