Special Olympics Quebec: 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 Quebec 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 Quebec recipients and their incredible contributions to building a more inclusive Canada.
Audrey Savard
Audrey Savard is an athlete leader from Quebec, who participates in bowling, curling, soccer, and athletics. She is on Quebec’s Board of Directors, and is well known for her role in helping represent people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to the public, such as the time she was interviewed by Radio Canada.
Louise Bertrand
Louise Bertrand has made a great impact in delivering School Programs to Olympiques Speciaux du Quebec. A teacher at L’École secondaire de la Cité, Louise was recognized by the CBC for her volunteer in work in Special Olympics. Since at least 2013, she has helped her school organize SO tournaments, which have run annually for over 22 years.
A mother of three, Susan got involved with sports for people with intellectual disabilities in 1979, three years before Olympiques spéciaux Québec was even formed. With a daughter named Sandra who has both physical and intellectual disabilities, Susan inspired to start volunteering by late advocate and fellow parent Noëlla Douglas.
Sandra is now well into her fifties and still remains active, something Susan credits in no small part of Special Olympics Canada. Perhaps this is what spurred Susan’s inseparable dedication to our movement, given that she reportedly “still ran the office from the hospital” while undergoing two treatments for cancer.
Sylvain Chevalier
Sylvain Chevalier is Special Olympics Quebec’s Acting Assistant Director of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. He is also on the province’s Board of Directors alongside athlete and fellow King Charles Award winner Audrey Savard. He is a proud member of the City of Mascouche Police Service, having served and protected Belleville for the last 32 years.
