Special Olympics Alberta
16011 - 118 Avenue T5V 1C7 Edmonton, AB, Canada

P R O G R A M S Track is back! (and so are our other summer sports, but they don’t rhyme as well). Summer programming is underway for many for the first time since 2019! That we have been able to hit the ground running with our programming after such an extended absence speaks to the incredible support we have received from our community. ... We’ve heard you, Edmonton - access to sport & recreation for individuals with an intellectual disability matters within your community, and we’re so glad to be back doing what we do best. Catch us out on a pitch, diamond, court, course and more scattered across the city this summer! #SpecialOlympics #CantBeatUs

V O L U N T E E R S Did you catch the @specialoalberta National Volunteer Week content last week?! Head over to the link in their bio to see profiles of volunteers making huge impacts in the lives of our athletes. Featured is our very own Coach Todd! Volunteers make all of the magic around SO possible, and have been here in Edmonton since 1974. ... We are so proud of our volunteers - our veteran coaches, our student volunteers, our first time helpers, our leaders and our supporters, our event volunteers and our sport experts. The SOE family is a network of diverse members, each of which adds an irreplaceable energy to everything we do. SO doesn’t exist without you, volunteers. So during #NVW2022 and every day that follows it, we say thank-you. If your life has been affected by the work of a volunteer, join us by saying thank-you in the comments below! #SpecialOlympics #EdmontonVolunteers

J E R S E Y S FOR J O E Y ***GIVEAWAY*** Draw - February 15 after the Oilers Game As we celebrate Joey’s legacy, we want to show our support and unity in a big way! On February 15th, join us in #JerseysforJoey giveaway and have the chance to win an Oilers jersey from @unitedsport1928!... Joey Moss is a legend here in Edmonton and across the world for his professionalism, his humor, his dedication to sport, and the barriers he crashed through during his time behind the scenes with the Edmonton Oilers. On February 15th, Special Olympics Edmonton Edmonton Down Syndrome Society and Winnifred Stewart Association are honored to be the beneficiaries of the Edmonton Oilers 50/50 ticket sales thanks to the incredible generosity of the @oil_foundation and @EdmontonOilers! We are so grateful for this opportunity to raise funds for our organization & these funds will benefit so many members of our community. We ask you to help us show our support and honor our friend Joey by sporting YOUR #JerseysforJoey on game day! United Cycle Presents: Jerseys for Joey Giveaway ($200 Value)! The winner will receive: An Adidas NHL Edmonton Oilers Authentic Home Jersey in a size of your choice! To enter, you must: 1. Share this post between now and game time (1 Entry) - MUST be a public post for us to see it, & you to win! 2. On Game Day (February 15th) share a photo of you or the hockey fan in your house sporting your jersey of choice in the comments! (3 Entries) Winner will be selected from all eligible entries. ONLY entries that tag us will be seen please make sure to use the #JerseysforJoey to win! Contest closes February 15th at 8:00 pm. Draw will be made following the game & you will be notified by Instagram!

While we’ve been crazy busy today, we had to pop in last minute for our #PinkShirtDay contribution! The crew at @specialoalberta @specialocalgary & SOE banded together to show our support. We were delighted to see so many pink shirts out in the world today! #SpecialOlympics

V O L U N T E E R I N G Are you interested in getting involved with Special Olympics Edmonton and being a part of making a difference for our athletes? We are booting up virtual programming as we speak & we are currently recruiting volunteers! Though we can’t be celebrating huge sport moments with hi-fives face-to-face, you can be a part of doing our best to provide a social and physical outlet for our athletes across the city. ... If you’re interested in getting involved, please email us directly at [email protected] & let’s get your story with Special Olympics started! #SpecialOlympics

C A N T B E A T U S We’re not quite done yet! We have two weeks remaining of the #CantBeatUsCampaign with @volvoedmonton & we have set our sights on a new goal, raising it to $65,000! Why raise the goal? Beyond continuing our efforts to the last possible day of the campaign, our reality is that we still have a lot of recovery to do. ... Special Olympics Edmonton is working hard behind the scenes to bring virtual programming options to athletes, and we are hopeful that fall 2020 will bring a return to in-person programs for many of our members. With your help through this time, we are on the way to making that a reality. Did you know that $15,000, the amount we’ve raised our goal, approximately covers the cost of running the following programs for an entire season: Bocce, Golf, Outdoor Soccer, Softball, Track & Field, and Youth Soccer. That’s the vast majority of our spring & summer programming! These funds have an enormous impact on our organization & make a real difference in the lives of our athletes. #SpecialOlympics

