It is with great excitement that Special Olympics PEI announces the news that 3 Islanders have been named to the Special Olympics Canada 2022 Training Squad. Two athletes, Jordan Koughan (Speed Skating) and Christi - Joe (CJ) Snyders - Couchman (Snowshoe), along with Craig Watson (Mission Staff), join previously announced Chef de Mission, Charity Sheehan. Jordan and CJ qualified for the Special Olympics Canada 2022 Training Squad through their performance at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020. Craig, a Mission Staff member with Team PEI at the same National Games, answered a call for applications nation-wide.
Meet PEI's Members of the Special Olympics Canada 2022 Training Squad:
Christi - Joe (CJ) Snyders - Couchman - Snowshoe
CJ has been involved with Special Olympics, first in Ontario, and now in PEI, since she was in grade school. The Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2020 in Thunder Bay were CJ's first National Games. CJ had a great experience in Thunder Bay, and achieved great success on the snowshoe course, earning 3 medals - 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze. CJ, who began snowshoeing in the winter of 2018, is excited for the opportunity to represent Canada.
Jordan Koughan - Speedskating
Jordan has been an athlete with Special Olympics PEI for 13 years. Jordan has participated and competed in a variety of sports with Special Olympics throughout the years. It was in the winter of 2018, when Jordan started speed skating, that he knew he had found the sport for him. The Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2020 in Thunder Bay were also Jordan's first National Games. He saw great success on the speed skate track, earning 1 Gold and 3 Bronze medals. Jordan is overwhelmed with excitement at the opportunity to compete on the world stage.
Craig Watson - Mission Staff
Craig Watson has been a volunteer with Special Olympics PEI since the fall of 2014. In addition to volunteering with local golf programs, Craig is the Vice President of Special Olympics PEI's Board of Directors. Craig has attended a handful of Provincial Games and 2 National Games as Mission Staff for Team PEI. Having had a blast (a quote often heard from our volunteer coaches!) Craig decided to take the next step by applying to Team Canada.
Charity Sheehan - Chef de Mission
Charity Sheehan has been involved with Special Olympics PEI for more than 20 years, first as a volunteer, then as Program Director, and now as Executive Director. Charity has attended countless Provincial and National Games, in a variety of roles, from coach, to Team PEI's Chef de Mission, to fan in the stands. The Special Olympics World Winter Games 2022 will be Charity's forth World Games, having previously represented Canada as a member of Team Canada's Mission Staff 3 times.
The Special Olympics Canada 2022 Training Squad is made up of 108 athletes and 48 coaches and mission staff from across Canada. Athletes, coaches and mission staff who have qualified for the Special Olympics Team Canada Training Squad have the potential to represent Canada at the next Special Olympics World Winter Games.
Please stay tuned for more information about the Special Olympics Canada 2022 Training Squad and the next Special Olympics World Winter Games.
