Ontario Trillium Foundation announces $75,000 grant to Special Olympics Ontario and Healthy Athletes program

Investment to assist 2008 Spring Games held at Durham College, UOIT and other venues in Durham Region

OSHAWA, Ont. - Ontario Trillium Foundation officials visited Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) today to announce a $75,000 grant to the Special Olympics Ontario 2008 Durham Region Spring Games, with a particular focus on the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program, which is designed to help Special Olympians improve their overall health and fitness, leading to an enhanced sports experience and improved well-being.

Chuck Mercier, who is chair of the Spring Games and the Durham Regional Police Service's deputy chief of police, Durham College President Leah Myers, and UOIT President Dr. Ronald Bordessa joined other guests as John Ecker, director of communications and public affairs for the Ontario Trillium Foundation, made the announcement at the schools' Oshawa, Ontario campus. The generous gift will provide support in the areas of volunteer development and education and for the first time ever, Special Olympics Ontario will host a Healthy Athletes Expo outside of the traditional Games' competition dates. The expo is May 8 to 10 at the Durham College and UOIT campus.

"The 2008 Spring Games in Durham Region will not only showcase outstanding Special Olympics athletes, but also encourage health and fitness among people with intellectual disabilities," said Durham MPP John O'Toole, speaking on behalf of the Ontario Trillium Foundation. "When combined with the energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers, sponsors and athletes, these funds from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will help ensure the success of the Games."

During the Healthy Athletes event, Special Olympians will receive a variety of health screenings and services in a series of clinics conducted in a welcoming, fun environment. Volunteer health-care professionals including physicians, dentists, audiologists and podiatrists from across Canada, and students will be trained to provide the screenings in the schools' state-of-the-art facilities and labs.

Athletes will have access to six different health tests throughout the expo:

• Opening Eyes will test athletes' vision and provide eyeglasses and protective goggles as necessary;
• Special Smiles will teach the importance of oral health and provide mouthguards as necessary;
• FUNfitness will assess the athletes' general flexibility and provide simple exercise tools;
• Healthy Hearing will screen hearing acuity, create custom earplugs and make minor repairs to hearing aids;
• Fit Feet will examine the athletes' feet; and
• Health Promotion will promote and reinforce good nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices.

In addition, the Healthy Athletes Expo will educate the professional community about the health needs and abilities of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Taking place three weeks prior to the Games, it will act as a natural conduit to the Spring Games for prospective athletes from Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area.

"We have witnessed the benefits that athletes and parents have reported through a number of Healthy Athletes events hosted during our major Games," said Glenn MacDonnell, president and CEO, Special Olympics Ontario. "However, as significant as the results were, we always believed that the Healthy Athletes program could have a much bigger impact if it could serve a broader constituency. This inaugural event has the potential to screen over 1,000 people, many of whom will be new to the Special Olympics program. When you combine the direct benefits with the ability to educate parents, clinicians, politicians and the general public about what Special Olympics is and does, the impact can be monumental."

The Special Olympics Ontario 2008 Durham Region Spring Games will take place May 29 to 31, with the Durham Regional Police Service, a longtime supporter of Special Olympics, leading the planning and serving as host. Durham College and UOIT are the host sites for the athletes and a number of events including the opening and closing ceremonies.

About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of close to 95 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT's 5,000 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, the university offers a diverse array of challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its faculties of Business and Information Technology; Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies; Education; Engineering and Applied Science; Health Sciences; and Science, and its School of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science. UOIT's commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

For more information, contact:

Pauline Carey
Internal Communications
Special Olympics Ontario
416.447.8326 ext. 221

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Michelle Good
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2197
michelle.good@dc-uoit.ca