We want to share with you what we have been up to! Since the beginning of February, 150 athletes have been meeting up once a week for virtual programming. Here is what some of our athletes think of the program: I like to be able to see everyone and the coaches and just get back to a little bit of the soccer program! - Soccer Athlete I love the program, I think it’s a good idea because it helps me get active and I can see everyone! - Curling Athlete ... I find the program fun and interesting. I really like aerobic and dance exercises! - Rhythmic Gymnastics Athlete We are so proud to able to provide this opportunity to connect with fellow coaches, volunteers and athletes. Many participants are echoing the sentiment that this is the highlight of their week! #specialolympics

What even happened yesterday... We spent the morning resting and recovering from the insane excitement of yesterday, and wrapping our brains around the @edmontonoilers & @oil_foundation 50/50 draw, the incredible show of support for our #JerseysforJoey social media campaign, and the incredible generosity of our community towards SOE, @edssociety & @wsa1953. We had an amazing day celebrating with you all & seeing the total pot number soar beyond all expectations. ... We talk often about the pride we have in operating within this city, and this province. Our community rallies, time and time again, to support organizations close to the hearts of Edmontonians and Albertans. Last night was nothing short of an incredible affirmation of that. And what a game it was, to boot! We want to send out our most sincere thank-you to the Edmonton Oilers and the EOCF for their generosity and show of support in honour of Joey Moss. If you had the joy of knowing Joey, I’m sure you count yourself lucky. We loved hearing stories of him, seeing the footage all over again, and celebrating his amazing accomplishments throughout his lifetime. Joey Moss changed the world - he changed ours, and continues to do so in so many ways through the legacy he leaves behind. Thanks for all that you are, Joey, and all that you taught so many people to be. We look forward to celebrating your legacy for years to come. #JoeyMoss #specialolympics

What day is it?! It’s G A M E D A Y! And that means we are showing up all day in our #JerseysforJoey to honour our friend, increase awareness of tonight’s 50/50, have a chance at winning a #EdmontonOilers jersey! and cheer on our team! To participate in the fun, sport your jersey of choice and share to your story or your feed. Hashtag #JerseysforJoey! For details on how to make sure you’re entered in the giveaway, see our giveaway post!... #SpecialOlympics

C A N T B E A T U S Now this is a good news story - we’ve REACHED our 50k goal! What does this mean? - you, our community, friends, partners, and @volvoedmonton clients & supporters have donated and contributed over $25, 000 in just over two months to Special Olympics Edmonton... - @volvoedmonton is matching that $25,000 donation to SOE, bringing the total for the #CantBeatUsCampaign to $50,000. Their generosity, partnership, and support have made this all possible. Please give a huge *virtual* round of applause for them! - we’re not done yet! We’ve still got two weeks to go & we have more in store. More info on that coming soon! Even more - you did this in a pandemic! This is our opportunity to say thank-you. Though we can not shake hands, celebrate, and recognize our donors in person this year, that makes this all the more unbelievable to us. The generosity that has poured out privately from the comfort of your own homes demonstrates the compassion, care, and heart for our athletes throughout the city of Edmonton. In this moment, these funds do not mean fancy new equipment or upgrades - but rather, they allow us to continue to provide programming and great sport moments to over 550 athletes here in our city, as we have since 1974. And that, my friends, is a BIG win. It’s official - this pandemic #CantBeatUs. #SpecialOlympics #YEG #Edmonton [Image Description: a Special Olympics Athlete is seated behind the wheel of a Volvo vehicle] @globaledmonton @ctvedmonton @cbcedmonton @edmontonjournal

C A N T B E A T U S Court here to recognize the donations still rolling in over this holiday season as we approach the big 50k goal! We will be running the #CantBeatUsCampaign through to January 30th - you can learn about our fundraiser through the link in our bio!... Not only has the campaign given us financial support during a very turbulent season for our organization, but it has given us a sense of direction and the hope that this pandemic #CantBeatUs. It has also strengthened an amazing partnership & friendship with @volvoedmonton - not only are their cars beautiful, but their community values & generosity are inspiring. We thank you for joining us on this ride & can’t wait to see what 2021 has in store! #SpecialOlympics

It may be a new year, but one thing remains the same - just how much we miss seeing all of your faces! Speaking of our athletes, has anyone seen this photo while driving around Edmonton? If so, comment below and let us know where you saw it #specialolympics #cantbeatuscampaign

You heard him... It’s GAME DAY! We will be popping in all day with updates on the 50/50 and #JerseysforJoey. Don’t forget - show your support today by purchasing 50/50 tickets if eligible to do so, sporting your jersey & sharing a photo in our Giveaway post comments to be entered in to win an Edmonton Oilers jersey!... GO OILERS!

