Olympians Scott Moir, Tessa Virtue and Patrick Chan Choose to Include Special Olympics athletes in Rock the Rink tour
Olympic gold medalists – and longtime Special Olympics champions - Scott Moir, Tessa Virtue and Patrick Chan are choosing to include individuals with an intellectual disability in their upcoming cross-country tour, Rock the Rink.
The all-star cast of Moir, Virtue, Chan, two-time Olympic silver medalist Elvis Stojko, Canadian figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond, American figure skater Jeremy Abbott and Italian figure skater Carolina Kostner, will be joined by a local Special Olympics Canada athlete,who will perform a solo at each Canadian stop in the 31-city tour this fall.
“It’s an honour to be able to share the stage with all of the phenomenal Special Olympics athletes who will be performing in Rock the Rink this year,” three-time Olympian Scott Moir said about the partnership announced Tuesday.
Moir, Virtue and Chan are members of Special Olympics Canada’s Champions Network – a dedicated group of Canadian Olympians, professional athletes and celebrities who support and promote the movement and the transformative power of sport it brings to Canadian children, youth and adults with an intellectual disability.
The trio were inspired to include Special Olympics athletes in Rock the Rink after attending the 2018 Special Olympics Canada National Awards Night – an annual event honouring athletes, coaches, volunteers and supporters from across the country with awards like Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year.
“We see FIRST-HAND the power of inclusion, AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS CERTAINLY builds confidence - BOTH ON AND OFF THE ICE - for individuals with intellectual disabilities." -- Scott moir
"Special Olympics is an organization that is incredibly close to our hearts,” said Olympic champion Tessa Virtue. “We have no doubt that the Special Olympics athletes' triumphs and exuberant performances during Rock the Rink will inspire crowds!"
According to Special Olympics Canada CEO Sharon Bollenbach, this partnership demonstrates that “Rock the Rink is a true champion of inclusion.”
“We couldn’t be more excited for this collaboration, which focuses on sport, friendship and leadership,” she added.
Meet the Special Olympics athletes performing at Rock the Rink:
Marc Theriault
From: Surrey, BC Performing: October 5th Location: Abbotsford, BC - Abbotsford Centre
Alexandra Magee
From: Kelowna, BC Performing: October 6th Location: Penticton, BC - South Okanagen Events Centre
Alexander Pang
From: Vancouver, BC Performing: October 7th Location: Vancouver, BC - Thunderbird Arena
Meg Ohsada
From: Canmore, AB Performing: October 10th Location: Red Deer, AB - Westerner Park Centrium
Darlene Jakubowski
From: Fort St. John, BC Performing: October 11th & 12th Location: Dawson Creek, BC - Encana Events Centre & Prince George, BC - CN Centre
JorDen Tyson
From: Calgary, AB Performing: October 13th Location: Grande Prairie, AB - Revolution Place
Kennedy Zaytsoff
From: Coalhurst, AB Performing: October 16th Location: Calgary, AB - Stampede Corral
Moriah Van’t Land
From: Calgary, AB Performing: October 17th Location: Lethbridge, AB - ENMAX Centre
Victoria Sarty
From: Regina, SK Performing: October 18th Location: Regina, SK - Brandt Centre
Emma Bittorf
From: Strathmore, AB Performing: October 19th Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Canalta Centre
Julia Romualdi
From: Timmins, ON Performing: October 29th Location: Sault Ste. Marie, ON - GFL Memorial Gardens
Hailey Fulford
From: London, ON Performing: October 30th Location: London, ON - Budweiser Gardens
Nadia Boullion
From: Chelmsford, ON Performing: November 1st Location: Sudbury, ON - Sudbury Arena
Tim Goodacre
From: Dundas, ON Performing: November 2nd Location: Kitchener, ON - Memorial Auditorium
Sarah thomas
From: Whitby, ON Performing: November 3rd Location: Kingston, ON - Leon's Centre
David Robertson & Nicole Vespa
From: Hamilton, ON Performing: November 6th Location: Mississauga, ON - Paramount Fine Foods Centre
Jack Fan & Katie Xu
From: Ottawa, ON Performing: November 7th Location: Ottawa, ON - TD Place
Danielle Waters
From: Merriton, ON Performing: November 8th Location: St. Catharines, ON - Meridian Centre
Grace Morris
From: Ajax, ON Performing: November 9th Location: Oshawa, ON - Tribute Communities Centre
Alicia Smith
From: Uxbridge, ON Performing: November 13th Location: Peterborough, ON - Peterborough Memorial Centre
Émile Baz
From: Laval, QC Performing: November 14th Location: Laval, QC - Place Bell
Stéphanie Lachance
From: Quebec City, QC Performing: November 15th Location: TBC
Molly Kane
From: Moncton, NB Performing: November 16th Location: Moncton, NB - Avenir Centre
Jessica Cranton
From: Halifax , NS Performing: November 17th Location: Halifax, NS - Scotiabank Centre
Melanie Taylor
From: St. Johns, NL Performing: November 23rd Location: St. Johns, NL - Mile One Centre
Rock the Rink Tour Dates and TICKETS
