Disability Employment Awareness Month – Special Olympics Athlete Spotlight

We’re excited to celebrate Disability Employment Awareness Month by highlighting some of our incredible Special Olympics athletes who work at Tim Hortons or Sobeys. We want to hear from you about your experiences in the workplace and share your story to inspire others. Please take a few minutes to complete this form. Your responses will help us create a personalized …

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Special Olympics Ontario acknowledges the enduring impacts of colonization on Indigenous people across Canada and North America. Earlier this year, we began our 2024 Provincial Spring Games with an eagle feather ceremony, expressing our thanks and respect to the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, whose traditional land we share today. We’re grateful to …

Special Olympics Ontario CEO Announcement

The Board of Directors for Special Olympics Ontario is pleased to announce the appointment of Cody Jansma to the position of President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective July 1, 2024. The Special Olympics mission remains as vital today as it did when the movement was founded in 1968. Special Olympics strives to create a better world by fostering the …

Announcement: Retirement of Glenn MacDonell, President & CEO of Special Olympics Ontario

A Letter from the Chair of the Board of Directors Dear SOO athletes, coaches, volunteers, friends and colleagues, Our Leadership Champion is Retiring Glenn MacDonell, our President & Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Ontario (SOO), has decided to retire as of June 30th, 2024. Glenn has given us 35 years of outstanding leadership, compassion and stewardship.  We, on the …

2024 Spring Games Spotlight – Central Ontario

Central Ontario is bringing a strong contingent to the 2024 Waterloo Region Provincial Spring Games, with 101 athletes and 28 coaches all set to participate! The lineup includes 9 athletes showcasing their skills in 10 Pin Bowling, 49 hitting the courts for Basketball, 4 demonstrating their rhythmic prowess, and 39 making waves in Swimming! For a comprehensive list of all …

Annual Impact Report and Provincial Sport Awards

2022-2023 Annual Impact Report We are delighted to present the 2023 Impact Report by Special Olympics Ontario, encapsulating the remarkable journey of the past year. This online flipbook is a comprehensive window into the transformative impact our organization has had on athletes, volunteers, coaches, and partners. Filled with inspiring stories and concrete achievements, it reflects the collective dedication to inclusion, …

Athlete Community Excellence Award

AWARD CRITERIA Nominations will be judged on the strength of their submission by the following criteria: PARTICIPATION • The nominee must be a registered athlete in a Special Olympics sport and/or program, event or activities • The nominee must be involved in Special Olympics sport program(s) throughout the year • The nominee’s competition pathway can include local/regional and Provincial/Territorial Games …

Special Olympics Ontario Athletes and Coaches Join Team Canada in Berlin for the 2023 Summer World Games

From June 17-25, Berlin, Germany will welcome 7,000 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from over 190 countries to compete in 26 sports. The athletes will be supported by more than 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers. This is the first time that Germany will host the Games!  The Special Olympics World Games is a prestigious international sporting event that celebrates …