MANITOULIN—Manitoulin Special Olympics (MSO) athletes are gearing up to head to the Special Olympics Canada National Games taking place in Calgary, Alberta, February 27-March 2. Six athletes and three coaches will be part of Special Olympics Ontario’s team roster attending from Manitoulin.
“Matthew Bedard, from Manitowaning, will be competing in snowshoeing. He competed last February in Huntsville and qualified to race at Nationals in the five-kilometre, 800 metre (winning gold medals in both) and 1,600 metre races,” said Kathrine Tipper, an MSO coach. “Matthew has been coached by Joanne Mellan using the trails at McLean Park. Joanne will be Matthew’s coach in Calgary. Steve Redmond has also been helping Matthew with dryland training once a week. Matthew also trains on his own with direction from both of these volunteers as well.”
“MSO’s curling team that competed in Sault Ste. Marie last March also qualified to move on to compete at the Nationals (who won a gold medal at the regionals),” said Ms. Tipper. “This team consists of team skip Tyler Madahbee, vice Dylan Danville and second Dayne Tipper from Mindemoya, lead Austin Recollet from M’Chigeeng First Nation and lead William Leclair, from Kagawong.”
“The team has been practicing out of the Providence Bay Curling Club weekly since last November,” said Ms. Tipper. She pointed out MSO coaches Ellen Holroyd and Janet Anning will be the team’s coaches in Calgary. Heather Niven and Marc Lefebvre have also been helping weekly with coaching in Providence Bay. “Some of the athletes on this curling team have also been playing in the house leagues of Mindemoya and Providence Bay curling clubs.”
Sandra Graham, from Kagawong, will also be attending the games as a five-pin bowling coach for Team Ontario.
“All the athletes/coaches are pumped and excited to be attending these games,” said Ms. Tipper. “Manitoulin Special Olympics Bluegrass in the Country’s annual fundraising event has helped offset some of the costs for athletes to be able to attend the national games in Calgary, so many thanks to the sponsors and folks who purchase tickets and attend this festival.”
“We are all wishing all six of these athletes on Team Ontario the best of luck and to have fun. Manitoulin is very proud of these fine gentlemen,” said Ms. Tipper. She noted the Special Olympics motto is ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.’
The team will be flying out to Calgary on February 26, with opening ceremonies to be held the evening of February 27, the competition beginning February 28-March 2. Closing ceremonies will take place on the evening of March 2 then the team flies back home on March 3. To learn more about the games go to calgary2024.specialolympics.ca or google “Special Olympics Winter Games Calgary 2024.”
