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! 

September 11, 2008 - Special Olympics Awareness Week - Special Olympics PEI is kicking off the start of another program year by holding registration nights in 4 locations across Prince Edward Island from September 22-25, 2008.

Registration night is a fun filled evening with friendship and sport activity being at the forefront. Current coaches, athletes and volunteers are encouraged to come out, hand in their registration forms, meet up with old friends, and enjoy the festivities and light refreshments.

Registration night is also a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in learning more about Special Olympics, or is thinking about becoming a coach, volunteer, sponsor or athlete to attend.

Program Director Charity Sheehan states “This week is about getting more people involved in Special Olympics and reconnecting with current athletes, coaches and volunteers. This is the third year in a row we’re holding the week long series of events and since it’s inception, we’ve had great growth in our sport programs. We look forward to having even more athletes, programs, coaches and volunteers participating in Special Olympics Island-wide”.

There are now over 325 people with an intellectual disability participating in 40 Special Olympics PEI programs on a weekly basis across PEI. 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.

Registration Locations:

Special Olympics PEI is a charitable organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Prince Edward Islanders with an intellectual disability through sport. For more information regarding registration or our organization please contact Special Olympics PEI Program Director, Charity Sheehan at 368-8919 or via e-mail at csheehan@sopei.com.

August 6, 2008 - SOPEI Invitational Track & Field Competition - The Special Olympics PEI 2008 Invitational Track & Field competition took place July 25th in Wellington, PEI. Over 30 athletes from East Prince, Charlottetown, West Prince and Special Olympics New Brunswick Moncton athletes gathered for a day of competition. See here for results. Thank you to our volunteers for helping with the event and congratulations to all athletes for a great day of competition.

July 3, 2008 - Special Olympics Dinner a Resounding Success - A great lineup of celebrities for the annual Sports Celebrities Festival and a collective audience of over 500 people resulted in over $43,000 raised for Special Olympics PEI.

Celebrities at the event this year included Ken Dryden (former NHL goaltender and current MP), Dion Phaneuf (Calgary Flames defensemen), Elisha Cuthbert (actress), Terry Evanshen (former CFL player), Dan Ladouceur (Toronto Rock Lacrosse Player), Alyssa Chapman (SOPEI 2007 Female Athlete of the Year), Mark Ramsay (SOPEI 2007 Male Athlete of the Year), Jimmy Bonneau (former PEI Rocket), Drew MacIntyre (Vancouver Canucks goalie) and was co-hosted by Paul Hollingsworth (CTV reporter) and Paul Phillips (SOPEI Athlete).

Executive Director James McClean: “This year’s festival was a great success and our largest yet. We are always very pleased with the continued support we receive from the community. The Sports Celebrities Festival helps us to raise necessary funds to ensure that programs for athletes aged 2 to 92 are available in communities across PEI. This Festival makes it possible for us to reach new potential athletes and to help all Islanders with intellectual disabilities reach their full potential in all areas of their lives through sport”.

Jim Jordan and his family, wife Margaret and daughter, Elizabeth told their story of how Special Olympics has played a key part in Elizabeth’s life and development and how because of her involvement, she is a distinguished athlete competing in 4 sports.

Also at the Gala Dinner and Auction at the Delta Prince Edward, keynote speaker Terry Evanshen told his remarkable heartfelt story of overcoming obstacles and seizing each day to a full room. In addition, Ken Dryden opened the night speaking of the role of sport in the lives of those it touches.

McClean also adds “Not only is the event our biggest fundraiser, but it allows us to get our message out to a wide and diverse audience. We are a sport organization operating sport programs every week in communities Island-wide. We are not just about games which occur every few years but instead about local programs which touch the lives of athletes and their families across PEI."

As Special Olympics’ largest annual fundraiser, this event cannot happen without the help of volunteers and event sponsors. SOPEI wishes to thank all those who contributed as volunteers, sponsors, and auction donators. It is your help in this fundraiser that will allow Special Olympics PEI to continue to provide quality sports opportunities to Islanders with an intellectual disability.

