Message from SOA Board Chair, Deb MacPherson

Date: September 20, 2021

Re: Immediate Suspension of Programs and Vaccination Requirements under Alberta Restriction Exemption Program 

As a result of the province’s new requirements and the current state of the pandemic in Alberta, the SOA Return to Play requirements for in-person activities have been updated to align with the Restriction Exemption Program:

• All athletes (age 12 years+) participating in or attending a Special Olympics Alberta activity/club/program/event will be required to provide proof of full Covid-19 vaccination status
• Athletes aged 11 years and under do not need to provide proof of full Covid-19 vaccination status to participate at this time  
• All coaches, volunteers, officials, staff, family, caregivers, and spectators (age 12 years+) participating in or attending a Special Olympics Alberta activity will be required to provide proof of full Covid-19 vaccination status

Note: Special Olympics Alberta in-person activities include, but are not limited to, weekly club training sessions, competitions, fundraising events, and meetings, and apply to both indoor and outdoor settings. 

For those who cannot provide proof of vaccination, Special Olympics Alberta will continue to offer virtual programming with our PEAK Program that athletes and volunteers can fully participate in. For more information and to register: PEAK Program | Join the climb to the PEAK! (specialolympics.ab.ca)

This comes into effect immediately and for that reason, we are suspending all in-person programs currently running and NO in-person activities will be offered before November 1, 2021, so that there is sufficient time to implement this policy change. Exemptions for fundraising events will be considered and reviewed by contacting Lorrie Sitler at lsitler@specialolympics.ab.ca. Further details will be forthcoming on the implementation of this policy which will be administrated centrally by provincial staff.

These Return to Play requirements are current and fluid. Special Olympics Alberta will continue to evaluate and adapt as new information becomes available, always keeping the health and safety of our athletes, and all stakeholders, as the highest priority.