This month we’re handing things over to Corina, a teacher from Waterloo Region District School Board, to share her experience with Special Olympics— For about 10 years, I have had the privilege of volunteering with Special Olympics. This journey has filled my life with pure joy, inspiration, and the spirit of true sportsmanship. I began by coaching swimming and later …
Do you remember your first experience with Special Olympics? For 15 athletes in South Central Ontario, that day was January 21, the day Milton Special Olympics started a new FUNdamentals program for children with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) between the ages of 7 and 12. Led by trained coaches and volunteers, the FUNdamentals program features fun interactive activities designed …
Much like communities all across the province, St. Catharines-Thorold offers a wide range of sports for its Special Olympics Ontario athletes. Here are just a few stories of teams and athletes in some of those sports. Last summer, the St. Catharines Trappers hosted softball provincial qualifiers. It was a scorching hot day, but all the teams stayed hydrated and had …
Athletes: Sebastian Carrara, Lucas D’Onofrio, Jack Wiseman, Christian Akey, Mya Mantock, Avery Hedley, Klara Pasalic, Noah Tyler-Smith, Owen DiSabatino. Coaches: Linda Siena, Lori Edwards, Andrea Battaglia. The Bishop Tonnos Titans floor hockey team is made up of athletes who had never been on a sports team before their involvement with Special Olympics, nor had they been away from home overnight. …
Lucas D’Onofrio from Bishop Tonnos CSS in Hamilton is an excellent basketball, soccer, hockey and bocce player and acts as a quiet leader for his team. On the field, Lucas hustles, sets up his teammates to score, and never gives up. He reads the soccer field well and never stops trying to out-manoeuvre the players he is matched against. Off the …
Meghan Vaszko has been an assistant coach with the St. Catharines Otters Swim Team since 2021. This season, Meghan created the majority of the practice plans for the team and hopes to become a Head Coach. Meghan has natural coaching abilities, adapts instructions for every level, accepts advice willingly, and helps the athletes work towards their goals. At swim meets, Meghan …
Ewen Barclay has been involved with Special Olympics for the past six years, starting her journey in 2018. She’s a multisport athlete, participating in athletics, basketball, curling, soccer and speed skating. In 2024, Ewen competed in speed skating at the Special Olympics National Winter Games in Calgary and was a member of the West Niagara Grizzlies basketball team at the …
Yazmine Wilson-Daponte has been an athlete with Special Olympics for 10 years, and during that time, she has participated in numerous sports such as Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Curling, Soccer, and Swimming. She is an accomplished athlete from the Dufferin community in Orangeville. What Yazmine loves most about Special Olympics is the opportunity to spend time with her friends while participating …
Duane Carson has been a coach and volunteer for the Newmarket and Area Special Olympics for over 35 years. He is an active swim coach and the Provincial Convenor for swimming. Duane is dedicated to supporting athletes in their sports journeys. What Duane looks forward to most about Special Olympics is the camaraderie he experiences with the athletes. “They are …