Thanks go to Event Sponsors, Ocean 100 and K-Rock 105.5, Delta Prince Edward, Maritime Electric, West Jet and Fricshkorn audiovisual and Kwik Kopy. We would also like to thank Provincial Platinum Sponsors PEI Mutual and Eastlink Advertising and all national sponsors affiliated with this event.

For more information on this event or other Special Olympics PEI programming, please call toll free at 1-800-287-1196. Special Olympics PEI is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Islanders with an intellectual disability through sport.

June 12, 2008 - Sports Celebrities Festival LIVE Auction Items - As part of our annual SCF, we will be having a LIVE auction to accompany the silent auction and gala dinner. Below are a couple of items that will be part of the LIVE auction(click for more info). More items will be listed soon. For more information on the SCF and how to get tickets.

Dion Phaneuf	Elisha Cuthbert	Terry Evanshen

Dan Ladouceur	Ken Dryden

June 8, 2008 - Ken Dryden joining the Celebrity List for Sports Celebrities Festival - Canadian icon, acclaimed politician and famed Montreal Canadien goaltender, Ken Dryden, will be visiting PEI in support of Special Olympics PEI. He will be appearing and speaking at the Sports Celebrities Festival in both Summerside and Charlottetown on June 25th.

Mr. Dryden joins an impressive list of celebrities for the June 25th event including NHL star Dion Phaneuf, actress Elisha Cuthbert, former CFL star Terry Evanshen and professional lacrosse player Dan Ladouceur.

“This event is the largest fundraiser and is a great opportunity for us to make the public aware of the message of Special Olympics PEI. To have Mr. Dryden join us is an honour and a privilege. Mr. Dryden’s accomplishments on many levels are legendary and to have his support for Special Olympics PEI is certainly a thrill.” said James McClean, Executive Director of Special Olympics PEI.

“The festival also provides us with the opportunity to promote the abilities of our athletes and give Islanders the chance to meet these fantastic celebrities. It’s a very entertaining event and all money raised stays here in Prince Edward Island to provide weekly grassroots programs to athletes with intellectual disabilities.”

We encourage anyone who is interested in attending either event or learning more details to contact the Special Olympics office at 368-8919 or toll free at 1-800-287-1196 or via email at tracey@sopei.com. Charlottetown’s dinner and silent auction tickets are available for $100 per person or $800 for a corporate table of 8 seats. Tickets for the Summerside luncheon are available for $35 per person or $275 for a corporate table of 8.

June 7, 2008 - May Newsletter - Our May newsletter is now online. Click here to read more.

May 26, 2008 - Line up announced for Annual Sports Celebrities Festival - Dion Phaneuf, star defensemen of the Calgary Flames, Canadian Actress Elisha Cuthbert from the TV series “24” among other credits, former CFL superstar Terry Evanshen and Lacrosse player Dan Ladouceur are among the celebrities who will set foot on the gentle Island in less than a month for the annual Sports Celebrities Festival.

The June 25th event begins with a luncheon at 12:15 pm in Summerside at the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club with guest speaker Jim Jordan, celebrities Terry Evanshen and Dan Ladouceur and Co-Emcee Paul Hollingsworth and Special Olympics PEI’s athlete Paul Phillips.

That same evening, the gala dinner and silent auction begins with a reception at 6:30 at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown. Dion Phaneuf, Elisha Cuthbert, Dan Ladouceur, Jim Jordan and Key Note speaker Terry Evanshen will be the guest celebrities for the evening.

Key Note Speaker, Terry Evanshen, tells his genuine, heartfelt story that touches the hearts and souls of everyone in the room. Evanshen was a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, twice voted outstanding Canadian in the CFL, and a Grey Cup champion, when he became a victim of a devastating car accident. Forty-four years of memories were lost in an instant. He was without a past and his future looked bleak. With the support of family and friends, Terry has rebuilt his life and inspires you to look at your life in a way you had never done before. He shows you the never-ending power of the human mind to overcome obstacles.

