Impact Report 2024-25
Finding pride, purpose, and belonging in Special Olympics
"By the time I was 16, I was beaten and tired. In the town I grew up in, while I was no longer bullied, neither was I connecting to anyone around me. ... It wasn't until my early 30s that a current, close friend convinced me to join Special Olympics. The rest is history.
“For over a dozen years, I have found a community, camaraderie, friends, and a place to belong. It also gave me things that are less tangible, like pride, purpose, responsibility, and most of all, knowing that others rely on you as much as you rely on them. There is no greater sorrow than to know that nothing is expected of you, and nothing ever will be.
“I participate in powerlifting, floor hockey, basketball, 10-pin bowling, snowshoeing, bocce, track and field, and soccer. I am also part of the Special Olympics BC Athlete Input Council. I aim to be not only a better person but to make others better too. To inspire and encourage those who want to become better than they are, and better than they ever expected to be.
“It boils down to something simple. I wish for others, of various disabilities, to not need to stare into the abyss. To feel worthless, unwanted, or simply other, like I was. To be considered unreliable, untrustworthy, or worse, not considered at all. This is what Special Olympics does: It teaches us to aspire. First to aspire to be better than we are in competition, and then to aspire to be better than we are, in life.
“I fear for what could have been me without Special Olympics in my life, and I fear for those still walking in the darkness. Hopefully, with Special Olympics, we can all shine a little brighter."
- Prince George athlete Adam Spokes
Our community
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3,493 athletes (+7%) -
2,296 volunteers (+25%)
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3,923 donors (+25%)
Letting athletes’ brilliance shine
A letter from Dan Howe, Special Olympics BC President and CEO; Colin Yakashiro, SOBC Board of Directors Chair; Donna Bilous, SOBC Leadership Council Chair; and Matthew Williams, SOBC Athlete Input Council Chair
When athlete Chase Caron set out to design the medal ribbon for the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games, she captured the spirit of the opportunity and the purpose of the Special Olympics community with her powerful theme: “Let your brilliance shine.”
In Special Olympics BC’s year-round sport, youth, and health programs and empowering competitions, athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 55 communities across the province gain the opportunity to shine and open hearts and minds to their abilities.
They build and share their skills with the support of the Special Olympics community that sees them for their abilities and boundless possibilities. In Special Olympics BC, athletes feel pride in their strengths, find friendships that empower them, and lead the way to a more inclusive world.
We sincerely thank all of the donors, sponsors, volunteers, families, and champions of inclusion throughout our province – and of course, all of the athletes – who powered the Special Olympics BC community in the 2024-25 season and made it such a meaningful source of belonging, purpose, pride, and skill development.
We invite you to read the following stories that show a few of the many people and communities changed for the better by your support. We hope you will be inspired to tell others about the difference you make, and the meaningful opportunity to contribute to Special Olympics BC and change lives through the power and joy of sport.
Thank you for your powerful impact in building inclusion, equal opportunities, strengths, and community with Special Olympics BC.
Inclusion and bravery at the 2025 SOBC Summer Games
The 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games provided a memorable display of the abilities of athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the power of inclusion, thanks to the empowering experience hosted by the Prince George community.
Over two days of competition, Special Olympics BC athletes achieved personal bests, podium placings, and countless moments of pride and inspiration across Prince George.
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870 athletes with intellectual disabilities competed with determination
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Ranging in age from 13 to 73
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332 dedicated volunteer coaches and mission staff on the Regional teams
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From 46 communities across the province
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1,347 medals awarded to proud athletes
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Competition in 10 sports
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845 Games volunteers made the events possible
Building inclusive health in B.C.
People with intellectual disabilities face challenges accessing health care and equal opportunities for healthy activity. As a result, they experience dramatically higher rates of serious health concerns than peers without intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics BC is committed to working with partners in our province and offering health programs to create a world where people with intellectual disabilities have the same opportunities and access to health care as people without intellectual disabilities, and in doing so, allow Special Olympics athletes to perform their best on and off the playing field.
Special Olympics BC’s game-changing health programming includes:
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Special Olympics Healthy Athletes screenings offered around the province, providing important health education and referrals for necessary care within a supportive setting
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Health advocacy training programs, helping empower athletes to lead the way to inclusive health
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Weekly physical activity programs in communities across the province, including Club Fit (fitness training) and Fit Families & Friends (summer program)
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361 health screenings delivered -
41 communities offered Club Fit
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3,493 athletes got active across B.C.
