Annual Report 2013-2014 Special Olympics Canada Our Mission ....................................................................................... 07 Message From Our CEO ................................................................. 08 Message From Our President ....................................................... 09 Board of Directors ........................................................................... 10 Strategic Plan Synopsis .................................................................. 12 Partner Thank You ........................................................................... 14 Reach Athletes ............................................................................................. 18 Volunteers ........................................................................................ 19 Communities .................................................................................... 20 Sport Programs ................................................................................ 22 Volunteer & Coach Education ....................................................... 24 Healthy Athletes .............................................................................. 25 Athlete Leadership Program.......................................................... 26 Healthcare and Diversity Initiatives .............................................. 27 Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) .................................... 28 Research ............................................................................................. 28 Impact Instilling Confidence ....................................................................... 32 Jim Flaherty, 1949-2014 Fostering Healthy Athletes ........................................................... 34 Changing Attitudes ......................................................................... 36 Special Olympics Canada’s 2014 Annual Report is dedicated to our good Strengthening Communities ......................................................... 37 friend, and steadfast champion, the late Jim Flaherty. Minister Flaherty was a tireless advocate for those with a disability and on behalf of Year in Review Special Olympics Canada, our chapters and, especially, Special Olympics Chapter Highlights .......................................................................... 40 athletes across Canada. One of his many legacies will be the positive National Office Highlights ............................................................. 44 impact he has had on the lives of people with disabilities and, in turn, SONA Conference ........................................................................... 46 the role they will have in creating more inclusive communities and a National Golf Tournament ............................................................ 47 more inclusive country. It was an honour for us to work with Minister National Awards .............................................................................. 48 Flaherty over the years. He is truly missed by the Special Olympics LIMITLESS .......................................................................................... 50 Movement in Canada. Hill Day and 2014 Federal Budget Funding ............................... 51 Partner Campaign/Activation Summary ..................................... 52 National Office Financial Statements ......................................... 57 *Information in this report represents the fiscal year of July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. Special Olympics Canada “Special Olympics has helped me overcome social challenges and accomplish many sporting feats I never thought possible. I participate in bowling, basketball, baseball, swimming and golf. Special Olympics gives us the opportunity to participate in sport, build our skills, confidence and grow in the world of sportsmanship and competition. But Special Olympics means more to me than just sport programs and opportunities. It has also opened up so many doors for me outside the playing field. I serve on the Special Olympics Ontario Board of Directors as the Athlete Representative and participate in Special Olympics Canada’s Athlete Leadership Program. It is the growth off the field of play that makes Special Olympics programs so important to me and my fellow Canadians with intellectual disabilities.” - Tess Trojan Special Olympics athlete and Athlete Representative on Special Olympics Ontario’s Board of Directors Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. Special Olympics Athlete Oath Our Mission Special Olympics Canada is dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through active participation in sport. 7 Message from the CEO – Message from the President and Sharon Bollenbach Chair of Special Olympics Canada’s In December 2013, after seven years as Vice-President, Sport, I had the honour of being Board of Directors – Dan Golberg appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Canada. Through visits to chapters, sharing stories with athletes and families, meeting coaches and volunteers, and having The 2014 fiscal year was my first as Chair of Special Olympics Canada’s Board of conversations with partners and staff, I am privileged to have experienced moments that Directors, and what a memorable and exciting year it was. From provincial and territorial inspire and bolster my enthusiasm for the impactful work we do. games in all twelve chapters, which served as qualifiers for the 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, to expanding our daily programs into over 450 communities Special Olympics Canada is a vibrant, successful sport organization dedicated to enriching the across Canada, to Special Olympics Canada’s Hill Day lobbying effort in Ottawa, and lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sport. This commitment, our Mission, the inaugural edition of LIMITLESS: The Special Olympics Gala, I am very proud of the is the promise we make to our athletes. progress made by Special Olympics Canada and the movement this past year. We The Annual Report is our record of that commitment... a summary of our actions and our welcomed Sharon Bollenbach as Special Olympics Canada’s CEO in December of 2013 progress in enriching lives through sport. Among a host of achievements this past year, we and, under Sharon’s leadership, we have made great strides in advancing and delivering celebrate the Government of Canada’s pledge of $10.8 million of incremental funding, over on our mission of enriching, through sport, the lives of our fellow Canadians with four years, that will help enhance and expand grassroots programs from coast to coast to intellectual disabilities. coast; we recognize a 2.4% increase in the number of athletes participating in our programs; As proud as we are of the movement’s growth this past year, and over the past we applaud a 6.2% increase in volunteers who share their time and talents and are invaluable four decades-plus, we know there is much more we can do to serve Canadians with to our success; and we express heartfelt gratitude to our many funding partners whose intellectual disabilities. The reality is that Special Olympics Canada’s 36,739 athletes contributions and commitment make our work possible. represent less than 5% of the population that can benefit from our world-class The stories from our athletes, their families and our volunteers validate that our programs programs. My fellow Board members and I remain committed to our Strategic Plan and are making a difference every single day and that the road ahead is full of opportunities. to supporting Special Olympics Canada and our chapters in bringing the transformative I am energized and motivated by these opportunities and know that Special Olympics in power and joy of our programs to even more Canadians with intellectual disabilities. Canada, inclusive of athletes, families, volunteers, partners, chapters and staff is a force to be I extend a heartfelt thank-you to our chapters, our partners, our volunteers and coaches, reckoned with. Propelled by our Mission and our Pan Canadian Strategic Plan, we will continue our staff, and of course, our athletes and their families for a very successful year. to make a difference in dynamic and innovative ways. We will enrich more lives! Sincerely, Here’s to our momentum and another successful year! Sharon Bollenbach Dan Golberg Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Canada President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Special Olympics Canada 9 Officers Dan Golberg President & Chair, Vice President, Corporate Development, TELUS Beverley Hammond Past-Chair, Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer, REPUBLIC Mike Lamontagne Vice-Chair & Treasurer, We are fortunate to be able to draw upon the experience and talents Executive Vice President, Etratech Enterprises Inc. of a committed group of volunteers who provide leadership at the Martin Fingerhut Secretary, highest level of governance, our National Board of Directors. They Senior Managing Counsel, Fingerhut Global Advisors come from a diverse range of industry and professional backgrounds, but are united in their commitment to advance the Special Olympics Directors Movement here in Canada. Gary Daniel, Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Ernie Eves, Q.C., Former Premier of Ontario Chief Wm. Murray Faulkner, Chief of Police (Retired), London Police Service Gerry Frappier, President and General Manager, Le Réseau des sports (RDS) Stewart Johnston, President, TSN Murdoch MacKay (ex-officio),