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...