If there is one thing that we know about Justin Sitler, it is that inning after inning he is committed to putting in the hard work and swinging for the fences on-and-off the diamond. Since 2013, Justin has been lining up at the plate with Special Olympics Alberta with the Camrose affiliate. The 25-year-old slugger has found his place as … Read More
Dallas Sorken is Leading the Way with Sobeys and SOA
“IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CRUCIAL TO HELP ATHLETES BETTER THEIR PERFORMANCE AND FOR THE ATHLETES TO EAT HEALTHIER. I’LL BE THERE AND TELL THEM TO SUPPORT OUR ATHLETES BECAUSE IT IS VERY CRUCIAL TO DONATE BECAUSE IT HELPS US IN SO MANY WAYS.” – DALLAS SORKEN ON WHY THE SOBEYS CHECK-STAND CAMPAIGN IS IMPORTANT TO HIM. Dallas Sorken is … Read More
David Kwas is Keeping His Teams Organized
From the minute you walked in the door at the Sobeys – Walker location last Saturday you most likely felt at home thanks to Special Olympics Alberta athlete and Sobeys employee, David Kwas. The Summer Food Fair took place at Sobeys Inc. locations across the country as part of the second national check-stand fundraising campaign in support of Special Olympics … Read More
Food Fair Helps Leonka Kaluha Find Family at Sobeys
She is an artist, she is an athlete, she volunteers, she is a hard-working Sobeys employee, she is all of this and so much more. She is Leonka Kaluha. The 35-year-old is someone who puts her heart into everything she does from art projects, to sports, to taking the Polar Plunge for the past seven years raising over $15,000 for Special Olympics programs. Despite … Read More
Jordan MacLeod is Destined to Make a Splash at Worlds
“Special Olympics taught me how to make new friends and taught me how to be a champion.” – Team Canada swimmer Jordan MacLeod. Jordan MacLeod is a champion in the pool and also a champion of inclusion. Last year Special Olympics celebrated 50 years of empowerment through sport and the next five years will focus on making inclusion a global reality. “It taught a … Read More
Francene Scott’s Unbreakable Spirit
Francene Scott is a 37-year-old athlete who competes with Special Olympics Alberta-Grande Prairie and was the recipient of the 2018 Athlete Spirit Award. AN INCIDENT THAT PUT HER IN INTENSIVE CARE FOR SIX MONTHS WAS NOT ENOUGH TO BREAK THE SPIRIT OF GRANDE PRAIRIE’S FRANCENE SCOTT. HAVING TO RELEARN HOW TO WALK AND TALK WERE STEPPING STONES FOR FRANCENE ON … Read More
Get the Scoop on Athlete Reporter Josh Petrone
If there is a story to be found Josh Petrone is always ready to get the inside scoop. Josh is an invaluable member of the Special Olympics Alberta staff and started working as an athlete reporter five years ago. “I discovered I liked writing stories for Special Olympics,” said Josh. “It is many things like finding new stories, taking pictures is cool, and … Read More
Emma Bittorf is Preparing to Tee up for Worlds
Walking up to the tee, Emma Bittorf is preparing for her first shot of the round. She looks down the fairway and smiles because today is going to be a great round of golf. Special Olympic Alberta-Calgary golfer Emma Bittorf may just be 15-years-old, but she has already earned her spot on Team Canada and is scheduled make her debut at the Special … Read More
Dribbling Inclusion into the Picture
The school year has begun and as the leaves begin to turn we are gearing up for the return of sports programs. For 17-year-old Hala El-Refaei it is one of the best times of the year as it marks the start of another season with Special Olympics Alberta – Calgary. As she enters Grade 12, El-Refaei is excited to start … Read More
David Nicholson is Benching Inequality
The Revolution is Inclusion and our athletes are changing the game by putting inequality on the bench. There is only one option moving forward and that is inclusion. Powerlifter David Nicholson is changing the stigma surrounding people with intellectual disabilities one deadlift at a time. 23-year-old, David is used to carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders not only in … Read More