“This event is the largest fundraiser for Special Olympics and we are fortunate to have these Celebrities from across Canada join us to help raise money for Special Olympics PEI. Money raised from this event goes toward grass root programs that happen every week across the Province.” said James McClean, Executive Director of Special Olympics PEI.

“The festival is a very entertaining event which also provides us with the opportunity to promote the achievements of our athletes and give Islanders the chance to meet these fantastic celebrities.”

SOPEI is proud to announce that Ocean 100 and K-Rock 105.5 are the Radio Sponsors of the Sports Celebrities Festival. Also, the Delta Prince Edward, Maritime Electric, West Jet and Frishkorn audiovisual are all joining this event as sponsors to help support Special Olympics PEI. We welcome their help to make this the most successful and talked about evening on PEI this summer.

We encourage anyone who is interested in attending either event or learning more details to contact the Special Olympics office at 368-8919 or toll free at 1-800-287-1196 or via email at tracey@sopei.com. Charlottetown’s dinner and silent auction tickets are available for $100 per person or $800 for a corporate table of 8 seats. Tickets for the Summerside luncheon are available for $35 per person or $275 for a corporate table of 8.

May 21, 2008 - Bowling Provincials this weekend!! - This weekend the 2008 Provincial Bowling Provincials will be held in Charlottetown. Click here to view more info on the event.....

May 14th, 2008 - Bring Home the Cup - Special Olympic Athlete Adam Bourque has WON the "BRING HOME THE CUP" Contest. Thanks to everyone for voting and congrats Adam!!

May 14th, 2008 - Tickets on Sale Now for Annual Sports Celebrities Festival - Individuals and companies are encouraged to purchase tickets to the Sports Celebrities Festival (SCF) in support of Special Olympics PEI.

Tickets to the SCF Gala Diner and Auction in Charlottetown are $100 per ticket or $800 for a table. A tax receipt will be issued for all tickets purchased.

Ticket prices for the SCF Luncheon in Summerside are $35 per ticket or $275 for a table.

The June 25th events will be hosted by Paul Hollingsworth, CTV newscast host, and he will be joined by Sports Celebrities from across the Nation.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Special Olympics office at 368-8919 or via email at tracey@sopei.com. Tickets for the event will be sold until June 24th.

May 5th, 2008 - Bring Home the Cup - Special Olympic Athlete Adam Bourque is trying to "BRING HOME THE CUP". He needs your vote......click the link below, watch his video and cast your vote!! Contest ends soon...vote now!!

http://bringhomethecup.cbc.ca/mediadetail/156224

May 4th, 2008 - 5-Pin Bowling Provincials this Month! - The 5-Pin Bowling program will culminate with our Annual 5-pin Bowling Provincial Championships on May 24-25, 2008. Over 200 athletes, coaches and volunteers will enjoy a great competitive weekend with bowling being the spotlight

Athletes and coaches also have the opportunity to meet other fellow competitors, stay at the UPEI dormitory’s and take part in a Special Olympics dance.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the event can call Natasha at 368-8919 or by email at Natasha@sopei.com. Click here for more details....

April 28th, 2008 - Annual Sports Celebrities Festival Date Set!! - Special Olympics PEI would like to invite you to the annual Sports Celebrities Festival (SCF) taking place on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008. The Festival is a two part event which includes a luncheon held in Summerside and a Gala Dinner and Auction that same evening in Charlottetown.

The SCF is a premier event on PEI where prominent Island businesses and business people gather to support Special Olympics PEI. This event is Special Olympics PEI most important fundraiser of the year and it raises necessary funds to assist Special Olympics PEI in providing athletes the opportunity to participate in both community and competitive sports across PEI.

Click here to read more on our SCF....

April 15, 2008 - Pretty “Ladies” for Charity! - It is time, once again, for the Annual Male Beauty Pageant in Support of Special Olympics PEI. These masculine “ladies” will be judged on their poise, beauty, and style to crown Miss Special Olympics 2008. Tickets are on sale now for this annual fundraiser which supports Islanders with an intellectual disability in sport. The event will be held at the Carrefour Theatre in Charlottetown, on May 29th at 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm). Seating is limited, so buy early or miss out on a very entertaining evening. Tickets are $10.00 each and are available now!

