Welcome to the 
Central Ontario 
District Site! 
 
We provide quality sport training programs and competitions for athletes living with an intellectual disability in the district of Central Ontario.

If you're an athlete, a coach, or a volunteer, or thinking of becoming one, check us out and learn about the exciting opportunities that we have to offer.

To receive email newsletter updates from Special Olympics Ontario, subscribe at www.specialolympicsontario.com/subscribe.



News Flash

  • Welcome to Spring, 2021! (please click on the title to be taken to the post with link) It's been a while since we've posted to the Central District website... Welcome back! This is the best place to post the District Admin Team presentation for all who are interested, to access. The presentation reviews the many virtual initiatives Special Olympics has rolled out, and we look forward to lots of neat things over the coming months, especially with the Reveal Your Champion program and the Virtual Games platform. Also included here is the Central District recipe collection. Thanks, Barrie CC Dawn for putting that together: bon appetit! Don't hesitate to reach out to Program Consultant Hellaina with any questions on maintaining connections ...
    Posted Mar 30, 2021, 7:51 AM by Hellaina VanErp-Rothenburg
  • SPRING GAMES 2020 ANNOUNCEMENT! Please note that the 2020 Provincial Spring Games have been suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For full information on Special Olympics Ontario's response to the pandemic, please visit https://www1.specialolympicsontario.com/covid-19-updates/.
    Posted May 8, 2020, 2:39 PM by Hellaina VanErp-Rothenburg
  • Read All About It! (please click on the title to be taken to the post with the linked document) The Fall 2019 Provincial News Update is hot off the press. Read all about important news from Special Olympics Ontario: Resources, Sport & Competition, Awards, and more! As ever, if you have any questions about anything, please start with your District Developer - Hellaina at hellainar@specialolympicsontario.com.
    Posted Sep 25, 2019, 4:38 PM by Hellaina VanErp-Rothenburg
Showing posts 1 - 3 of 83. View more »








 
It's Awards Season!

Each year, Special Olympics Ontario receives nominations for the annual Provincial Awards. In early July, the 2021 recipients were announced and Central Ontario is proud of two amazing members who received recognition for their excellent achievements.

Rosie Laidler of Kincardine, a 26-year veteran multi-sport athlete best known for her Figure Skating successes, received the Athlete Lifetime Achievement Award. Rosie has been named to Team Canada for the third time, currently part of the National Team Program preparing for the 2022 World Winter Games in Kazan, Russia. (photo from SOO-Kincardine facebook)




Barrie's Philip Lock has received Athlete of the Year accolades, earned due to his hard work over the unprecedented past year. Working independently and virtually, Philip is very focused on his training with the National Team Program as he prepares for the 2022 World Winter Games in Kazan, Russia in the sport of Nordic Skiing. (photo from innisfiltoday.com)



Click here for the full list of 2021 Provincial Award recipients: https://www1.specialolympicsontario.com/blog/2021-provincial-award-recipients/. 

Suspension of Programs due to Covid-19

In consultation with local and provincial health authorities and Special Olympics programs across Canada, all Special Olympics Ontario in-person sport programs, competitions, fundraisers and any related activities remain suspended.

While the province begins to open up services regionally, the obligation for safety, security, protocols and liability lies with the business or organization. Sport in general and Special Olympics specifically, has a duty of care beyond the normal scope of most organizations.

Special Olympics Ontario is working with Special Olympics Canada and all Chapters on finding the best way to navigate this challenging situation. For certain, guidelines and procedures need symmetry across the country, always respecting the population we serve and those who volunteer to do so.

Community leaders can visit Special Olympics Ontario's Return to Program website http://specialolympicsontario.com/return-to-program to find out more about the steps to follow to re-open programs locally, including sport practices. 

Protecting the health and safety of everyone involved is the primary objective, while getting programs operational in some form. Stay informed by going to our website www.specialolympicsontario.com for the latest updates.

Should you have any questions or would like to speak with a staff person about the pandemic, please email covid19@specialolympicsontario.com or call 1-888-333-5515 ext. 311, leave a message and we will follow up.


Healthy @ Home
Stay healthy and stay connected at home with Special Olympics Ontario's online resources, found at the provincial website home page: http://specialolympicsontario.com/. 

Image



2018/2019 - A Special Year for Special Olympics: 
our 50th Anniversary!
Who knew fifty years ago that a one-day sports festival for athletes with an intellectual disability would become a global movement for inclusion? Well, more than a few people that day in 1968 at Soldier's Field in Chicago certainly must have! Canada was represented by a Floor Hockey team from Toronto, and the vision came from a young researcher in Ontario: Dr. Frank Hayden. Read on to learn more about the history of how Special Olympics was born, as we celebrate what it has become: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-how-the-special-olympics-were-born/.