Fun and skills for kids with intellectual disabilities
Many children with intellectual disabilities feel left behind or isolated in traditional sport and activity programs. In Special Olympics, they belong and thrive.
Special Olympics BC offers Active Start and FUNdamentals programs in communities around the province, where children and youth with intellectual disabilities ages two to 11 learn vital motor, sport, and social skills in a fun and welcoming environment.
Active Start and FUNdamentals programs are offered at low or no cost and have been specifically designed to meet the needs of children with intellectual disabilities and their families. Participants build essential skills that help them throughout their lives, and also are empowered to transition successfully into Special Olympics BC’s sport and fitness programs to find lifelong healthy activity and community.
In 2024-25, 163 Special Olympics BC Active Start and FUNdamentals athletes-in-training thrived in their weekly programs in 25 communities across the province.
Pride and abilities at the 2025 SO World Winter Games
Special Olympics Team Canada members showed amazing skill, determination, and heart in their performances at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, in March 2025. After countless hours of dedicated training in their year-round Special Olympics programs in their hometowns, the B.C. members of the national team were fully prepared to shine and showcase their skills on the world stage.
In total, Special Olympics Team Canada earned 116 medals – 39 gold, 35 silver, and 42 bronze. Special Olympics BC athletes contributed 29 medals to this total!
SO Team Canada 2025 alpine skier Cory Duhaime of Special Olympics BC – Delta realized his dream of racing on the world stage for the first time after 22 years as a Special Olympics athlete. He sped his way onto the podium in all three of his races, capturing two golds and one silver medal.
"It makes me very proud, and I feel very lucky, to be given the chance to ski for Canada,” he said. “My goal for Turin [was] to be 100 per cent ready to ski my best races ever when I step into the starting gate. Working with coaches helps me learn; working together with teammates makes it fun.”
“We are so proud of him, he’s worked so hard for so long and overcome so much to get here,” said Michael Duhaime, Cory’s father and a valued SOBC – Delta volunteer. “It really is a dream come true for us all. We are so grateful to Special Olympics British Columbia and Special Olympics Canada for providing him with this opportunity to show us all what he can accomplish. It reminds us that the word ‘disability’ has ‘ability’ in it, and it’s important that we all recognize and find ways to allow that ability to shine.”
B.C. brought to Special Olympics Team Canada 2025:
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22 athletes
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29 medals
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13 volunteer coaches and mission staff
“Don’t compare yourself to others. Just focus on yourself. That’s what being in Special Olympics has taught me – don’t focus on other people. They’re going to do their own race, and I’m going to have to do my own.”
-Special Olympics Team Canada 2025 snowshoeing athlete Danielle Pechet, SOBC – Vernon
“That’s what Special Olympics does – it’s helped her know she can do it. It’s a beautiful, amazing community, and I think every single person on our planet should come and experience one Special Olympics event in their lifetime.”
-Debbie McManus, mother of Danielle Pechet and valued SOBC – Vernon volunteer
Play Unified. Learn Unified. Live Unified.
Special Olympics BC is dedicated to working with schools and districts across the province to build inclusive school communities. Special Olympics BC Unified Sports® programs are being offered in schools around the province to empower youth with and without intellectual disabilities to change the world through sports.
We know that training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. Special Olympics Unified Sports programs bring together students with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete as teammates.
Teams practice and compete together, just like any other school team, and they open hearts and minds to the abilities of students with intellectual disabilities along the way. Students with and without intellectual disabilities make new friends, develop skills and self-esteem, and break down barriers through inclusive sport and learning experiences.
Athlete Leadership programs empower
Through Special Olympics BC Athlete Leadership programs, athletes build their abilities and confidence to take on a range of leadership roles including public speaking, creating advocacy and media content, participating on Local Committees and Athlete Input Councils, and assisting as program volunteers.
Athlete Leadership programs are proven to have a lasting benefit to participants by increasing confidence and self-esteem, and a lasting benefit to Special Olympics as these athlete leaders provide invaluable feedback and insights.
Special Olympics BC – Surrey athlete Susan Wang is serving as one of only 10 Special Olympics Sargent Shriver Global Messengers worldwide for the 2024-27 term. In 2024-25, she shared her insights and leadership skills across our province, country, and planet. She served on the Special Olympics Canada Board of Directors and SOBC Athlete Input Council, spoke and advocated at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games, and competed and co-hosted the Opening Ceremony at the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games.
