June 30th, 2025

Written by Huron Heights Secondary School students

Students from Huron Heights Secondary School (HHSS) and Galt Collegiate Institute (GCI) proudly represented their schools and the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) at the Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Championships in Ottawa. The event brought together more than 700 athletes from across the province, the top qualifiers among more than 10,000 participants, to compete at the highest level of Special Olympics school sport.

HHSS students competed in Unified Floorball, a fast-paced sport similar to hockey. Athletes with and without disabilities play together on the same team. Coached by Ms. Good, Ms. Brake, and Ms. Cabeldu, the Huron Heights team earned a Bronze Medal in their division – an impressive achievement for their first-ever appearance at the Provincial Championships.

But for these students, the experience went far beyond medals.

“I had so much fun playing floorball,” said Sydney. “I had a great time at the athlete’s dance. I really liked meeting new friends.”

Julian echoed the sentiment, “The dance was fun! It had different songs. And the dorms were cool to stay in. You get to hang out with your friends if you share a room – so much fun!”

From buffet favourites to the energy of the crowd, the memories were vivid.

Lujian said, “It was fun meeting and playing with new people. Any time someone got hurt, people checked if they were okay.”

“Being involved in the Special Olympics as a Unified Player has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Kasey. “I highly recommend it to any student looking for a meaningful way to connect, grow, and make a lasting difference.”

Meanwhile, GCI’s ACE students competed in Track & Field and Bocce, coached by Ms. McCoy and Ms. McCreight. Their results were just as impressive, with several students earning medals and personal bests.

Ismail, a student at GCI, sprinted to double gold in the 100m and 200m races, adding silver in long jump and bronze in shot put. “The medal ceremony was the best,” he said.

Others celebrated the camaraderie and atmosphere of the games:

“When I had high-fives at Opening Ceremonies,” said Shiv.

“Looking around at Ottawa and doing track,” said Paige, who placed in all three of her events.

“I got to hang out with my class. I got to have fun. I got to hang out with new people,” said Skye, capturing the essence of inclusion that defines the Special Olympics.

This year’s competition celebrated athleticism, inclusion, and school spirit. Special Olympics Ontario remains committed to “enriching the lives of Ontarians with an intellectual disability through sport.” Events like this remind us of the profound impact of participation, teamwork, and community.

HHSS and GCI students returned home with medals and memories. They also brought back a message—when given the chance to compete, connect, and belong, all students can do incredible things.

#StudentVoice Series

This article is written by a WRDSB student and is part of the Student Agency and Voice program. Student journalists embody WRDSB’s commitment to creating space for students to tell their stories. They are ambassadors for their peers as they share their personal experiences and stories about their schools and communities in their unique voices.