O I L E R S - 5 0 / 5 0 Are YOU ready for Monday?! On February 15th, @specialolympicsedmonton @edssociety @wsa1953 are honored to be the beneficiaries of the Edmonton Oilers 50/50 ticket sales thanks to the incredible generosity of the @oil_foundation and @EdmontonOilers! ... We are so grateful for this opportunity to raise funds for our organization & these funds will benefit so many members of our community. Here’s how you can get involved: - Buy 50/50 tickets on game day! Alberta residents over 18 years old can purchase. - sport your #JerseysforJoey & enter our giveaway! Details in our previous post We are SO ready for game day & can’t wait to celebrate our friend, Joey.

A N N O U N C E M E N T The #CantBeatUsCampaign has been extended! In partnership with our Presenting Sponsor, Volvo of Edmonton, we have decided to extend the campaign through the month of January. ... This aligns with our goals for January and a few surprises we have coming for the new year. Here’s to extended impact, bigger goals, and an optimistic view of the 2021 that lies ahead! To contribute and help us to reach our goal, visit the link in our bio! #SpecialOlympics

C A N T B E A T U S As the world starts to slow for the holiday season, we’re reminded of the gifts we’ve received this year. The generosity of our community is more apparent than ever, and we feel supported and seen. The #CantBeatUsCampaign will be running through the holiday season and every dollar counts as we continue on the road to 50k and our Presenting Sponsor Volvo of Edmonton matches each one!... Unable to give at this time? We completely understand. Sharing our campaign, our message, and our posts is an amazing way to make an impact! We will drive on. This pandemic #CantBeatUs. #SpecialOlympics

5 0 / 5 0 Despite the current COVID-19 situation, we have BIG plans for 2021! To start us off, I want to congratulate our community on raising $48,116 out of our $50,000 goal for the Cant Beat Us Campaign. This is absolutely incredible! We still have another month to go and we are confident we are going to surpass this goal no problem. We are excited to announce that as part of the #CantBeatUsCampaign we will be hosting an online 50/50 raffle!... Winner takes half of the pot, and all proceeds raised will be going towards the campaign. @volvoedmonton will be matching up to $25,000! Buying tickets is easy, all you need to do is follow these steps: Follow this link: www.soa5050.ca Determine how many you want Fill in your information We will mail you the tickets Draw will be on January 29, 2021 where we will be doing a live video of the draw. Best of luck & thank-you for your ongoing support!

#HealthMessengerMondays - S L E E P It’s almost the holidays - and y’all know what that means: time to rest! Sleep is such an important and restorative practice and one many of us don’t get nearly enough of. Athlete Ambassador Jess is here to remind us of the all-important job sleep plays in restoring our health & keeping us moving!... Thanks Jess - see you next Monday! If you have questions you’d like Jess to answer comment below & you may see your question on an upcoming Health Messenger Monday! #HealthMessenger #HealthMessengerMondays #SpecialOlympics

Athletes and Volunteers are invited for a festive filled trivia night next week on Tuesday, December 15th at 6:30pm MT! Merry Quizmas will be a fun night answering holiday questions on movies, songs, food and random facts to get you in the spirit of the season. Join us for some laughs, show off your knowledge of the holiday season, or challenge yourself among friends with this festive trivia activity.... Register here to get all the information and join the fun: http://ow.ly/uvxK50CIpk9

Because of you, we can #lestweforget #remembranceday #yeg

What do you call a musically gifted elf? A Christmas rapper. Special Olympics Alberta invites all Special Olympics athletes to join us for Deck Your Walls Ball- a virtual holidaydance onDecember 11, 2020at7 PM MT. The dance will be hosted LIVE on Zoom. We are asking you to wear yourbest semi-formal attire, decorate your "walls" or Zoom backgrounds to match the holiday spirit (no flashing lights), and celebrate the holidayseason with DJ Paul.... For athletes registered in the PEAK Program, if you attend the dance you will receive100 pointstowards your total! Register in advance to be on Santa's nice list:https://bit.ly/2J4U49y

CAN’T BEAT US - Link to Donate: https://secure.e2rm.com/p2p/event/346422/en-CA Our campaign with Volvo of Edmonton is in full swing - we are at $2,350 heading in to the weekend closing off our first week of the campaign! We are looking to hit our goal of $50,000 by January 15, 2021- You can help us - share this post, comment, and like & help us reach more people! Every dollar counts, as Volvo of Edmonton matches every dollar up to $25,000. ... The generosity of our community during this time has been so apparent, and we are so proud to call Edmonton home. Thank-you, Volvo of Edmonton, for making this possible for us. #CantBeatUs #SpecialOlympics #YEG #VolvoofEdmonton

We’ve got something cool cooking... Based on the hint in this post, comment what you think we are up to below #cantbeatus #yeg

Who is this local superstar? Way to go, Madison! You rock.

