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This is the December edition of the Coaches Newsletter that is shared with coaches, educators and volunteers. | |
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On behalf of everyone at Special Olympics Ontario, we would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season and a joyful New Year.
We express our gratitude for your invaluable contributions; you are an integral part of our organization, and we are truly thankful for all you do.
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Tim Hortons Campaign
February 2nd - 4th
Special Olympics Ontario has once again partnered with Tim Hortons to create the limited edition Special Olympics Donut.
Learn more by scrolling down!
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24h Blue Mountain
February 24th - 25th
Sixth annual 24h BLUE MTN is a fantastic team relay fundraising event to benefit Special Olympics and the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation.
Learn more by scrolling down!
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Polar Plunge
January - April
Calling all do-gooders with a little courage and a warm heart willing to get cold and creative for a worthy cause.
Learn more by scrolling down!
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Athlete of the Month: Frank Koffi!
Meet Franck Koffi, a dedicated athlete from Ontario who has been involved in Special Olympics for 12 years. Franck participates in athletics and soccer, but his passion lies in playing basketball. For Franck, Special Olympics is not just a place.....
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Mike Newstead: A Catalyst for Inclusion and Inspiration
Growing up in Amherstview, Ontario, a small suburb 10 minutes west of Kingston, my experience relating to Special Olympics or students/athletes with exceptionalities was limited...
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Special Olympics Ontario has once again partnered with Tim Hortons to create the limited edition Special Olympics Donut, available from February 2nd-4th.
100% of the proceeds from sales of the donut will go directly to local Special Olympics community programs, supporting thousands of athletes with an intellectual disability across Ontario.
Tim Hortons has been a proud partner of Special Olympics since 2016 - from sponsoring youth programs ActiveStart and FUNdamentals, to sending gift cards to Special Olympics activities across the county, supporting National Games and of course, creating a Special Olympics donut to raise funds and awareness for the movement.
This February, let's work towards making a more inclusive Ontario. #ChooseToInclude
Stay tuned for more information on the campaign.
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We are very pleased to be back at the beautiful Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood, for the 6th annual 24h BLUE MTN Ski and Snowboard Relay – taking place the weekend of February 24th-25th, 2024.
This is an exciting fundraising opportunity, as 75% of all funds raised online by SOO registered teams will be sent back to your Community or Club!
This year, we have made two changes to make it easier for our SOO teams to participate and benefit from this opportunity:
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Fundraise to waive your registration fee! The cost to ski or snowboard in this event is a $175 registration fee and a $175 fundraising minimum - this year you have the option to fundraise your registration fee! There is no upfront cost to register, just a commitment to fundraise a minimum of $350.
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We are bringing back the popular Run/Walk relay! Not a skier or snowboarder but want to fundraise for your community and come spend a fun weekend at Blue Mountain Resort? Register to participate in the 24hr Run/Walk relay of the 1km route throughout the village, for just a $150 fundraising commitment.
All you must do to partake in this opportunity is register at 24hbluemtn.ca, and then email Anna Creighton at annac@specialolympicsontario.com and let us know the name of your team and which SOO Community or Club you are fundraising for.
See you on the slopes!
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The Season for Freezin' is Near! | |
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Calling all do-gooders with a little courage and a warm heart willing to get cold and creative for a worthy cause.
Every year, the Polar Plunge unites thousands of warm-hearted individuals from all corners of the province in a fantastic endeavour to plunge into icy waters in support of Special Olympics Ontario.
This incredible event is a dynamic platform for individuals, organizations, and businesses to contribute to a worthy cause. All proceeds generated are channeled into providing vital programming and events for the benefit of 23,000 Special Olympics athletes across Ontario.
75% of funds raise by registered athletes/volunteers stay in your community.
This extraordinary event is proudly presented by the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run, a passionate volunteer movement committed to increasing awareness and fundraising for Special Olympics Ontario athletes throughout the province.
Join the excitement by taking part in a local plunge and rallying your community to support Special Olympics Ontario. Find out more information and where your closest plunge is taking place by clicking on the button below.
(Plunges will be added throughout the season so keep checking!)
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Holiday E-Cards in Support of
Special Olympics Ontario
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It’s Holiday Card season!
Many of us like to send a Season’s Greetings to our loved ones – now you can do just that from the comfort of your home and support Special Olympics Ontario at the same time!
Introducing the Special Olympics Ontario e-cards store, with a selection of holiday themed cards to choose from! Write your own message, choose your recipient, and send it right to their email or phone. You can add multiple cards to your cart for one easy checkout process, you can even choose to have cards sent at a later specified date!
Cards are $5 each and all proceeds directly support Special Olympics Ontario programs. Bring some holiday cheer to your loved ones and athletes across the province!
You can also share the e-card store directly from the site, to anyone who may like to send some Special Olympics spirit with their Season’s Greetings this year.
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We are excited to announce the District Training Teams for the upcoming 2024 Provincial Spring Games! These Provincial Games will be hosted by the Waterloo Regional Police Service from May 23rd - 26th, 2024.
Of the over 700 athletes set to compete, almost 500 were training for the 2020 Provincial Spring Games that were cancelled due to the pandemic, finally they are getting their chance to shine! These athletes and coaches will be training hard over the next seven months to compete in five diverse and exciting sports: basketball, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, and 10-pin bowling. These Games are the pinnacle of competition for Special Olympics athletes in Ontario and a celebration of their incredible abilities.
