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 …

Bill Dickson first joined the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in 2001 as an Issues Coordinator/Information Officer at the East Region Headquarters in Smiths Falls. Shortly after, Bill was asked to take on the role of a Route Coordinator for the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) in the Ottawa Valley. To this day, Bill will be the one to tell you that at his first Final Leg …

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 …

Jim Chauvin’s first Torch Run was in 2000 and after meeting some of the athletes he was supporting at the event, he was hooked.  “From there, I was asked to be the LETR representative for our town, and I haven’t looked back since!”  Chauvin has gone on to hold a role on the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run (OLETR) Operations …

Sarah Bamford’s first exposure to Special Olympics (SO) was in a coaching role.  In the late 1990s, Bamford had the opportunity to start her SO journey by coaching athletes in Figure Skating.  This included two athletes who competed at the 1996 National Winter Games and 1997 World Winter Games.  “The experience of working with athletes was one of many driving forces …

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 …