June 4, 2009 - SOPEI Annual General Meeting - Please be advised that Special Olympics PEI will be holding their Annual General Meeting on June 23rd, 2009.

This meeting will take place at 7:00pm in room 212 of the House of Sport located at 40 Enman Cres, Charlottetown. Please RSVP your attendance by June 16th, 2009 to csheehan@sopei.com or 368-8919.

June 2, 2009 - RBC Dominion Securities Helps Islanders with Intellectual Disabilities - David Smith of RBC Dominion Securities presents Valerie Downe, Board President of Special Olympics PEI, with a $2,500 donation from the RBC Foundation to Special Olympics PEI. This donation will help support the 340 Island athletes with intellectual disabilities participating in sport.

Special Olympics PEI is a charitable organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Prince Edward Islanders with an intellectual disability through sport. Athletes can participate in either community or competitive sport streams and have the opportunity to train year-round and compete at games held provincially, nationally and internationally.

If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved, please contact Special Olympics PEI Program Director, Charity Sheehan at 368-8919 or via e-mail at csheehan@sopei.com.

May 27, 2009 - 2009 Special Olympics PEI 5-Pin Bowling Championships – Over 200 athletes, coaches and volunteers took part in the 2009 Special Olympics PEI 5-Pin Bowling Championships on May 9 & 23 at Credit Union Place in Summerside and the Murphy Recreation Center in Charlottetown respectfully.

The two day event seen athletes from PEI and New Brunswick compete for top honors in three divisions. “These tournaments were very successful events for Special Olympics PEI. Our many volunteers make events like these possible and we are so grateful for their dedication to the over 340 athletes involved in our programs!” Says SOPEI Program Director, Charity Sheehan.

Click here for complete tournament results.

May 25, 2009 - Now supporting Special Olympics athletes is even easier! - Canadian celebrities are joining forces with STAPLES Canada to launch an online charity auction that will raise funds to support Special Olympics athletes across the country.

Notable Canadians including Rick Mercer, Nelly Furtado, Darryl Sittler and Mike “Pinball” Clemons have put their signature on STAPLES’ Easy Buttons to raise money for Special Olympics Canada while marking the fifth anniversary of the iconic red button.

Head to www.ebay.ca/staplesspecialolympics to view and bid or click the EASY button below!!

May 25, 2009 - PEI Swim Meet A Huge Success – On May 3rd, PEI and NB swimmers took to the water s at Fitness East in Montague for the end of season meet. A total of 30 athletes competed in over 235 events during the one day competition. The following are the results from the meet. Click here for full results.

April 30, 2009 - SOPEI Male Beauty Contest a HUGE success!! - Pictured above are the judges of the 8th Annual Male Beauty Contest (Left to Right– Reid Barnett, Karen Lavers and His Worship Mayor Clifford Lee). The Beautiful “Lady” with them is Miss Carr Stevenson & MacKay– Dynamite Drysdale winner of Miss Special Olympics 2009.

Dynamite won the crown on April 28, 2009 in front of a crowd of 200 people at the Carrefore Theatre in Charlottetown.

The 8th Annual Male Beauty Contest is a fun and entertaining event with proceeds going to Special Olympics PEI. This year, the event raised over $4,000 for Special Olympics PEI.

Thanks to Margaret MacPherson and Randy Holmes for organizing this event and to all the Sponsors, Contestants, volunteers and spectators who helped make this event successful.

March 20, 2009 - Annual Award Nominees Announced for Special Olympics PEI - You are invited to join us on March 26th, 2009, when Special Olympics PEI will honor it’s athletes, coaches, volunteers, parents and supporters at their Annual Awards Presentation. The event will take place at the Loyalist Country Inn in Summerside at 7:00pm with a victory dance to follow at 8:30pm.

