Stories | Special Olympics Canada

Sharing the joy of sport

Special Olympics has received many incredible stories from people whose lives have been changed and enriched through sport, friendship, fun and mentorship. Some of those people have been kind enough to share their stories with you.

Visit our photo and video galleries featuring our athletes, coaches, and volunteers.

Nadia Bouillon performs on the ice

Meet Nadia Bouillon: Special Olympics Ontario athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Sudbury

Special Olympics gave me the opportunity to experience participation at different levels from competition, while making a ton of new friends along the way.

Hailey Fulford

Meet Hailey Fulford: Special Olympics Ontario athlete performing at Rock The Rink in London

Athlete: Hailey Fulford Age: 33 From: London, Ont. Rock The Rink performance: October 30 at Budweiser Gardens 1. How long have you been figure skating...

Julia Romualdi with her medals on the ice

Meet Julia Romualdi: Special Olympics Ontario athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Sault Ste. Marie

My reaction to performing at Rock The Rink is that I am so excited to be involved and I am proud of myself. I couldn’t believe that this was happening to me. This is a huge honour.

SOO's Juli Prokopchuk-Brattan and athlete Stephen Graham hold a sign that reads Ontario.

Meet the assistant chef de mission for Special Olympics Team Canada 2021: Ontario’s Juli Prokopchuk-Brattan

After 24 years with Special Olympics Saskatchewan and Ontario, Juli Prokopchuk-Brattan is adding another title to her resume: assistant chef de...

Levi Adam - Give a Toonie Share a Dream

GIVE A TOONIE AT STAPLES AND SHARE A DREAM

On Monday October 21, 2019 the 19th annual Give a Toonie Share a Dream fundraising campaign is back at Staples Canada. From now until November 3...

Softball players pose for a photo

Medicine Hat, Alberta wins bid to host Special Olympics Canada Summer Games 2022

While it marks the third time Alberta will host a Special Olympics Canada National Games, the growing city of Medicine Hat also boasts a history of highly successful events, including the Special Olympics Alberta Provincial Summer Games 2017.

SOPEI Executive Director Charity Sheehan poses for a photo with two Special Olympics athletes.

Introducing chef de mission for Special Olympics Team Canada 2021: PEI’s Charity Sheehan

Special Olympics Prince Edward Island Executive Director Charity Sheehan is a self-described “Games junkie.” She’s been involved with Special Olympics...

Moriah on the ice with her hands up

Meet Moriah Van’t Land: Special Olympics Alberta athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Lethbridge

I am practicing lots. I did lots of summer skating and off-ice training. Now I practice three days a week. I love spins and skating fast. I love skating in front of an audience.

Special Olympics BC athlete Marc Theriault performs on the ice.

Meet Marc Theriault: Special Olympics BC athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Abbotsford

I truly appreciate this opportunity which I will cherish for the rest of my life -- it is truly a great gesture on their part to have included Special Olympics as part of the programming and I look forward to showing everyone what I have achieved in figure skating over the years.

Special Olympics BC figure skater Alex Pang performs on the ice

Meet Alexander Pang: Special Olympics BC athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Vancouver

What I like about Special Olympics is that it does not limit any disabilities, we are treated the same. All coaches, volunteers, and supporters have so much patience and always helps us to go beyond our greatest expectations. Skills we never expected to achieve is possible.

Nadia Bouillon performs on the ice

Meet Nadia Bouillon: Special Olympics Ontario athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Sudbury

Special Olympics gave me the opportunity to experience participation at different levels from competition, while making a ton of new friends along the way.

Hailey Fulford

Meet Hailey Fulford: Special Olympics Ontario athlete performing at Rock The Rink in London

Athlete: Hailey Fulford Age: 33 From: London, Ont. Rock The Rink performance: October 30 at Budweiser Gardens 1. How long have you been figure skating...

Julia Romualdi with her medals on the ice

Meet Julia Romualdi: Special Olympics Ontario athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Sault Ste. Marie

My reaction to performing at Rock The Rink is that I am so excited to be involved and I am proud of myself. I couldn’t believe that this was happening to me. This is a huge honour.

SOO's Juli Prokopchuk-Brattan and athlete Stephen Graham hold a sign that reads Ontario.

Meet the assistant chef de mission for Special Olympics Team Canada 2021: Ontario’s Juli Prokopchuk-Brattan

After 24 years with Special Olympics Saskatchewan and Ontario, Juli Prokopchuk-Brattan is adding another title to her resume: assistant chef de...

Levi Adam - Give a Toonie Share a Dream

GIVE A TOONIE AT STAPLES AND SHARE A DREAM

On Monday October 21, 2019 the 19th annual Give a Toonie Share a Dream fundraising campaign is back at Staples Canada. From now until November 3...

Softball players pose for a photo

Medicine Hat, Alberta wins bid to host Special Olympics Canada Summer Games 2022

While it marks the third time Alberta will host a Special Olympics Canada National Games, the growing city of Medicine Hat also boasts a history of highly successful events, including the Special Olympics Alberta Provincial Summer Games 2017.

SOPEI Executive Director Charity Sheehan poses for a photo with two Special Olympics athletes.

Introducing chef de mission for Special Olympics Team Canada 2021: PEI’s Charity Sheehan

Special Olympics Prince Edward Island Executive Director Charity Sheehan is a self-described “Games junkie.” She’s been involved with Special Olympics...

Moriah on the ice with her hands up

Meet Moriah Van’t Land: Special Olympics Alberta athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Lethbridge

I am practicing lots. I did lots of summer skating and off-ice training. Now I practice three days a week. I love spins and skating fast. I love skating in front of an audience.

Special Olympics BC athlete Marc Theriault performs on the ice.

Meet Marc Theriault: Special Olympics BC athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Abbotsford

I truly appreciate this opportunity which I will cherish for the rest of my life -- it is truly a great gesture on their part to have included Special Olympics as part of the programming and I look forward to showing everyone what I have achieved in figure skating over the years.

Special Olympics BC figure skater Alex Pang performs on the ice

Meet Alexander Pang: Special Olympics BC athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Vancouver

What I like about Special Olympics is that it does not limit any disabilities, we are treated the same. All coaches, volunteers, and supporters have so much patience and always helps us to go beyond our greatest expectations. Skills we never expected to achieve is possible.