Ron Caudle has been involved with the Polar Plunge event for three years. In his first Polar Plunge year, Ron was encouraged by Chief Bryan Larkin to participate in the event to help support Special Olympics Ontario (SOO). “How do you say no to the Chief?” said Ron. Since then, Ron has continued participating in the Polar Plunge event. Last year, when Waterloo …
John McGetrick of the Ottawa Police Service and Special Olympics Ontario athlete, Mélanie Héroux have become quite the Polar Plunge duo! For the last six years, the pair have been the first plungers to make the chilling jump. “This always keeps me looking forward to the next Polar Plunge,” said Mélanie. Mélanie first got involved with Polar Plunge when Special Olympics Eastern Ontario Director, Kirk De Fazio and herself were …
Tara Bottan has been working for the past 20 years as an officer with Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) in several locations across Ontario. Her career with CBSA began as a summer student while attending Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. Her CBSA career lead her to positions in the Oshawa Customs Longroom as well as Pearson International Airport, Pigeon River …
London, ON – For the past 15 years Special Olympics Ontario has been the beneficiary of one of the best run golf tournaments in the province. Organized annually as an event under the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics umbrella, the tournament has been a consistent top fundraiser in Ontario, raising $396,000 since it began in 2006. The LETR …
Thomas Carrique, Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has formed an unbreakable bond with athlete Stephen Graham over the years. “Stephen’s enthusiasm, determination and his commitment to achieving his personal best is an inspiration that motivates those who have the privilege to get to know him to do better and be better,” states Commissioner Carrique. Stephen Graham, a decorated …
For 18 year Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) veteran Allen Schultz, it is pretty clear that his connection to the athletes of Special Olympics is the driving force behind his involvement with LETR. “Each and every time I hear an athlete tell their story at the Provincial Kickoff Conference, I get that lump in my throat. Their stories, our commitments …
Peel Regional Police Staff Sergeant Jay Bouwkamp has worn many caps in the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) and Special Olympics (SO) world. Bouwkamp has held positions as an Ontario LETR Zone Coordinator, Chair of the Peel Regional Police Torch Run committee and former Georgetown SO club manager. However his most important role is the father of Jenna, his 18 …
Constable Shaun Beaulieu, Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Shaun Beaulieu’s Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) and Special Olympics (SO) journey has taken him from being “volun-told” to set up a local run and barbeque while working for the Town of Espanola, to taking on the role of Games Manager to run the Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Winter Games in Sault Ste. Marie, …
The Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games 2011 in Thunder Bay featured a 5km Final Leg run in freezing temperatures reaching -50 degrees (with the wind chill). This was Deb Muller’s introduction to the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) and Special Olympics (SO) but luckily the smiles and positive energy outweighed the cold temperatures that day. “It is truly an amazing …
Special Olympics Canada has once again partnered with Tim Hortons to create the limited edition #ChoosetoInclude Donut, available from January 28-30. 100% of the proceeds from sales of the donut will go directly to local Special Olympics community programs.
