"I have seen Special Olympics change the lives of hundred’s of athletes, giving them increased confidence, renewed social awareness and the knowledge that they can meet life’s challenges head on and succeed."
By Sarah Spisak
Jerry Tennant has called Red Deer home for the last 62 years having moved to the city after graduating high school to take a job with CKRD Radio.
For 42 of those years, Jerry has been a volunteer with Special Olympics Alberta.
At the end of 2022, Jerry was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for his years of dedication to Special Olympics and his community. He was among five members of the Special Olympics Alberta community to receive the prestigious award.
“It was a humbling experience and a great honour, especially to have received it at the same time as four other members of the Special Olympics Alberta family who have given so much to the organization over decades,” Jerry says.
“My first career, from 1960 to 1981, was in radio and television. In 1981, I left that job and started work at the City of Red Deer Recreation Department as an Athletics Program Supervisor,” Jerry says.
“One of my responsibilities was as a liaison with various sporting groups in the city including Special Olympics. I started attending the local Affiliate Management Committee (AMC) meetings, became interested in and intrigued by the mission, goals and objectives of the organization and soon joined the AMC as a regular member.”