Stephen Graham: Year Twenty-Seven and Still Revvin’!

If you’ve been following Special Olympics for a while, there’s a good chance you’ve at least heard of Stephen Graham, an athlete from Orillia who competes in five different sports. Stephen’s been a stalwart advocate of Special Olympics over the past two-and-a-half decades, frequently interviewed by media outlets and repeatedly recognized as Athlete of the Year at both the national …

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 …

Breanna Williams: Skating Through Success!

At 15 years old, Breanna Williams is the only athlete from Windsor-Essex to have qualified in Figure Skating for the 2024 National Winter Games in Calgary. But Breanna’s story starts more than six years before she competed with athletes from across the country earlier this year. Breanna first started skating at four years old, falling in love with the sport …

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 …

Let the Games Begin – School Championships 2024

The City of Chatham-Kent and the Chatham-Kent Police Service are proud to host the 2024 Provincial School Championships! From June 11-12, the 2024 School Championships will welcome athletes from across Ontario to Chatham-Kent. With 206 coaches and over 500 athletes competing in floorball, bocce, basketball, soccer, and track and field, this event promises to be a celebration of dedication, perseverance, and …

Let the Games Begin!

The wait is finally over! After four long years, we are thrilled to kick off the much-anticipated Provincial Spring Games. Our incredible athletes, coaches, and volunteers have been eagerly preparing for this moment, and we couldn’t be more excited to see them in action. With over 750 athletes competing in basketball, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, and 10-pin bowling, this event …