May 1, 2013 - Special Olympics PEI Yard Sale!! - The Central parent fundraising group will be having a yard sale at Cody Banks Arena to raise money for the upcoming National Games in BC.

Where: Cody Banks Arena - 58 Maple Avenue(Beside Sherwood Elementary School)
When: Saturday June 8th
Time: 7:30am—12:00pm

This Yard Sale will go RAIN OR SHINE! If you have anything you would like to drop off, you can drop it off on Friday June 7th between 5:00—7:00pm at Cody Banks Arena. If you have any questions please contact Rickey Burns at 892-6918 or Margaret MacPherson 892-6941. Volunteers are needed so please contact Rickey or Margaret to let them know you can help out!

January 20, 2013 - It's PEP RALLY time!! - Come help us send off our Special Olympics Team Canada athletes, and mission staff before they head off to the Republic of Korea! Next Tuesday, January 22nd from 6-7:30 in Montague at the Cavendish Wellness Centre (Hambly Room) we will send off athletes Alyssa Chapman, Ellen MacNearney and mission staff Charity Sheehan and Mental Trainer Tara Costello who will be helping via PEI! We hope you can join us, if you have any questions please give us a call at 368-8919. Click here for PEP Rally flyer.

January 16, 2013 - Island Special Olympians preparing for the World Games - Team Canada will have four representatives from Prince Edward Island at the Special Olympics World Games in the Republic of Korea later this month, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie. “To be chosen to represent Canada is a great honour,” said Minister Currie.

Island representatives on Team Canada include figure skater Alyssa Chapman, nordic skier Ellen MacNearney, Mission Staff Charity Sheehan, and Team Canada Mental Trainer Tara Costello-Ledwell.

“As Minister responsible for Sport, I want to wish each of these ladies great success at the World Games,” said Minister Currie.

“Alyssa and Ellen have been training and preparing for years for this opportunity, and I wish them all the best on their quest for gold for Canada. I want to thank Charity and Tara for their leadership; you each play an integral role in Team Canada’s success.”

“This really is a trip of a lifetime,” said Mission Staff Charity Sheehan. “This is the first world games for both of our Island athletes, so they are a bit nervous but still really fueled with excitement. To walk in representing Canada, wearing the red uniforms, I think they are thrilled by that and they can’t wait to experience it all.”

“From January 29 to February 5, all eyes will be on PyeongChang, Republic of Korea, when it hosts the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games – the world’s largest sports event in 2013, second only in size to the Olympic Games,” said Special Olympics PEI Executive Director Valerie Downe. “We are extremely proud that PEI will be represented by athletes Alyssa Chapman and Ellen MacNearney and by Mission Staff Charity Sheehan and Mental Trainer Tara Costello-Ledwell. We invite all Islanders to follow their progress online at teamcanada2013.ca and through Special Olympic PEI’s Facebook page and twitter@specialOPEI.”

A rally will take place on January 22, and all Islanders are invited to come and celebrate with our Team Canada athletes/staff as they prepare to compete at the 2013 World Games.
“This rally serves as a wonderful send-off for our Team Canada members,” said Minister Currie. “It’s a night to celebrate their commitment and achievements, and to support all of them as they compete in world level competitions.”

The celebration will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday January 22, 2013 at the Montague Wellness Centre. Islanders will have an opportunity to meet Prince Edward Island’s Team Canada members, sign a recognition guest book and enjoy light refreshments.

2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games will take place in PyeongChang, the Republic of Korea, from January 29 to February 5, 2013.

There will be approximately 2,300 athletes, and 1,000 coaches and volunteers from 113 countries. Team Canada will be comprised of 141 people (102 athletes and 39 coaches and mission staff). Team Canada will have representation in Figure Skating, Snowshoe, Nordic Ski, Alpine Ski, Floor Hockey and Speed Skating.

January 16, 2013 - Island Special Olympians preparing for the World Games - Team Canada will have four representatives from Prince Edward Island at the Special Olympics World Games in the Republic of Korea later this
month: figure skater Alyssa Chapman, nordic skier Ellen MacNearney, Mission Staff Charity Sheehan, and Team Canada Mental Trainer Tara Costello-Ledwell.

The Special Olympics World Games is the second largest sporting event in the world, second in size to only the Olympic Games.

Click her to watch the video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9XotmuJm_g

Doug Currie, Minister responsible for Sport, wishes Team Canada and our Island athlete’s great success in the upcoming competitions.

Minister Currie and Special Olympics PEI invites all Islanders to attend a celebration rally taking place on Tuesday, January 22 at the Montague Wellness Centre. The celebration will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Islanders will have an opportunity to meet Prince Edward Island’s Team Canada members, sign a recognition guest book and enjoy light refreshments.

December 30, 2012 - 2012 Car Lottery Winner Annoucement! - Happy New Year SOPEI supporters! Here are the winners from the 2012 car lottery!

3rd prize ($500 Home Hardware gift certificate) - Adele Green from Cardigan
2nd prize ($2500 travel voucher) Frank McKearney from Charlottetown
2013 Toyota Camry was won by Neil Ramsay from Summerside!!

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you again for all you support!

December 5, 2012 - SAVE THE DATE!! - Our Special Olympics Festival will be held on June 25, 2013. Watch for our Celebrity lineup and more details in the coming months!!

November 30, 2012 - Special Olympics Month - November was Special Olympics month on PEI. Click on the links to see the proclaimations!!. Government of PEI proclamation, City of Charlottetown proclamation and City of Summerside proclamation.

