Jonathon Sibley: Dreams Can Come True!

My name is Jonathon Sibley. I’m 24 years old and an athlete of Special Olympics Ontario, competing with the St. Thomas chapter. Special Olympics means a lot to me because I feel like I belong. I also have the opportunity to compete and succeed in many different sports including competitive swimming, my sport of choice. I’ve made a lot of …

Velma Bachtold: How One Year Became 20+

In 1989, I took my first step into the vibrant world of Special Olympics Chatham-Kent as a volunteer. Little did I know that this initial experience would ignite a lifelong journey of passion and dedication. From those early days, I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of sports in the lives of athletes with intellectual disabilities. In 2004 I returned to …

Athlete Support from Bâton Rouge

In early June, Bâton Rouge Grillhouse & Bar locations in Ottawa and Oakville hosted fundraising lunches in support of local Special Olympics Ontario (SOO) communities. The fundraising lunches are made possible through meals donated by the local Bâton Rouge Grillhouse & Bar and its suppliers. These meals are provided to attendees free of charge while encouraging customers to donate in support of …

Hardwood Ski & Bike Welcomes Special Olympics for 2024 Season

The Central Simcoe County area of Central Ontario District is pleased to see the return of a program launched in 2023: mountain biking! In partnership with Hardwood Ski & Bike in Oro-Medonte, athletes join together for a weekly program led by an accredited instructor and supported by registered Special Olympics volunteers. Expanded to ten weeks for 2024, the group will …

Hudson Booth: Feeling Fine in Year Nine!

Hudson Booth has been a dedicated Special Olympics athlete for nine years, participating and competing in five-pin bowling, athletics (track and field), basketball, golf, and soccer. Hudson has also proudly represented Team Ontario as a Nordic skier at multiple National Games. One of his favourite Special Olympics memories is skiing at the 2020 Special Olympics National Winter Games in Thunder …

Geneva Rose: A Future Defined by Unified Sports

My involvement with Special Olympics began in the 11th grade. I volunteered to convene the ringette/floor hockey tournament. Since that event I have convened the soccer and bocce ball tournaments. I have been a Unified player with my school’s teams for basketball, bocce ball twice and floorball. The turning point came when I convened the Special Olympics Soccer tournament this …