Awards will be presented in ten categories. The nominees for the following awards are:
Eastlink Advertising Male Athlete of the Year:
Rick Chan, Charlottetown Nordic Skier
Michael Morris, Stratford Nordic Skier
Greg St. John, Charlottetown Curler

PEI Mutual Insurance Company Female Athlete of the Year:
Monique Gauthier, Charlottetown Curler
Amber Metcalfe, Charlottetown Swimmer
Alyssa Chapman, Montague Swimmer

Spirit Award (athlete award):
Chris MacPherson, Charlottetown
Rachael Loggie, Charlottetown
Heidi Mallett, Alberton

Dr. Frank Hayden Award (athlete award):
Logan MacLean, Coleman
David Smith, Charlottetown
Gwen Gallant, Tignish

Maritime Electric Male Coach of the Year:
Terry Nabuurs, Montague – Soccer
David Morrow, Charlottetown – 5 Pin Bowling
Barry Murray, Summerside – Floor Hockey

Maritime Electric Female Coach of the Year:
Ann Kilby, Tyne Valley – 10 Pin Bowling
Jodi Harper, Charlottetown - Athletics
Alysia Angus-Lunt, Montague - Swim

Community & Cultural Affairs Sport Volunteer of the Year:
Judy Gallant, Charlottetown
Allan Stewart, Charlottetown
Sara Walsh, Montague

Iceland Arena and Bowling Lanes in Montague will be the recipient of the Facility of the Year Award. For the past number of years, this facility has been an important part of the Special Olympics programs in the Montague area. From ensuring ice time is available for our figure skater to receive extra coaching to ensuring that the Montague 5-Pin Bowling program had a home, the staff of Iceland Arena and Bowling Lanes have been true friends of Special Olympics PEI.

Paula Gauthier will receive the David Andrew Memorial Award which was developed to recognize all the unsung heroes within Special Olympics PEI…the parents and guardians. Paula gives her time tirelessly to ensure that her daughter, Monique, has every available opportunity to succeed in sport. Paula can be found fundraising, playing taxi driver and number one cheerleader at all Special Olympics events.

Volunteer, Valerie Downe, will receive the prestigious President’s Award which recognizes the significant contributions made to the organization locally and provincially. Valerie’s involvement with Special Olympics over the past six years on the Board of Directors has strengthened the organization in many ways. Valerie’s ability to create momentum and inspire change has been instrumental to the growth and development of Special Olympics on PEI.

In addition to the ten awards categories, Special Olympics PEI will honor those volunteers who have contributed 5 and 20 years of service to the movement.

The following volunteers will receive 5 years of service pins:
Janet Charchuk – West Prince
Amanda Peters – Souris
Stephanie Campbell – West Prince and Charlottetown
Hal Perry – West Prince
Pat Coady – Charlottetown
Paula Smith – East Prince
Michelle Chapman – Montague
Barry Murray – East Prince
Rushell MacDonald – West Prince

Peter Howatt has been a dedicated volunteer in various Special Olympics sports and committees over the past 20 years at both the community level and on the national stage. Through his coaching duties, he has had a very positive impact on the lives of many Island athletes with an intellectual disability. His work on various committees provincially and nationally have made a lasting imprint on the Special Olympics movement in Canada.

Special Olympics PEI is a charitable organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Prince Edward Islanders with an intellectual disability through sport. Athletes can participate in either community or competitive sport streams and have the opportunity to train year-round and compete at games held provincially, nationally and internationally.

For more information on the Annual Awards, please contact Special Olympics PEI Program Director, Charity Sheehan at 902-368-8919 or via e-mail at csheehan@sopei.com.

March 18, 2009 - UPSE has a Heart - Pictured above is Shelly Ward(left), president of UPSE and Charity Sheehan(right), SOPEI Director, with a cheque for $750.00. Special Olympics was one of the community based organizations that UPSE contributed to in this years Have a Heart campaign. For more information please visit www.peiupse.ca

March 10, 2009 - Bowling Provincials - It is Bowling Provincial time again! This year’s tournament is a qualifying event for the 2010 Special Olympics Canada National Summer Games in London, Ontario. Click here for more information...