Fundraising Events
Making a splash across B.C.
The 2025 Polar Plunge® for Special Olympics BC in partnership with the Law Enforcement Torch Run® shattered records, raising over $350,000 to support SOBC’s empowering sport, youth, and health programs! Plungers braved the cold waters from Castlegar to Langley, Kamloops to Chilliwack, and Abbotsford to Ridge Meadows – all to make a difference for Special Olympics BC athletes and programs.
"Special Olympics is important because it teaches us valuable life skills gives us opportunities to be positive role models, and creates lifelong friendships. Special Olympics has helped shape who I am on and off the fields of play."
–Mathew Schmiing, SOBC – Vancouver athlete at the Vancouver Plunge
Empire: Championing Inclusion
Since 2018, Empire Family of Brands has partnered with Special Olympics Canada and its Chapters to fuel growth, belonging, and opportunity for Special Olympics athletes across Canada. In 2025, this impactful fundraising campaign raised $1.64 million including at Safeway and Thrifty Foods stores in British Columbia!
Tim Hortons: Championing inclusion
Like Special Olympics, Tim Hortons is committed to changing lives through the power of inclusion. The Special Olympics donut fundraising campaign raises critical funds for Special Olympics programs across Canada. In 2025, the campaign raised a record-breaking $1.3 million!
An evening of inspiration
For 26 years, the Sports Celebrities Festival presented by Wheaton Precious Metals has brought the B.C. sports community together with Special Olympics athletes and supporters to celebrate the power of inclusion and the joy of sport.
Thanks to the generosity of our incredible sponsors, donors, B.C. sports stars, volunteers, and supporters, the 2024 gala raised $500,000 for Special Olympics BC’s transformative sport programs!
"Competing alongside my friends and fellow athletes makes me feel happy and proud. It is fun, I make new friends, I meet new coaches, and I get to travel to different places.”
–Ariel Taylor, Special Olympics BC – Coquitlam athlete, at the 2024 Sports Celebrities Festival
Full-speed fundraising for athletes
For 40 years, B.C.’s New Car Dealers have been making a life-changing impact through the Auction for Athletes. The 2025 auction raised over $225,000 in support of Special Olympics BC’s empowering year-round sport programs and the New Car Dealers Foundation of BC’s automotive industry grants and scholarships.
Thank you to all of the generous sponsors, donors, bidders, and supporters for driving this auction across the finish line!
On par for empowering support
For 40 years, B.C.’s New Car Dealers have been making a life-changing impact through the Auction for Athletes. The 2025 auction raised over $225,000 in support of Special Olympics BC’s empowering year-round sport programs and the New Car Dealers Foundation of BC’s automotive industry grants and scholarships. Thank you to all of the generous sponsors, donors, bidders, and supporters for driving this auction across the finish line!
"I can say without hesitation that Special Olympics BC has been a vital part of [my son’s] growth physically, socially, and emotionally. It has taught him how to persevere. It has taught him friendship. It has taught him how to find joy in everyday moments."
–Grace Tamkee, Special Olympics BC – Richmond parent
Hall of Fame inductees inspire
The Special Olympics BC Hall of Fame recognizes significant, long-lasting contributions that individuals and groups have made to Special Olympics BC. Induction into the Hall of Fame honours the most outstanding of achievements and contributions, and is one of the highest honours bestowed within the Special Olympics BC organization. This year, two long-standing members of our community were inducted during the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games Closing Ceremony.
Congratulations Donna Bilous, Special Olympics BC – Abbotsford coach and parent, and Erin Thom, Special Olympics BC – Kimberly/Cranbrook athlete!
Financial Summary
The generous support of Special Olympics BC’s sponsors and donors is critical to our athletes, our year-round programs, and our empowering competitions. In 2024-25, Special Olympics BC’s valued sponsors and donors contributed $3.36 million to make a difference for athletes with intellectual disabilities and the programs and opportunities that matter so much to them.
2024-25 Donors, $1,000+
Thank you to our valued donors whose contributions help enrich the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through sport.
Provincial Sponsors 2024-25
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
In-Kind and Community Partners
Event Partners
Join our Joyful Community
Special Olympics BC offers year-round sport, youth, and health programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities of all ages and a wide range of ability levels, in 55 communities across the province.
Other Impact Reports
For historic newsletters, please contact the SOBC provincial office info@specialolympics.bc.ca.