History of SOM

2010

• Special Olympics Manitoba celebrates 30 years of providing quality sport training and competitions for Manitobans with an intellectual disability.
• SOM moves to the new Sport Manitoba offices at 145 Pacific Avenue.
• 3 Manitobans attend the Special Olympics Incorporated Global Congress in Marrakesh, Morocco.
• 5 Manitoba athletes and 5 coaches and mission staff are selected to represent Canada at the 2011 World Special Olympics Games in Athens Greece.  SOM VP of Sport Jennifer Campbell is Chef de Mission for Team Canada.
• Special Olympics Manitoba is part of the first Special Olympics Hill Day held at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

2009

• The SOI World Winter Games are held in Boise Idaho.  Manitoba is represented by 7 athletes in the sports of snow shoeing and cross-country skiing.  SOM also sent 7 coaches and mission staff.
• Over 600 athletes and coaches attend the SOM Provincial Summer Games held in venues throughout Winnipeg in July.
• Simon Mundey is appointed the Chair of the North American Leadership Council.
• Manitoba selects 102 athletes and coaches to attend the 2010 National Summer Games being held in London, Ontario.

2008

• 46 athletes and 22 coaches attend the SOC National Winter Games in Quebec City in February.
• The Manitoba Motor Dealers Association (MMDA) raises over $100,000.00 in its 20^th annual golf tournament.
• The Manitoba Law Enforcement Torch Run celebrates its 20^th Anniversary of raising funds for Special Olympics

2007

• Following a successful National Summer Games, SOM Westman hosts the 2007 Provincial Winter Games in Shilo and Wawanesa in February.
• Manitoba sends eight athletes and a coach to the World Summer Games in Shanghai, China.  Joining this group are Judy Wakeford who was selected by Special Olympics International (SOI) to attend the Family and Supporters Conference and former Winnipeg Police Chief, Jack Ewatski, who represented Manitoba in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg.

2006

• Brandon is the host of the 2006 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games. This is the first National Games to take place in Manitoba.
• Eight Manitoba athletes and one coach are selected to travel with Team Canada to the 2007 World Games.
• Winnipeg hosts the National Team Training Camp for the Team Canada athletes attending the 2007 World Games in Shanghai.
• Manitoba wins National “Male Coach of the Year” (Gord Stewart), Female Coach of the Year (Heather Todoschuk) and “Team of the Year” (Shilo Gunners) honours. Dr. Jennifer Mactavish receives the Harry Red Foster Award.
• The 2006 Winnipeg Wine Festival was another outstanding success, contributing $213,000 to SOM from the net proceeds of the Gala Dinner, Public Tastings and Ancillary Events.

2005

• Special Olympics Manitoba celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
• Brandon, Manitoba hosts the Provincial Summer Games. It is the first time the Summer Games have been held outside Winnipeg.
• 84 athletes and 25 coaches and Mission Staff are named to Team Manitoba who will attend the 2006 National Summer Games in Brandon.
• 4 athletes and a coach are named to represent Manitoba at the 2005 Canada Games in Regina.
• Manitoba hosts the Special Olympics Canada National Conference.
• Manitoba wins three National Awards including, David Ingram, “Male Athlete of the Year”, Brita Hall, “Female Athlete of the Year” and Joyce Witsyhyn “Female Coach of the Year”.

2004

• A one in one hundred year blizzard fails to put a damper on the 2004 National Winter Games held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Led by Chef De Mission Jennifer Campbell, 54 athletes and 22 coaches and mission staff compete in seven sports
• Five athletes and two coaches are selected to the Canadian Team competing in World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan
• Heavy Evason wins the Great West Life (Sport Manitoba) Volunteer of the Year Award

2003

• Brandon, Manitoba is announced as the location for the 2006 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games. This is the first time the Games will be held in Manitoba
• Special Olympics takes a new look as it changes its name to Special Olympics Manitoba, renovates the office and develops a new logo
• Ashlee McLeod won four gold medals at World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland. Jack Hess attends the games as a Global Messenger for Special Olympics Incorporated
• Five athletes, a coach and a manager represent Manitoba at the 2003 Western Canada Games in Selkirk

2002

• The first Winnipeg Wine Festival Fund Raiser is held raising over $70,000 for Manitoba Special Olympics
• Jack Hess is selected as a global messenger by Special Olympics International. Jack is the first Manitoba athlete named and is one of twelve worldwide
• Manitoba Special Olympics changes its name to Special Olympics Manitoba

2001

• Manitoba places 38% of the athletes on the Canadian Team attending the World Winter Games in Anchorage, Alaska

2000

• MSO celebrates 20 "Years of Heroes"

1999

• Manitoba sends 13 athletes and 4 coaches to the International Special Olympics World Summer Games in Raleigh, North Carolina

1997

• The first Manitoba Moose dinner in support of Special Olympics is held
• Four athletes and two coaches attend the North American Indigenous Games in Victoria B.C. for the first time

1996

• MSO, St Amant and the Leisure and Human Performance Institute co-sponsor the first St Amant Conference focusing on Development Disabiltiies
• The first Special Olympics Honourary Board is formed

1995

• Manitoba Special Olympics celebrates its fifteenth anniversary
• Manitoba hosts the first CSO-NCCP Level 2 course
• The first Sports Celebrity Festival fundraiser is held

1992

• The Special Olympics Coaching Association (SOCA) is formed

1990

• Special Olympics athletes compete in the Western Canada Games for the first time

1989

• The Medallion Program is introduced
• Bill Forrest and Heather Gudmundson become the first Manitoba coaches to receive the Special Olympics Canada male and female Coach of the Year Award

1988

• Manitoba Special Olympics participates in the Manitoba Summer Games for the first time
• The first Law Enforcement Torch Run is held in support of Special Olympics raising $115,000.00
• Special Olympics opens an office in Brandon

1987

• The first MSO Provincial Winter Games are held in Minnedosa
• The first Youth Sports day is held in Winnipeg

1986

• Flin Flon and The Pas Regional Councils are formed
• Westman Region Special Olympics becomes the first region to affiliate with a Regional Sport Association
• Manitoba Special Olympics participates in the Manitoba Winter Games for the first time
• MSO athletes participate in the Manitoba High Schools Track meet for the first time

1985

• Manitoba Special Olympics becomes a full member of the Manitoba Sports Federation
• Eastman and Thompson Regional Councils are formed
• The first SOC-NCCP Level 1 Technical Course is conducted

1984

• Interlake and Westman Regional Councils are formed
• Michelle Roy and John Lavalle receive Commonwealth Awards from her Royal Highness Elizabeth II

1983

• Manitoba Special Olympics opens Summer Camp in Grand Marais
• The first Pee Wee program is formed

1982

• The Provincial Summer Games grows from one sport and 125 athletes to seven sports and 365 athletes as the result of the Variety Club of Manitoba - Tent 58 sponsorship

1981

• Special Olympics athletes from Manitoba attend the Special Olympics International Winter Games for the first time.

1980

• Manitoba Special Olympics is incorporated
• First ever Winter Games are held in Winnipeg
• First Provincial Program Committee is formed
• Winnipeg Region Special Olympics Council is formed

1979

• Fourteen Manitoba athletes and 2 coaches attend the International Special Olympics Games in Brockport, New York

1978

• 120 athletes attend a track meet in Winnipeg
• Manitoba athletes travel to Regina for the 1st Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.