Who are you?
Patrick Oleman, captain of the 2010 Homeless World Cup Team Canada and captain of Woodwards FC – a street soccer team based in the Downtown Eastside out of the famous Woodwards Building. Oh, and I’m also a long distance runner.
What do you do for fun?
Run, play soccer and visit people from the street in and around the Downtown Eastside.
What your favorite community?
The Downtown Eastside – because it is my hood. There are so many interesting people down here that need help, but for whatever reason, just can’t get the help they need. I like to try to help them and when it happens, it’s the best feeling in the world. It makes me feel like a better person.
What’s your superpower?
Bringing out the best in people.
How use it to build community?
The more people I encourage and engage the bigger the community becomes and the better and more inclusive it is. I saw this first hand when I worked with team-mates to build Woodwards FC.
My Three Favourite Things About Patrick Oleman Are…
1. Enthusiasm for sport. This is a guy who loves sports. He loves soccer (with a passion) and that mad love affair is enough to get you plugged in and ready to do yet another set of drills. Don’t feel like it, “2 laps” (as Patrick would say). This enthusiasm never ceases to inspire me. Around two years ago, Patrick was out of shape and facing homelessness. Two years later he has competed in a world tournament in Brazil, practices 4-5 times a week and runs about every other day he isn’t playing soccer. In the coming weeks he’s planning on running a half marathon – something he’s been training for for months. His pure love of sports enough to make you a believer of its power to heal and transform.
2. His role building and expanding Street Soccer in Metro Vancouver. Patrick’s ongoing engagement in Street Soccer is inspiring. He’s been a committed member of the Portland FC and the Vancouver Street Soccer league for well over two years (a lifetime when you consider the rapid turnover of the team’s players). He’s also taken on a mentorship role with players both on the pitch and off it. That’s led to the creation of a new street soccer team (Woodwards FC) and the inclusion of a over half a dozen new players, many of whom have also become longtime members of the soccer club. Without Patrick, Woodwards FC and Portland FC would not have been able to make the same amazing progress over the past year in engaging people at risk of homelessness with a potentially world-changing sport.
3. His backwards jump kick soccer shot. It’s a thing to behold, even if it doesn’t hit the mark every time its done. Heck, even the Whitecaps think it’s cool.