Hey athletes! If you haven’t registered, now is your time to do so! The programs listed below are the sports that still have spots available - if you do not see the program you are interested in please reach out! -Alpine Skiing... -Curling -Floor Hockey -Rhythmic Gymnastics Copy the link below to submit your intent form to SOE and we will contact you regarding registration! https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx

The funds raised by The Mask and Sanitizer Fundraiser hosted by @yegfitness allowed us to purchase all of the proper supplies to ensure our members are safe in all 7 of our programs starting this season! Thank you so much for your support @yegfitness!

Let’s keep the National Coaches Week going by celebrating this coach from our friends to the South!

Week 2 for #ReachYourPEAKab starts NOW! There is still time to register and start your own journey to the PEAK! Maximize Mondays Workout Wednesday SOA Halloween Dance Tai Chi Session... Social Media Challenge Week 2 BINGO SOA Awards Invitation & More Subscribe to stay up-to-date with all things PEAK! - https://mailchi.mp/specialolympics.ab.ca/healthy-at-home-29 See more

In honour of National Coaches Week, we want to spotlight one of our amazing swimming coaches! Meet Makayla Watt, a first-year Head Coach with SOE! Read about Makayla, her impact as a coach, and how you can say #ThanksCoach every week. https://www.specialolympics.ca//makayla-watt-diving-head-f

Thanks, Coach! It’s National Coaches Week - see what our community had to say about our amazing coaches below! Comment what makes your coach so special below and join us in saying thanks, Coach!

Please read for information regarding the National Games cycle.

Takeover Tuesday we are back this week with Desirea Heck! Thanks for taking part in our new bit! Be sure to let us know by commenting if you would like to take part in our Takeover Tuesday posts in the weeks to come #takeovertuesdays #specialolympicsedmonton #athlete

Return to Play is in the works for Special Olympics Edmonton programs. What are you most excited about, when we are able to return to programs?

Thanks so much for sharing with us this summer Madison! We hoped you enjoyed her tips and tricks for keeping good care of yourselves in these times. Have a good vacation, and stay tuned for when she is back with us in October! Make sure and let Madison know what your favourite video was in the comments below! #WWWM #WellnessWednesdays #SpecialOlympics #HealthMessenger #AthleteAmbassador

Meet Jessica McLean, she is our first athlete to take part in our new bit Takeover Tuesday’s! She has been a part of Special Olympics for 19 years!!!! Thanks for sharing Jessica #takeovertuesdays #specialolympicsedmonton #athlete

Special Olympics Alberta has made the tough decision to cancel the 2021 Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games. Please listen to the following message from our C...EO John Byrne and click the link below to read our full announcement regarding the Provincial Games and the extension of our partnership with Strathcona County https://www.specialolympics.ca//strathcona-2021-announceme

In case you missed it, this weekend chance completed his 100km with 5000m of elevation in Special Olympics Edmonton's Kilometers for Inclusion fundrasier! Chance surpassed his goal of $5,000.00 and raised $6,800.00 for our community, with a total of over $7500 raised so far due to the incredible generosity of Chance, his network, and our community. Due to COVID, we, as many businesses have, have experienced a financial impact. Chance and his inspirational feat helped to begin... to close that gap, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Chance - from your friends at Special Olympics - thank-you! We are inspired by you, grateful to you, and enjoyed working with you and supporting you on this journey! A huge congratulations on 100 km, an accomplishment that won't soon be forgotten for a cause you stand by. Thank-you for being a friend of Special Olympics.

Special olympics Edmonton misses you! Therefore we have decided to do a weekly highlight of friends in our community! Starting next week we will be starting Takeover Tuesdays. If you would like be a part of this please DM us and we will send you more details! #takeovertuesday #soe #specialolympics

Please take a moment to check out this video & give a huge THANK-YOU to Sobeys Safeway & IGA. Can you spot our locals in the video?! On behalf of Special Olympics Alberta, our athletes, volunteers, and coaches we want to thank Sobeys, Canada Safeway, and IGA for their incredible $1 million dollar donation and continued support of Special Olympics athletes and community programs across Canada. https://youtu.be/ZcYwoiMx4WU

Can you believe that our newest fundraiser is just two short days away from its start date?! That’s right, this Saturday is Kilometres for Inclusion’s kick off! Have you signed up to be a part of it yet? If not, you are not too late! Check out the link below to see how to get involved!!! https://secure.e2rm.com/p2p/event/336744/en-CA #SpecialOlympics #KilometresforInclusion