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OPS celebrating 50th anniversary of Special Olympics

April 1, 2019   ·   0 Comments

Local community supporters in 50 communities across the province, are commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Special Olympics movement. The Orangeville Police Service is one of those supporters that is raising awareness of the celebration, and in support of high school athletes from across the province who are 50 days away from competing at the inaugural 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games (IYG).

Together with other longstanding supporters such as the Knights of Columbus, communities are hosting a flag raising ceremony, raising awareness of the movement and supporting the Draft an Athlete campaign to help successfully draft Ontario athletes who will be competing on the world stage May 14-17 in Toronto. Schools from around the province have already qualified for the Games, with over 100 teams from Ontario alone and more to qualify in the coming weeks. These athletes are looking forward to competing against their peers from Ontario, Canada, and the world.

Today’s provincial goal across all 50 celebrating communities is to raise $50,000 to go towards the Draft an Athlete campaign.

The IYG are among several events marking the 50th Anniversary of Special Olympics worldwide. These games will break new ground, hosting athletes with and without intellectual disabilities who will compete against and alongside each other.

Qualifying is actively underway and will continue through to April in time for the games. Campaign organizers estimate the final draft will include over 200 teams and 300 individual athletes including from across Canada, US and Internationally. All sports will offer two types of team divisions: a traditional division (in which all athletes on the team have an intellectual disability), and a Unified division (in which athletes with and without an intellectual disability will have the opportunity to compete on the same team).

“This will be the first time that athletes with an intellectual disability will represent their community and school on an international stage”, said Orangeville Police Deputy Chief Leah Gilfoy. “Your support is helping to fulfill a dream and helping to make friendships and memories that last a lifetime”.

The Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games, held in Toronto May 14-17, 2019, will unite 2,500 student athletes (ages 13-21), with and without intellectual disabilities, and their coaches, from around the world. Hosted by the Toronto Police Service, with the support of the Province and the City

of Toronto, the #YouthGames2019 will create a worldwide sporting and communal legacy during the 50th Anniversary year of the Special Olympics movement.

Bullet ricochets off deer

On March 24, 2019 , at approximately 8:30pm members of the Du! fferin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a single motor vehicle collision, involving a deer, on Highway 10 north of County Road 10.

The officer discharged their handgun to destroy the animal who was badly injured. As a result, a bullet ricocheted and caused property damage to a nearby residence.

No one was injured. Highway 10 north was closed for a short period of time as officers competed their investigation.

Man charged after attempting to 

sexually assault a child

On Thursday, March 21, 2019 at approximately 5:30 p.m., officers from the Nottawasaga Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a report of unknown male approaching young children in the park located on Greenwood Drive in Angus, Township of Essa.

The male approached a group of 12 year-old girls in the park and engaged the kids in conversation. He asked the girls if they wanted to play a game and would in turn give them money. The girls declined, left the area and reported the incident to a parent who called 911. The male left the area in a black Chevrolet sedan car, dirty, with a fin and a loud muffler.

Shortly after, the male was observed back in the area by a nearby resident on Greenwood Drive, engaging in conversation with a second group of children. Officers attended the area and located and arrested the male.

After further police investigation, 31-year-old Anthony HOLTORF from Clearview! Township has been charged with:

– Criminal Harassment X 2

– Sexual Assault on Female Under 16 X 2 

  (Attempted)

– Abduction of Person Under 16 X 2 

  (Attempted)

The accused has been released from custody and will attend a future court date at the Ontario Court of Justice in Bradford. 

If there is anyone who has been involved in a similar occurrence with this male, they are ask to contact the Nottawasaga OPP Crime Unit at 705-434-1939.

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