February 16, 2009 - Flowers in Bloom Campaign - Although the weather isn’t warm enough for flowers, it is certainly a great time to start thinking about your flower and seed needs!

The Special Olympics FLOWERS IN BLOOM CAMPAIGN is on now until March 6th with funds raised going directly to Special Olympics PEI programs happening across PEI.

Here are two ways you can help Special Olympics PEI and get your garden started.

1) Click here to view the complete Vesey's Spring Bulb fundraising catalogue for the Flowers in Bloom Campaign in support of Special Olympics PEI. Once you’ve chosen your bulbs and seeds, call or email the Special Olympics office at 368-8919/1-800-287-1196 or tracey@sopei.com to place your order.

2) Do you have family and friends who are avid gardeners? Why not take a fundraising catalogue and ask your family and friends to buy bulbs and seeds from the Flowers in Bloom Campaign! Bulbs and seeds range from $10 - $15 with a 100% satisfaction guarantee from Vesey’s Seeds. There is no minimum amount you need to sell; any help you can give is greatly appreciated. Money raised will go to SOPEI programs happening year round across PEI.

Special Olympics Community Council volunteers are coordinating the Flowers in Bloom Campaign to raise money for Special Olympics PEI. If you haven’t been able to catch up with your community council coordinator, you still have time! Email your local coordinator to arrange pick up of your fundraising catalogue.

Your Community Council Volunteer is:

Please Note: Attached is the fundraising catalogue that your coordinator will give you. If you’re not able to get out and about to show your fundraising catalogue to your contacts, you can email them the attached document and they can order through email! (You’ll have to collect their money before you submit the order to you community coordinator on March 6).

February 13th, 2009 - Islander has Triple Medal Finish at World Games - Special Olympics PEI athlete and Stratford native, Michael Morris(pictured above) had a triple medal finish at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho.

Wearing bib number 237 at the Nordic Ski venue in Sun Valley, Idaho, Michael raced to the finish line winning two bronze medals (4x100m relay, 500m), silver medal (1 km) and many great memories from the games.

Michael’s mother, Judy MacDonald was able to be in Boise to witness his great accomplishments. “Michael is so happy and now ready to go home. It is so beautiful here. This is a great experience not like Japan but wonderful in its own right. We are both so pleased - me for him and him because he loves to get medals.”

The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games attracted more than 2,000 athletes from nearly 100 countries for a week filled with world-class competition and events. These games were the largest multi-day winter sporting event ever held in Idaho.

As the games come to a close on February 13 and as per tradition, the Closing Ceremony is cast in an even more celebratory mode, rejoicing in the triumph of the Games and the friendships kindled in Idaho. Closing Ceremony’s protocol includes the passing of the Special Olympics flag to the host of the next Special Olympics World Games, Athens, Greece. And with the extinguishing of the Idaho cauldron, the stage will be set for a party that the athletes themselves will never forget filled with music, dancing, color, excitement, friendship, acceptance and good will - all in the true spirit of the Special Olympics movement.

If you or someone you know would like more information about how to BE A FAN of Special Olympics PEI, please contact Charity Sheehan at 902-368-8919 or via e-mail at csheehan@sopei.com

December 10, 2008 - Annual Awards Coming Soon! - SOPEI's Annual Awards are just around the corner. Do you have someone you would like to nominate? Click here for more information....

November 20, 2008 - Swim Events Planned for the 2008-2009 Season - Click here to see the flyer for our upcoming swimming events. Contact SOPEI for more information!

November 19, 2008 - Fall/Winter Program Schedule - Our Fall/Winter Program schedules are now online. Click here to see what's happening in your region or click here for a complete schedule of all our 2008-2009 programs.

November 18, 2008 - Fall Newsletter - National Awards, Special Olympics Month, Be a Fan Campaign and much, much more in the 2008 Fall Newsletter... click here to see what's happening at SOPEI!