2026/2027
Makadiff Sport Grant
Special Olympics Alberta receives the Makadiff Sport Grant
Special Olympics Alberta is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Makadiff Sports Grant to support the growth of Unified Sports in rural school communities across Alberta.
This project will help expand inclusive sport opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities by bringing Unified Sports programming directly into school communities. Through hosting school-wide Unified events, attending a student leadership summit, and ensuring educators feel confident with access to equipment, resources and support, the project will help build lasting capacity for inclusion while creating meaningful opportunities for students to connect through sport.
Unified Sports is about much more than competition. It is about creating school communities where every student feels they belong. This generous support allows us to reach more rural communities, build student leadership skills and ensure more youth have the opportunity to experience the power of inclusion through school sports.
Special Olympics Alberta extends its sincere thanks to Makadiff Sports. Together, this partnership will help remove barriers to participation and create lasting opportunities for students across Alberta to learn, lead, and grow alongside one another.
For more information on our programs, please contact:
Cassie Shaw - Manager, Unified Sports Program
cshaw@soalberta.ca
(587) 890 1982
Instagram: @unifiedsportsalberta
Nominations are open for the
2026 Unified Champion Award
Purpose:
The Unified Champion Award recognizes an individual, team, school, or partner organization that demonstrates outstanding commitment to fostering inclusion, teamwork, and leadership through Unified Sports, Inclusive Student Leadership and/or Whole School Engagement initiatives. This award celebrates those who embody the spirit of a Special Olympics Unified Champion, creating positive change in their community and inspiring others to do the same.
Eligibility:
Athletes (Special Olympics Athlete or Unified Partner)
Teachers, coaches, or school staff
Schools, classes or clubs
Community or organization
Criteria: (Nominees should demonstrate at least 3 of the following)
Promotes Inclusion – Actively creates opportunities for individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to participate together in sports, activities, or leadership initiatives.
Demonstrates Leadership – Inspires others through example, whether it be mentoring, coaching, or guiding peers to foster an inclusive environment.
Encourages Participation – Expands engagement in Unified programs, encouraging diverse groups to join and participate meaningfully.
Creates Lasting Impact – Initiatives or actions that have measurable, positive effects on their community, school, or team culture.
Advocates for Unity and Awareness – Raises awareness about the value of inclusion, promotes Special Olympics messaging, and helps shift perspectives about individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Nomination Process:
Nominations can be submitted by peers, students, athletes, or community members.
Include a brief description of why the nominee exemplifies the Unified Champion spirit, with examples of their impact.
Optional supporting materials: photos, videos, testimonials.
Award Recognition:
Annual presentation at a Special Olympics Alberta awards luncheon held in Edmonton on November 21st, 2026
Winner highlighted on the Special Olympics Alberta website, social media, and newsletters.
Register Now!
Building Champions Unified Sports Conference
The Unified Sports Conference and Youth Leadership Summit was a huge success!
With 80 educators and 30 students attending it became Alberta's largest Unified Conference yet. We want to thank Andrea Cahn from Special Olympics North America for joining us. She spoke on the growth of Unified Sports, and shared a ton of resources that will be used to enhance our programs moving forward. We are excited to learn from each other and always make our programs better.
We are already seeing the positive impacts through many schools' whole school initiatives. Creating Unified Clubs was one of the biggest takeaways from time spent collaborating and discussing strategies. By having an inclusive club that begins with friendship, communication and understanding, the Unified Sports has a more impactful presence in the school community. Memorial shared that at their school, it begins with their Unified Club and from there they attend tournaments together. We hope to continue to collaborate and have discussions on how we can build champions within our schools, both on and off the court.
Thank you to our guest speakers:
Our Unified Duo: Juenp and Chris from Austin O'Brien High School
Jamie-Dee Marshall and her Leadership Students; Maira, Danika, Lenaya, Vivian and Cali who shared their experience through planning and hosting the Olds Spartan Spectacular.
Megan Brain - Physical Education and Health Consultant & Teacher from Edmonton Catholic School Board
This event would not have been possible without the support of the Government of Alberta's Every Kid Can Play grant. These funds have helped support the enhancement and expansion of inclusion in school sports over the past two years. Thank you!
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