Special Olympics Alberta is dedicated to enriching the lives of
individuals with an intellectual disability through sport.
2020 Annual Report
ATHLETES
(21 years and younger)
#PlayUnified
in sports/programs
“Just watch some of the sports and competitions and see what our athletes are capable of. We are much more than capable, we are people like everyone else.”
- Brock Jesse, SOA-Bow Valley athlete
COACHES
Coaches are the catalysts for athlete development. They provide athletes with the tools to learn their sport, the motivation to help them train, the inspiration to help them succeed, and the resources to be all they can be. Our coaches are inspirational, inclusive, role models who are building a brighter future for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
“I volunteer for the love of sport,” he said. “Special Olympics just puts the fun back into sport. It’s competitive, it’s serious, but it’s also hilarious in a fun, meaningful way. And when you have the opportunity to really make a difference in an athlete’s life, that’s a win-win.”
– Martin McSween, SOA-Drumheller Head Coach
VOLUNTEERS
COMMUNITIES
Northern Floor Hockey League
The Northern Floor Hockey League is an affiliate led, Special Olympics Alberta-supported league open to Floor Hockey teams in close proximity to Edmonton. The league provides developmental opportunities for Floor Hockey athletes in a competitive environment.
This year 12 teams from Edmonton, Spruce Grove & District, St. Albert, Strathcona, and Vegreville battled it out in three different divisions over five weeks.
ROCK THE RINK
Meg Ohsada – Oct. 10 in Red Deer
JorDen Tyson – Oct. 13 in Grande Prairie
Kennedy Zaytsoff – Oct. 16 in Calgary
Moriah Van’t Land – Oct. 17 in Lethbridge
Emma Bittorf – Oct. 19 in Medicine Hat
Unified Sports
The Unified Sports season kicked off on November 14th at Lord Beaverbrook High School. The marquee event, which saw 90 athletes and partners from 90 schools in Edmonton and surrounding area, come together for a full day of bocce under the Dome at Foote Field in Edmonton.
HEALTHY AT HOME
Special Olympics Alberta delivered virtual opportunities, giving athletes the chance to attend a weekly schedule of fitness, health, and strong minds sessions.
Our athletes stayed active, connected, informed, and positive through virtual programs like the daily Special Olympics Alberta-Calgary Facebook Live Workouts, Steve Topham training sessions, Sobeys Wellness Wednesday nutrition sessions, and Social Club.
Special Olympics Alberta was able to deliver virtual opportunities, and by collaborating with other chapters athletes are able to attend a weekly schedule of fitness, health, and strong minds sessions.
Our athletes stayed active, connected, informed, and positive through virtual programs like the daily Special Olympics Alberta-Calgary Facebook Live Workouts, Steve Topham training sessions, Sobeys Wellness Wednesday nutrition sessions, and Social Club.
Wellness Wednesdays with Madison
Every Wednesday throughout COVID-19, Special Olympics Alberta-Edmonton athlete Madison Bailey-Borges used her Healthy Messenger training to deliver a message about virtual programming for her fellow athletes.
Social Club
Social Club connects athletes from across North America for a weekly Zoom session hosted by members of motionball and athlete leaders. From May 8 through the end of June, we hosted 14 sessions with 237 total athletes tuning in.
SOA-Calgary Facebook Live Workouts
From March 23 through the end of the year, our Calgary affiliate hosted daily Facebook live workout sessions featuring coaches, ambassadors, staff, volunteers, partners, and athletes leading online workouts for athletes to stay active at home.
103 Total Workouts
21,178 People Reached
43,098 Views
53,406 Engagements
Coast to Coast
On April 14, in collaboration with Special Olympics chapters across the country, the Coast-to-Coast Challenge started and brought athletes, coaches, volunteers, partners, and supporters to virtually walk across Canada together. Participants submitted their daily walk distances and in just three weeks we walked 15,159 km across Canada. Alberta was strongly represented as 82 athletes and volunteers joined the virtual challenge.
This initiative was launched on May 18 as a follow-up to the Coast-to-Coast challenge. Special Olympics organizations across the globe were invited to virtually walk the world together. #WalkTheWorldSO is still underway, and on June 9, over 700 participants arrived in Alberta where we celebrated the Special Olympics affiliates across the province.
ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT
Special Olympics Alberta offers summer and winter sports for ages eight and up, youth programs for ages two to 18, athlete leadership opportunities, Unified Sports, and health programs.
Healthy Athletes
Members of our Team Alberta Wolfpack took part in Healthy Athletes screenings available to all athletes attending the 2020 National Games. Athletes were able to participate in:
Health Promotion – nutrition, hydration, BMI and healthy living techniques
FUNfitness – physiotherapy, flexibility, balance and injury prevention
Special Smiles – dental screening and education
Opening Eyes – optometry and free eyewear
Strong Minds – mental health and adaptive coping skills
Athlete Leadership
Leadership Input Council
the ALIC
2019-2020
2019-2020
“It's a wonderful opportunity [because] Special Olympics is like a second family and everybody's there to help each other.”
- Dallas Sorken, Alberta Leadership Input Council Chair
SOCIAL IMPACT
Special Olympics Alberta uses sport to reveal the full potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The transformation and empowerment of our athletes is a catalyst for social change making healthier, stronger, and more inclusive schools. cultures, and communities.
700
New people eager to learn about our movement on social media
74
Times our movement was featured on media outlets
2765
The number of people learning about our movement on YouTube. (1117 more than 2019)
84,691
The number of times our Instagram Stories were viewed this year
Financials
Total Revenues
| Amount ($) | Percentage | |
| National Sponsors | 284,370 | 19% |
| General Donations | 155,829 | 11% |
| Government of Canada* | 288,974 | 20% |
| Government of Alberta | 117,901 | 8% |
| Law Enforcement Torch Run | 111,148 | 8% |
| Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission | 196,259 | 13% |
| Foundations | 17,000 | 1% |
| Motionball | 283,184 | 19% |
| Other Revenue | 16,423 | 1% |
| Total | 1,471,088 |
*SOA received funds from the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy program allowing the organization to maintain staffing levels and capacity.
Total Expenses
| Amount ($) | Percentage | |
| Sports and Events | 155,324 | 11% |
| Unified Sport Programs | 92,232 | 6% |
| Provincial Games | 32,297 | 2% |
| Team Alberta | 203,716 | 14% |
| Affiliate Services | 468,612 | 32% |
| Communications | 91,000 | 6% |
| Fund Development | 179,351 | 12% |
| Fund Development – Affiliate Sharing | 109,216 | 8% |
| Law Enforcement Torch Run | 114,447 | 8% |
| Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission | -3,005 | -0.2% |
| Administration | 11,778 | 1% |
| Total | 1,454,968 |
TEAM ALBERTA
“For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the
strength of the wolf is the pack”
“We became The Wolfpack over the year and built a true identity that encouraged growth and confidence and support.”
Jodi Flanagan, Team Alberta Chef de Mission.
The Wolfpack earned:
Law Enforcement Torch Run
We smashed our participant record as 590 incredible people
took the plunge across Alberta to raise:
$197,000 for Special Olympics
Polar Plunge is the ultimate team building opportunity and a perfect way to engage your employees. Sign up your organization and challenge them to get #FreezinForAReason in 2021.
LETR members
PARTNERS
THANK YOU TO THE GENEROUS DONORS WHO ALLOW
US TO MOVE OUR MOVEMENT FORWARD!
