History & Philosophy

Our Mission

Our mission is to enrich the lives of Albertans with an intellectual disability through sport.

Our Vision

The vision of Special Olympics Alberta is to have the ability to provide the opportunity to all Athletes with intellectual disabilities to participate in the sports that they wish, at the level that they wish, with the best training possible, in the best facilities available and with the best equipment available.

History of Special Olympics in Alberta

Incorporated in 1980, Special Olympics Alberta has built a tradition of support and opportunity for people in Alberta with intellectual disabilities. In 1981, the organization hosted its first Provincial Summer Games.

Parents and families of athletes have been the driving force behind the Special Olympics movement around the world and the same is true in Alberta. Parents who wanted sport opportunities for their children started the first programs in many communities. The first Special Olympics programs were started by dedicated parents and volunteers in Lethbridge and Calgary even before a provincial organization was founded.

History of Special Olympics in Canada

In 1963, Dr. Frank Hayden’s national sports program for people with intellectual disabilities came to the attention of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Kennedy Foundation and led to the creation of Special Olympics. The first Special Olympics sports competition, held at Chicago’s Soldier’s Field in 1968, involved 1,000 athletes from the United States and Canada. To ensure that Canada was represented, Dr. Hayden called on Harry “Red” Foster, an outstanding sportsman, famous broadcaster, successful businessman, and humanitarian.

Accompanying a Toronto floor hockey team to the first Games, Foster recognized Special Olympics as an opportunity to enhance the lives of Canadians with intellectual disabilities. Upon returning to Canada, he set about laying the foundation for the Special Olympics movement. In the summer of 1969, the first Canadian Special Olympics event was held in Toronto.