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.

Ray Huson with Special Olympics BC athletes

‘You always get more than you give:’ Celebrating Special Olympics BC’s Ray Huson

Penticton’s Ray Huson is known around Special Olympics BC for his infectious smile. The experienced snowshoe, cross-country and bocce coach started volunteering with Special Olympics in 1995.

Coach Blake Fenwick poses for a photo at the baseball diamond.

From high school community service hours to a forever coach: Meet Special Olympics Ontario’s Blake Fenwick

Toronto’s Blake Fenwick was introduced to Special Olympics when he was just 15-years-old. Looking to complete his required community service hours for high school – he only had 10 hours left of the 40-hour requirement – he was connected with the Etobicoke Eagles softball team.

Emma Bittorf performs on the ice.

Meet Emma Bittorf: Special Olympics Alberta athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Medicine Hat

Athlete: Emma Bittorf Age: 16 From: Strathmore, Alberta Rock The Rink performance: October 19 at Canalta Centre in Medicine Hat, AlTA. 1. How long...

Special Olympics Ontario athlete Tim Goodacre skates on the ice.

Meet Tim Goodacre: Special Olympics Ontario athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Kitchener, Ont.

Athlete: Tim Goodacre Age: 34 From: Dundas, Ont. Rock The Rink performance: November 2 at Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener, Ont. 1. How long have you...

Special Olympics Alberta athlete Meg Ohsada poses on the ice

Meet Meg Ohsada: Special Olympics Alberta athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Red Deer, Alta.

Athlete: Meg Ohsada Age: 25 From: Canmore, AB Rock The Rink performance: October 10 at Westerner Park Centrium in Red Deer, Alta. 1. How long have you...

Special Olympics Ontario athletes at The Peanut Butter Falcons creening

Special Olympics Canada athletes give “10 gold stars” to The Peanut Butter Falcon after exclusive screening in Toronto

On August 22, more than 200 Special Olympics athletes, volunteers and family members packed a Cineplex theatre in Toronto for a private screening of critically acclaimed film The Peanut Butter Falcon.

The Pooran family stand for a p hoto at the Natalie Pooran Memorial Track Meet

Special Olympics Toronto track meet in memory of Ontario athlete Natalie Pooran

Special Olympics Ontario athletes and sisters Natalie and Nerissa Pooran did everything together.

Heather Miller playing bocce

Inclusive Leadership: Meet Heather Miller, the next athlete representative on Special Olympics Canada’s Board of Directors

“I love leadership,” said Miller. “I’ve been doing speeches, I’ve been fundraising at events. I’m very busy and that’s what I like – to be busy.” Before joining Special Olympics in 2007, she had a lot of free time – too much.

Unified Bocce Team from Sault Ste Marie pose for a photo in Toronto

Unified Sports is bringing the world together, fostering inclusion – but it can’t end there

Unified brings together people with and without an intellectual disability on the same team with one simple principle in mind: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.

2019 Special Olympics Dognut

The inspiration behind this year’s Special Olympics Donut

Meet 26-year-old Tori Ranson, a longtime Special Olympics athlete and this year’s creator of the Special Olympics donut sold at participating Tim...

Ray Huson with Special Olympics BC athletes

‘You always get more than you give:’ Celebrating Special Olympics BC’s Ray Huson

Penticton’s Ray Huson is known around Special Olympics BC for his infectious smile. The experienced snowshoe, cross-country and bocce coach started volunteering with Special Olympics in 1995.

Coach Blake Fenwick poses for a photo at the baseball diamond.

From high school community service hours to a forever coach: Meet Special Olympics Ontario’s Blake Fenwick

Toronto’s Blake Fenwick was introduced to Special Olympics when he was just 15-years-old. Looking to complete his required community service hours for high school – he only had 10 hours left of the 40-hour requirement – he was connected with the Etobicoke Eagles softball team.

Emma Bittorf performs on the ice.

Meet Emma Bittorf: Special Olympics Alberta athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Medicine Hat

Athlete: Emma Bittorf Age: 16 From: Strathmore, Alberta Rock The Rink performance: October 19 at Canalta Centre in Medicine Hat, AlTA. 1. How long...

Special Olympics Ontario athlete Tim Goodacre skates on the ice.

Meet Tim Goodacre: Special Olympics Ontario athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Kitchener, Ont.

Athlete: Tim Goodacre Age: 34 From: Dundas, Ont. Rock The Rink performance: November 2 at Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener, Ont. 1. How long have you...

Special Olympics Alberta athlete Meg Ohsada poses on the ice

Meet Meg Ohsada: Special Olympics Alberta athlete performing at Rock The Rink in Red Deer, Alta.

Athlete: Meg Ohsada Age: 25 From: Canmore, AB Rock The Rink performance: October 10 at Westerner Park Centrium in Red Deer, Alta. 1. How long have you...

Special Olympics Ontario athletes at The Peanut Butter Falcons creening

Special Olympics Canada athletes give “10 gold stars” to The Peanut Butter Falcon after exclusive screening in Toronto

On August 22, more than 200 Special Olympics athletes, volunteers and family members packed a Cineplex theatre in Toronto for a private screening of critically acclaimed film The Peanut Butter Falcon.

The Pooran family stand for a p hoto at the Natalie Pooran Memorial Track Meet

Special Olympics Toronto track meet in memory of Ontario athlete Natalie Pooran

Special Olympics Ontario athletes and sisters Natalie and Nerissa Pooran did everything together.

Heather Miller playing bocce

Inclusive Leadership: Meet Heather Miller, the next athlete representative on Special Olympics Canada’s Board of Directors

“I love leadership,” said Miller. “I’ve been doing speeches, I’ve been fundraising at events. I’m very busy and that’s what I like – to be busy.” Before joining Special Olympics in 2007, she had a lot of free time – too much.

Unified Bocce Team from Sault Ste Marie pose for a photo in Toronto

Unified Sports is bringing the world together, fostering inclusion – but it can’t end there

Unified brings together people with and without an intellectual disability on the same team with one simple principle in mind: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.

2019 Special Olympics Dognut

The inspiration behind this year’s Special Olympics Donut

Meet 26-year-old Tori Ranson, a longtime Special Olympics athlete and this year’s creator of the Special Olympics donut sold at participating Tim...