Special Olympics Canada’s Trip to the Hill: From an Athlete’s Perspective
There aren’t many days when you get to walk the halls of Parliament Hill and share your story directly with the people shaping our country—but that’s exactly what I got to do on Hill Day.
For months, our team at Special Olympics Canada had been preparing for this moment. On October 21, over 65 Special Olympics athletes, coaches, volunteers and staff meet with over 40 elected officials, Senators and civil servants to advocate for our community. We also hosted a soccer match on the West Lawn and a 200+ person reception at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.
During our meetings, all of us expressed sincere gratitude to every government representative that we spoke with, for the invaluable financial and institutional support they provide. Then, we built on that to discuss the many ways Special Olympics programming benefits not just athletes like myself, but Canadian society as a whole—from reducing barriers to accessible healthcare issues in people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), to increasing our rate of employment, improving our medical wellbeing, and creating a place where neurodivergent people can belong without judgement.
I was one of 14 athletes who travelled to Ottawa from every Provincial/Territorial Chapter in Special Olympics Canada, to represent our movement by sharing personal impact stories in meetings with various Members of Parliament and other members of federal government. Because I work for the national office, I mostly spoke with representatives from different Ministries, while people representing Special Olympics Provincial and Territorial Chapters spent more time with MPs and Senators from their regions. One of my fellow athlete representatives—Brett Griffiths from Manitoba—summed it up perfectly after meeting with two of his local MPs:
He added that his favourite part of Hill Day was our celebratory reception in the ballroom of the Fairmont Château Laurier.
Kimana Mar—an Ottawa athlete attending Hill Day with Special Olympics Ontario staff and her father Anthony—also said she enjoyed getting to meet the Governor General. “It made me fee like I was making a difference,” Kimana said, describing the MP’s and staff members who took the time to listen to her story.
Anthony also expressed gratitude to the Special Olympics volunteers and staff members who made support Kimana’s programs; his words also clearly show just how proud he is of her.
“Special Olympics does not just change lives,” he said, “I think it reflects the best of Canadian values: equity, diversity, and the belief that everyone deserves a place to thrive. Our family is deeply grateful for the support MPs have shown.”
Honestly, I couldn’t have put it better myself! It was a tremendous honour being asked to represent Special Olympics Canada at pretty much the highest level possible, alongside other athletes, volunteers, staff members, and their family members from each of our 12 Provincial/Territorial Chapters.
I feel equally grateful to the many people serving in Parliament who took time out of their busy schedules to hear our stories, especially during such a busy time in Canadian politics.
My favourite part of the entire day was the soccer game on Parliament Hill’s West Lawn. Seeing athletes, Unified Partners, and MPs playing together in such a picturesque, historic part of the country was really something to see. It was more than just a game—it was a perfect example of what our movement is all about: the power of sport to bring people together, break down barriers, and show what inclusion really looks like in action.
Truthfully, I was almost a little spoiled that week, since not only did I get to enjoy everything happening at Parliament Hill, but I also appeared in the media to promote it! On the morning before we flew out, I appeared with our CEO, Gail Hamamoto, on CTV’s Breakfast Television. Later, after our meetings in Ottawa had finished, the two of us spoke on SiriumXM Radio about the experience.
That may sound like a lot, but it felt simple because I was able to speak from the heart about why Special Olympics truly matters. I hope that between my conversations with members of our federal government and the media coverage of Hill Day, that I was able to help the movement that has made such a tremendous impact on my life. At the very least, it was a huge honour.