Two heavyweights from the world of Canadian sport and music came together in June to headline a unique fundraising event that generated buzz and support for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. Former Leafs Doug Gilmour and Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy hosted the 5th annual Dougy, Cuddy and Friends Celebrity Bowl at Playtime Bowl in Toronto that saw almost 300 bowlers, including a who’s who of sports, entertainment and music as well as Special Olympics athletes, raise $100,000.
Special Olympics Canada Foundation would like to thank Doug Gilmour, Jim Cuddy and the team at Mainstreet Marketing for their incredible support of Canadians with an intellectual disability.
CTV and TSN sportscaster Rod Black hams it up with Arthur Rea, Special Olympics Canada board member and athlete
Canadian Forces troops, now home from a recent tour of duty in Afghanistan, and a young admirer join Special Olympic athletes Adam Whaley (centre) and Arthur Rea (second from right) Iconic Canadian rocker Tom Cochrane with team-mate, Tony Erlich
Special Olympics Canada would like to congratulate both Ontario’s Jason Walker and Nova Scotia’s John “Jackie” Barett on their most recent and prestigious distinctions. Jason Walker was recently inducted into the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame with six other sport luminaries, while Jackie Barett was runner-up for the IKON Male Athlete of the Year from Sport Nova Scotia, the 12th annual sport recognition event.
A Special Olympics athlete for 11 years, Jason Walker attended his first international Games last summer in Shanghai, China after winning two gold medals and a silver at the 2006 summer nationals in Brandon, Manitoba, his first appearance on the national stage. He competed in bowling doubles, bowling singles and as a team in Shanghai. He is also the recipient of the 2007 City of Brampton Sports Achievement Award and was also named the 2007 Athlete of the Year.
Jackie Barrett has been a Special Olympics athlete for 19 years and has an impressive resume dotted with national and international competitions, including numerous National Summer Games (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006) and World Summer Games (1999, 2007). At the 2006 nationals in Brandon, Manitoba he won four gold medals, and then travelled to Shanghai, China for the 2007 World Summer Games where he clinched impressive first-place finishes in each of the powerlifting squat lift, bench press, dead lift and combination of all lifts in the 125+ kg level.
Upcoming Events
July 1-31, 2008 JYSK in-store "Be a Fan" campaign across Canada
July 10 - 13, 2008 - Team Canada Training Camp, Mississauga, Ontario
December 3, 2008 - 26th annual Special Olympics Festival, Toronto