It was a golden day for Special Olympics Ontario as Windsor kicked off a new campaign.
The Windsor Police Service, along with representatives from Special Olympics Ontario, the Knights of Columbus, and the Greater Essex County District School Board, gathered outside Windsor Police headquarters Monday morning for a special flag-raising, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics in the province.
Monday marked 50 days before high school athletes unite in Toronto for the Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games. Two schools in the local public board, Riverside Secondary School and W.F. Herman Academy, will send athletes to compete in the traditional basketball and bocce ball competitions.
Glenn MacDonell, president and CEO of Special Olympics Ontario, said Windsor's generous spirit never failed to amaze him.
"A lot of it has to do with the great people of Windsor and the type of program we have in Windsor," said MacDonell. "It's not just our school-based program but it's one of our crown jewels, as we like to call it."
The flag-raising is also part of a province-wide kickoff of the Draft an Athlete campaign, with a goal of $50,000. Each $1,000 donated will be used to "draft" an athlete that will be competing. Windsor Police will be selling plush replica K-9 dolls to raise money and draft an athlete of their own.
Police Chief Al Frederick has been involved with Special Olympics for years and has fond memories of participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run when Windsor hosted the Provincial Summer Games in 2009. He said the 50th anniversary is significant, but not as much so as the satisfaction he gets working with athletes one-on-one.
"We play floor hockey against them and baseball," said Frederick. "Those are probably my most cherished memories, participating in sport with them."
The Invitational Youth Games take place from May 14 to 17 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
The Essex County Ontario Provincial Police also marked the occasion Monday with a flag-raising of their own outside their Essex detachment.
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