For tickets, or if your organization would like to sponsor a lovely male “model” in this year’s pageant please contact Margaret by calling 902-892-6941. Tickets can also be purchased at the Special Olympics PEI office at 40 Enman Crescent, Suite 240, Charlottetown, or by calling 1-800-287-1196.

For more information about Special Olympics PEI and its programs, please contact Special Olympics PEI Program Director, Natasha Goguen at 368-8919 or via e-mail at Natasha@sopei.com

April 4, 2008 - Special Olympics PEI Athletes, Volunteers and Supporters Receive Awards - Athletes, friends, volunteers and supporters of Special Olympics PEI gathered at the Loyalist Lakeview Resort in Summerside on Thursday evening to recognize and congratulate the efforts of athletes and volunteers. The Special Olympics PEI Annual Awards ceremony was held in front on a full house and recapped a very successful 2007.

The Awards presented were:
PEI Mutual Insurance Company Female Athlete of the Year

Eastlink Advertising Male Athlete of the Year

Maritime Electric Female Coach of the Year

Maritime Electric Male Coach of the Year

Facility of the Year Award

David Andrew Memorial Award (A parent/guardian who has made a significant contribution to the Special Olympics movment locally, provincially, and/or nationally, and has exemplified the spirit, philosophy, and goals of SOPEI)

Sport Volunteer of the Year Award (Awarded to a volunteer who through their commitment to enriching the lives of Islanders with an Intellectual Disability through sport, has made a difference in their Community)

President’s Award (Awarded to a volunteer who has made a significant contribution to the Special Olympics movement locally, provincially, and/or nationally, and has exemplified the spirit, philosophy, and goals of SOPEI)

Dr. Frank Hayden Award (Awarded to an athlete who has shown commitment to training and the determination to succeed at a grassroots level)

Spirit Award (Awarded to an athlete who brings out the best in themselves and their teammates and coaches through commitment, determination and humour)

The Winners are:
PEI Mutual Insurance Company Female Athlete of the Year: Alyssa Chapman of Murray Harbour

Eastlink Advertising Male Athlete of the Year: Mark Ramsay of Kensington

Maritime Electric Female Coach of the Year: Debbie Metcalfe, Covehead

Maritime Electric Male Coach of the Year: Dick St. John, Charlottetown

Facility of the Year: The Charlottetown Fitness Center

David Andrew Memorial: George Arsenault of Summerside

Sport Volunteer: Susan Gordon, Elmsdale

President’s Award: Margaret MacPherson of Charlottetown

Dr. Frank Hayden: Travis Perry of Miscouche

Spirit Award: Emily Craig, Kinkora

March 15, 2008 - Annual Awards Presentation - This year's Annual Awards will be held on April 3 at the Loyalist Country Inn in Summerside at 7:00 PM. More details will be coming soon....stayed tuned to www.sopei.com for more details.

March 6, 2008 - WELCOME BACK TEAM PEI CELEBRATION!! - TEAM PEI has returned home from the 2008 National Winter Games in quebec City. It was a weeke filled with successes, personal bests and the team brought home 6 medals.....all wonderful accomplishments!! Come and celebrate the week wuth us...cheer our athletes and coaches....thank our sponsors and be reminded about Winning at Life!

When: Monday March 10th at 7PM

Where: Delta Prince Edward

Please note: This event will replace the Pep Rally which was scheduled for February 13th.

February 4, 2008 - Our January Newsletter is now available. Click here to see what's happening at SOPEI!

January 20, 2008 - ROCKET SUPPORT SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEAM PEI 2008 - At their game, this Sunday vs. the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, the PEI Rocket will be supporting Special Olympics PEI and the team of Special Olympics athletes who will be representing PEI at the National Winter Games being held in Quebec City in February. There will be an opportunity to meet Special Olympics athletes and wish them well as they prepare to compete in the Winter Games.