West Grey Police receive Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Award
On June 12th, 2019 Cody Jansma, the Director of Business Development for the Special Olympics Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run attended the West Grey Police Service for a very special presentation. Jansma, along with local Special Olympics athletes Brad Andrews and TJ Walton, presented Chief Robert Martin and Constable Cory Trainor with a Special Olympics Ontario 50th Anniversary memento which is awarded to the biggest supporters of the cause. The West Grey Police Service has been recognized provincially for the large amount of fundraising that has taken place in the Municipality of West Grey.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics worldwide and to support this moment in history, the West Grey Police Service participated in a flag raising of a Special Olympics flag at the Municipal Office. This year, West Grey Police have hosted their annual Law Enforcement Torch Run as well as Polar Plunge for Special Olympics. The success of the events lays solely on the generous contributions from community members and local businesses. Police have partnered with firefighters and local schools who are always willing to help out.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary provincially, Special Olympics hosted The Invitational Youth Games in Toronto where athletes with and without intellectual disabilities competed against and alongside each other. All sports offered two divisions of competition: one where competitors have an intellectual disability, and another where athletes with and without an intellectual disability compete on the same team.
Though this award was presented to our police service, it truly belongs to all of our community partners. The support shown each year makes for successful events which in return, gives Special Olympics athletes the chance to participate in their sports. To all of the community members of the Municipality of West Grey, thank you for your continued dedication and support.