From these Provincial Spring Games, athletes will be looking to earn a spot on Team Ontario and will compete at the 2026 National Summer Games set to be hosted in Medicine Hat, AB. If you see District Training Team members out and about in your community – wish them luck!
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Draft an Athlete for the Provincial Games!
Be a part of an athlete's achievement! Be a part of a draft that celebrates inclusion and diversity! Donate today to help an athlete achieve their dreams and compete at the 2024 Provincial Spring Games.
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Special Olympics 2024 Calgary Games Updates | |
The Calgary Games are 69 Days away! | |
Get ready to dive into all things Calgary 2024 and stay in the loop with the latest updates!
Subscribe to our Team O 2024 Calgary newsletter for more in-depth details about the games, athlete profiles, venue information, and much more.
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Help Promote Our 2024 Calgary Games Athletes! | |
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Help us champion our 2023 Calgary Games athletes on their remarkable journey to greatness by posting on social media!
By promoting our athletes through the social media content that we provide, you can help raise vital funds that will help pay for uniforms, training camps, and travel costs.
These talented athletes have their sights set on achieving their dreams, and together, we can make it possible.
Steps on How to Post
Access the Google Drive Folder:
Click the button below to access the Google Drive folder holding the Calgary Games athlete promotions.
Download Graphics:
Once inside the Google Drive folder, select the community you are from and browse the contents to find the graphics you want to share.
Right-click on the graphic you want to download and select "Download" to save it to your device.
Captions:
Inside the same Google Drive folder, captions are also included.
Locate the caption that you like the most.
Create Your Post:
Access the posting interface on the social media platform.
Upload the downloaded graphic using the camera or image icon.
Paste the caption you've prepared in the text field.
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Calgary merch is here!
Our collection includes everything from snug hoodies to trendy beanies – the perfect gifts for both athletes and their biggest fans. Embrace winter in Team O fashion!
Don't miss out – December 15th is the last day to order for Christmas delivery. Orders placed after December 20th will be shipped in the new year.
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Check out our team roster!
Get ready to be inspired by the exceptional athletes from Team Ontario as they prepare to compete in the 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Calgary.
Meet Team Ontario's Athletes by clicking on the link below.
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Help support our athletes headed to the games!
Introducing our "Become a Fan" program – a unique opportunity for you to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our dedicated athletes. By contributing to this program, you can be a vital part of our mission to eliminate financial barriers and ensure every athlete has an equal opportunity to participate.
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Congratulations to the curling athletes who took part in last week's training camp at the RH Curling Club! Your dedication and hard work, evident in the acquisition of new skills, are truly commendable. Best of luck in your ongoing preparations! | |  |
Speed Skating Training Camp | Kudos to the Belleville speed skating athletes! Your dedication shines through the smiles in the photos, capturing both your enthusiasm and hard work. Best of luck as you continue to prepare for upcoming competitions! | | |
SOC Competition Coach Course Calendar | |
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Click On Locations to Register!
The SOC Competition Course is designed to prepare coaches for local, district, or provincial competition with the primary focus on safety, fun, fitness, fundamentals, and performance as well as basic skills of the sport. This is a required training for volunteers interested in participating in Provincial or National Games.
SOO will be hosting a number of training opportunities this fall:
Click on the location to register!
January 29, 5 & 12 - Virtual
February 4 – Richmond Hill, ON
March 19, 21 & 26 – Virtual
March 23 – Sudbury, ON
March 24 – Beamsville, ON
April 7 – Kingston, ON
SOO also offers sport specific training for coaches in certain disciplines. In these modules, coaches are provided training and education to work in a community or competitive sport program environment. The education and training are intended to provide the coach with the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes needed to coach within a Special Olympics environment. SOO is offering 1 upcoming course:
Floor Hockey – February 4, Toronto, ON
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Join Our Special Olympics Ontario Social Media Network! | |
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Discover the power of the SOO Social Media Community!
Join our bi-monthly email newsletter (starting in January) to access a community of amazing resources. From insights to interactive webinars and a thriving network, we've got your social media journey covered. Whether you're an individual or managing your community's social accounts, our community is here to support your growth and success!
To sign up, click the button below!
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Need a Gift Card To Support Your Next Event? | |
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Just a reminder that we have gift cards that can be used to support your events. Both Tim’s and Sobey’s have asked that we do not directly make financial requests to their stores. The protocol is to go through Special Olympics Canada. These terrific sponsor relationships need to be managed accordingly.
If you are interested, you must fill out a request form which you can access by clicking on the button below!
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JANUARY 6TH
Cornwall - Curling
JANUARY 7TH
Tilsonburg - Curling
JANUARY 13TH
Milton - Speed Skating
Greater Durham - Figure Skating
JANUARY 14TH
Ottawa - Curling
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JANUARY 20TH
Kingston - Basketball
Burlington - Basketball
St.Thomas - Basketball
JANUARY 27TH
Sarnia - Basketball
Sudbury - Floor Hockey
Ingersoll - Curling
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For the chance to have your athletes' Special Olympics stories featured in a future newsletter, social media post, or campaign, submit your information on our Athlete Profile Form!
Fill out your information, tell us your story, and submit a photo of you participating in Special Olympics, or include a headshot.
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Looking to stop receiving these emails? Please be sure to read below:
Please note that clicking the unsubscribe link below will remove you from ALL newsletters and emails from Special Olympics Ontario - this means all communications related to Special Olympics Ontario and Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run, including related major games, events and updates etc. If you only want to be removed from the Coaches Newsletter - please click here to let us know.
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