Special Olympics Update
- Jul 2
- 6 min read
One of my goals with this website is to help families spend less time searching for information and more time enjoying the opportunities available in their communities.
I recently received the following update from our Special Olympics program and thought it would be helpful to share it here for anyone who may be interested. I've included it in its original form so all of the details, dates, and information remain accurate.
Special Olympics Ontario July Community Connect Newsletter!
Join Us in Supporting Special Olympics Athletes!
Special Olympics Ontario<campaign@specialolympicsontario.ccsend.com>
You
News & Updates... 2026 National Summer Games August 11th - 15th, 2026 Team Ontario is proud to represent Special Olympics Ontario at the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, Alberta. This national celebration of sport and inclusion will bring together more than 1,400 athletes, coaches, and staff from across the country for five days of competition, community, and pride. Feature Stories On Friday, June 19, our community came together at Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School in Burlington for a beautiful Celebration of Life honouring our founding figure, Dr. Frank Hayden, and Marion Hayden. Dr. Hayden's visionary legacy is the very foundation of who we are as an organization, and alongside Marion's vital contributions, their impact will forever shape our movement. The memorial was a deeply meaningful event, and we are grateful to everyone who took the time to join us in person or via livestream to reflect, remember, and celebrate their incredible lives. For those who were unable to attend or wish to experience the tribute again, the full recording of the service is now available. Watch the Celebration of Life RecordingExplore Dr. Frank Hayden's Legacy Thank You for Doubling Your Impact! Thank you to the Empire family of brands, including Sobeys, Foodland, and Safeway, and everyone who participated in the 2026 in-store fundraising campaign. Your support helps empower athletes, create inclusive opportunities, and make a lasting impact in communities across Ontario. Be sure to follow Special Olympics Ontario on social media for the announcement of the final fundraising total! Photo Contest Winners A massive thank you to everyone who participated! Your creativity brings so much joy and incredible support to our Special Olympics athletes. Let’s see if you can spot your community among the photo contest winners! General Photo Contest Winner and runner-up DIY Sign Photo Contest Winner and runner-up Training SOC Portal Training Special Olympics Canada is pleased to announce the summer schedule for Admin Volunteer Portal Training. Please note that in response to volunteer feedback, two new training sessions have been developed and will be included during the summer session: Setting up Program Sessions A new training session purely dedicated to setting up new program sessions (both from scratch and using the session verification tool) for the upcoming registration. For Club and Community level Admin Volunteers in all Chapters. Generating Membership Reports Session on generating reports from the portal. For Club and Community level Admin Volunteers in all Chapters. • July 8 @ 7pm- SOO Custom Registration Process • July 16 @ 12pm- All Chapters Admin Volunteer Training • July 20 @ 3pm- Setting Up Program Sessions • July 29 @ 3pm- Generating Membership Reports • August 4 @ 7pm- All Chapters Admin Volunteer Training • August 6 @ 7pm- Setting Up Program Sessions • August 18 @ 3pm- Generating Membership Reports News & Events SOO Merch Store The wait is over! After years of requests from athletes, volunteers, coaches, and supporters across the province, Special Olympics Ontario is excited to announce the launch of our official online merchandise store. The new store offers a wide selection of Special Olympics Ontario apparel and merchandise, including Team Ontario fanwear, everyday SOO-branded clothing and accessories, and customizable options that allow you to showcase your local community and favourite sport. Whether you're cheering on Team Ontario, representing your community program, or looking for a way to show your Special Olympics pride, there's something for everyone. We are thrilled to provide our members with this long-awaited opportunity to celebrate and promote the Special Olympics movement wherever they go. Visit the store today and wear your pride with purpose! All items will be shipped directly to individuals houses. Women's Soccer BMO Women's Soccer Day Presented by Ontario Soccer is taking place July 12, 2026 at the Zanchin Automotive Soccer Centre in Vaughan. We are excited to partner once again with BMO and Ontario Soccer to promote the women's game and provide our athletes with an incredible opportunity. This will be an invitiational competition for Women's Soccer teams. Registration is FREE and includes Lunch! For more details, email Rebecca Norton: rebeccan@specialolympicsontario.com The Importance of Accessibility in Sport Special Olympics Toronto athlete, Michael Bandler was invited to take part in a webinar hosted by the Ontario Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility and Ministry of Sport on June 3, 2026 as part of the annual National AccessAbility Week. Michael represented Special Olympics as one of three athletes from various sports with disabilities, on the panel discussing the importance of accessibility in sport among other topics. The webinar had over 435 viewers from Ontario Public Service employees. Michael Bandler gave his take on his involvement: "My experience on the panel was really amazing. The Deputy Minister of Sport, Keith Palmer was an excellent moderator. He worded his questions well, so it was easy for me to understand. His questions were well thought out and promoted good discussion amongst the panelists. In addition, he summarized what he heard from the panelists in a very articulate manner. The webinar was inclusive for all abilities, which I was very impressed with. We had a couple of planning calls in advance which helped me prepare and decide on my key messages. When asked a question about how I as an athlete handle successes and failures, I highlighted the Special Olympics Oath in my response. The other panelists and Deputy Minister all nodded in approval. It was an excellent opportunity to spread the good word about Special Olympics." 2027 Provincial Winter Games - District Teams Announcement The official Provincial Games District Teams for North Bay are now available - click below to see them now and check back for more updates! sCreating More Inclusive Schools Across Ontario Thank you to the Government of Ontario for their continued commitment to creating inclusive opportunities for students across the province. The 2026 School Championships in London showcased the incredible impact of inclusive opportunities made possible thanks to their support. From the athletes, Unified Partners, and educators who came together at School Championships to the thousands of students participating in Unified Champion Schools across Ontario, this investment continues to create lasting change in classrooms, communities, and beyond. New Mental Health Resources for Athletes and Families Special Olympics Ontario is pleased to share new mental health resources developed through a partnership with the University of Toronto. The resources are based on interviews with Special Olympics athletes who shared their experiences and insights on mental health, well-being, and seeking support. The resulting infographics provide practical tips for athletes and families on building confidence, fostering social connections, talking about emotions, and supporting positive mental health through sport and everyday life. We thank the athletes who contributed their experiences to help create these valuable resources for the broader Special Olympics community. Helpful tips for AthletesHelpful tips for Families LEThere is still ONE Early Bird Draw left, and you won't want to miss out! Early Bird Prize: July 8th, 2026 Purchase your tickets early to qualify for the Early Bird Draw, where you could win: $500 Harley-Davidson Gift Card 🚨 Grand Prize: September 13th, 2026 The Grand Prize is a brand-new 2025 FLTRX Road Glide – the ultimate Harley-Davidson motorcycle to take your ride to the next level. You can also head to Harleyraffle.ca right now to buy your tickets. Thank you for your continued support of our amazing athletes. Good luck and remember to please play responsibly. Gretzky Pickleball Club in Hamilton is pleased to invite all SOO athletes, coaches, and volunteers to come enjoy free open play pickleball, indoor golf, and refreshments every Sunday from 4pm-6pm! Local Events ScheduClick the button below to see the July events! For the chance to have your Special Olympics story featured in a future newsletter, social media post, or campaign, submit your information on our Athlete Profile Form! Fill out your information, tell us your story, and submit a photo of you participating in Special Olympics, or include a headshot. Click here to share your story!Share This EmailShare This Email |