October 24, 2012 - Program Schedule - Please click here to see our master program schedule!

October 3, 2012 - Annual Award Nominations - Its nomination time again, where we recognize our amazing athletes, coaches, volunteers, and venues!!

Please click here to get a copy of the nomination form. If you know of someone who is deserving of one of our awards please fill out the nomination form and send it back to me either by email to sport@sopei.com or fax to 892-4553 by October 15th that would be greatly appreciated.

Once we receive your nominations they will be reviewed by a committee of the board to select the winners. This years nominations are for the period of January 2011 to August 2012. This extended period will be for one year only as we have amalgamated the awards with our Annual General Meeting and moved them from March to October. For this year only the nomination period is longer so that we can be back to 1 season next year.

The awards will be handed out this year following our Annual General Meeting on October 29th, 2012 beginning at 7pm at the Loyalist Lakeview Resort in Summerside. We welcome everyone to join us at 6pm for the Annual General Meeting which will be followed by a brief reception.

Congratulations Dion and Elisha!

Congratulations go out to two very special people who recently got engaged…Special Olympics’ Festival Hall of Famer and Toronto Maple Leaf’s Captain Dion Phaneuf and Ms. Elisha Cuthbert, TV personality, Festival celebrity and long time supporter, announced their engagement on the weekend. Best Wishes to the happy couple from their friends at Special Olympics on PEI!!

July 17, 2012 - Car Wash Cancelled - SOPEI was scheduled to hold a car wash on Saturday at Home Hardware on St Peters Road. Due to the current water shortage in Charlottetown, the car wash has been cancelled. Please stay tuned to sopei.com for a rescheduling date.

June 19, 2012 - Special Olympics Festival will take place on June 27th, with a Luncheon in Summerside at Credit Union Place at noon and a Gala Dinner and Auction at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown at 7PM. Luncheon keynote speaker is Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke, while the Gala keynote speaker is Dr Frank Hayden, Special Olympics Canada Founder. See the following news releases for more information.

Gino Reda returns to co-emcee the Special Olympics Festival events

Distinguished Canadian Dr. Frank Hayden to speak at 2012 Special Olympics Festival Gala on June 27, 2012

Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager – Brian Burke joins celebrity line up at 2012 Special Olympics Festival and will be Summerside Guest Speaker at Luncheon on June 27, 2012

May 27, 2012 - Current Newsletter - Click here to read our latest newsletter!

April 19, 2012 - Transition Expo - Special Olympics PEI is pleased to be part of the Annual Youth Transition Expo being help April 25 form 6-8pm at Stonepark Intermediate School. Drop by and check out the Special Olympics booth and other agency booths to find our more about the services available on PEI. Click here for more information.

March 7, 2012 - SOPEI at the Provincial Home Show - Come join us at the PEI Provincial Home Show this weekend. Through the generous sponsorship of Master Promotions who have named SOPEI their Charity of Choice and Amalgamated Dairies Limited who donate the delicious ice cream, volunteers will be selling ice cream cones to help raise funds for Special Olympic programs across PEI. Hope to see you there.

February 6, 2012 - Membership Update - Here is a listing of events SOPEI has going on in the coming months!

February 11 – Hockey Day in Canada - The Summerside Floor Hockey athletes will be participating in a ball hockey game at Credit Union Place at 3pm against the Boys & Girls Club Alumni.

February 16 – Join us for our Team PEI Pep rally as we send off our athletes and coaches to the 2012 National Winter Games in St. Albert, Alberta. Attached is an invitation, feel free to circulate. Snow date is February 23.

February 18 - Team PEI 2012 Fundraising Events

1. Pancake Breakfast - Central Team PEI 2012 parents in partnership with the Parkdale Sherwood Lion’s Club, are holding a pancake breakfast at Murphy’s Community Center from 8:00am-10:30am. Tickets are $5 each and are available at the SOPEI office or from any Central Team PEI 2012 member.

2. Kitchen Party – East Prince Team PEI 2012 parents are holding a Kitchen Party at the Summerside Legion at 7:00pm. Admission is by donation. There will be a cake auction, fudge sale and 50/50 draw. For more information please contact Lew Champion at 888-2701.

February & March – Over the next two months, Genna, our Program Coordinator, will be traveling through out the Island to visit our programs. Genna will be contacting the coaches directly to schedule her visit. I have already told her to take sport gear to participate as I know the athletes love when someone from the office comes out for a visit.

February 6-17 – Holland College Student Placements - Over the next two weeks, students from the Recreation and Leisure Mgmt course will be doing two week placements in our programs to complete their Community Sport training. Genna will be in contact with each coach to let you know who will be coming to your program. Students are required to be active members in the program and prepare a presentation about their participation.

March 9-12 – PEI Home Show - Once again, Special Olympics PEI will be the Charity of Choice for the PEI Home Show. Valerie will be once again looking for volunteers to help with our booth and other events surrounding the Home Show. Look for a follow up email later this month to sign up for a spot. The event is Friday afternoon and evening, Saturday all day, Sunday morning and afternoon.

Save the Date – 5 Pin Bowling Provincials and Special Olympics Festival

1. May 26 & 27 – Our 5 Pin Bowling Provincials will take place in Charlottetown at the Murphy Community Center. Further information will be sent to the bowling programs in the coming months.

2. June 27 – Our annual Special Olympics Festival will take place in Summerside (Luncheon) and Charlottetown (Dinner & Auction). Watch for announcements in the coming weeks on which sports celebrities will be joining us for this wonderful fundraising event