Special Olympics Manitoba: King Charles III Coronation Medal Honourees

The King Charles III Coronation Medal celebrates Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to their communities—and this year, several remarkable individuals from the Special Olympics Manitoba community were among those honoured.

From program builders and longtime volunteers to passionate advocates and athlete leaders, each recipient has helped grow the movement across the province and championed the values of inclusion, empowerment, and civic service.

Below, we invite you to learn more about the Special Olympics Manitoba recipients and their incredible contributions to building a more inclusive Canada.

Gordon Stewart

Joining Special Olympics as a coach in 1981, Gordon Stewart is still with his Winnipeg swim team over 39 years later. He considers the athletes some of his best friends, and proudly recalls a lot of fun moments they shared together. Gord has also been to World Games in Shanghai and Athens.

Keith Taggart

Keith Taggart (1946, March 5 – 2024, July 26) is remembered by the countless people whose lives he improved volunteering as a coach in Special Olympics Manitoba. He joined the first Special Olympics 10 pin bowling team in 1995, eventually helping it expand from 12 athletes to over 68 bowlers. Keith’s wife Arlene vowed to keep the team’s practices running even after he is no longer with us. 

Kristen Tompsett

Kristen Tompsett is a Director on the Board of Special Olympics Manitoba, and is also her province’s Law Enforcement Torch Run Director under First Nations Police Services. In 2024, Sergeant Kristen was given The Minister of Justice and Attorney General Excellence in Law Enforcement Award in recognition of how much she contributed towards “the betterment of Long Plain First Nation community, First Responder community, and Manitoba Special Olympics community.”