
Law Enforcement Torch run sees a big turnout in support of Special Olympics Ontario
Over 200 participants took part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Thursday morning in support of Special Olympics Ontario.
Runners, walkers and police officers took multiple routes across Kitchener as part of the event. Their journey ended at the Waterloo Regional Police Service's headquarters in Cambridge.
Bill Smith was proud to take part. He was reflecting on what it was like to compete when he was in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, California, USA.
'I got a gold medal, a silver medal and a fourth-place pin,' said Smith.
The goal is to promote inclusion for Special Olympics athletes with the event.
'The athletes inspire the police officers. Their dedication. Their motto 'let me win and if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt 'pretty much explains what this event is all about,' said Derek Spence, Torch Run liaison.
The event has been happening since 1987.
According to Special Olympics Ontario's website, the Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest public awareness and grassroots fundraising organization for Special Olympics globally.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: Aug. 1-3
Large firework display over the Ottawa River for the International Sound of Light fireworks competition (Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy). (Karen Hogan/iStock/Getty Images) looks at things to do in Ottawa and eastern Ontario this weekend. Ironman Ottawa 2025 The 2025 Ironman Canada-Ottawa triathlon is Sunday through the streets of Ottawa. The event includes a 3.8 km swim, a 180 km bicycle ride and a marathon starting at the base of Parliament Hill. The race is Sunday, beginning at 6 a.m. There will be road closures across the city. For more information, visit Map of road closures for Ironman Ottawa A map of road closures for Ironman Ottawa. (City of Ottawa) Les Grands Feux Saturday night is night two of Les Grand Feux over the Ottawa River. Japan is the presenting country Saturday night, with the theme 'Dream Journey to Japan.' Les Grand Feux continues every Wednesday and Saturday until Aug. 16. Tickets are available to watch the international fireworks festival at the Canadian Museum of History. For more information, visit Fireworks in Ottawa Fireworks explode over the Ottawa River, below Parliament Hill, near the Inter-Provincial bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau, Quebec, the grand finale to a fireworks competition in the Ottawa area, Saturday August 19, 2017. (Fred Chartrand/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Canada Rugby See Canada Rugby Women's 15s face the United States on Friday night at TD Place. It's Canada's final match on Canadian soil before competing in the 2025 Rugby World Cup trophy in England. Game time is 7 p.m. For tickets, visit Canadian Track and Field Championships Canada's top athletes compete for a spot at the World Athletics Championships this weekend. The 2025 Canadian Outdoor Track and Field Championships run until Aug. 3 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. The event will showcase U20, Open and Para Athletics categories, and the event is the selection trials for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Athletes scheduled to compete in Ottawa include Gatineau sprinter Audrey Leduc, Olympic champions Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers, Olympic silver medalist Marco Arop, and Sarah Mitton. For more details, visit Ottawa BlackJacks The Ottawa BlackJacks host the Calgary Surge Saturday afternoon at TD Place. Game time is 2 p.m. For tickets and information, visit Atletico Ottawa Atletico Ottawa hosts York United Sunday afternoon at TD Place. Game time is 4 p.m. For tickets, visit Bouncy Castle The world's biggest bouncy castle will be at the RA Centre this weekend. The Big Bounce Canada brings its 24,000 sq. ft. bouncy castle to the RA Centre from Friday until Sunday. For tickets and information, visit Glengarry Highland Games The Glengarry Highland Games run Friday and Saturday in Glengarry. Don't miss the North American Pipe Band Championships, Highland Dancing, Great Celtic Entertainment, sports and the pageantry of the Highland Games. There are also children's events, workshops, a Tartan Ball, Scottish Fiddling and more. For more information, visit Always a Bridesmaid The Ottawa Little Theatre presents the farcical comedy 'Always a Bridesmaid.' See the production by Jones Hope Wooten until Aug. 2. For tickets, visit 10-minute Play Festival The Kanata Theatre presents the 10-minute Play Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The festival features seven plays written by local playwrights. For more information, visit Doors Open at Rideau Hall Take a tour of the state rooms at Rideau Hall this weekend during Doors Open Rideau Hall. You can also tour the greenhouses and gardens at Rideau Hall, the home to Canada's governor general. Doors Open at Rideau Hall is Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 613flea The popular 613flea returns to Lansdowne on Saturday. Check out 150 vendors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Admission is free. Lansdowne Farmers Market The Lansdowne Farmers Market is back at Lansdowne on Sunday. Connect with over 85 local vendors in the historic Aberdeen Square from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Main Street Farmers Market The Main Street Farmers Market is open for the season. The market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grande Allee Park. Carp Farmers Market The Carp Farmers Market is open every Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Metcalfe Farmers Market The Metcalfe Farmers Market has kicked off a new season. The market is every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Metcalfe Fairgrounds. Westboro Farmers' Market The Westboro Farmers Market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The market is located in Byron Linear Park. Barrhaven Farmers Market The Barrhaven Farmers' Market is every Sunday at the Nepean Woods Park and Ride. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Museums Click on the links for the schedule at museums in Ottawa and eastern Ontario: Parliament of Canada Tours Enjoy a free, guided tour of the Senate at the Senate of Canada Building, the House of Commons in the West Block and the East Block. For tickets and tour times, visit Parliament: The Immersive Experience Explore the main Parliament Building, also called Centre Block, in this innovative experience. Parliament: The Immersive Experience at 211 Sparks Street includes an exhibition and a 360-degree multimedia show that takes you on a tour through Centre Block, which has been closed since 2019. The self-guided tour is 45 minutes. Tickets are available at no cost at visit Kick and Push Festival The Kick and Push Festival continues this weekend in Kingston. It's an innovative performance festival featuring Canadian performers and original, internationally award-winning work. The festival runs until Aug. 17. For more information, visit Princess Street Promenade in Kingston The Princess Street Promenade is Saturday, featuring 100 businesses and community groups. Shop till you drop between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Prescott's King Street Promenade Street Festival The second annual King Street promenade is Saturday in Prescott. Local businesses will showcase their products and offer special promotions. There will also be live music, entertainment and a variety of activities. Poutine Feast 2025 in Cornwall Enjoy a weekend of award-winning poutines at Lamoureux Park in Cornwall. Poutine Feast 2025 feature games for the kids and adults, music, vendors, and, of course, poutine. The event runs until Sunday. Napanee Fair The Napanee Fair runs Friday to Sunday at the Napanee Fairgrounds. Admission for children ages 10 and under is free. For more information, visit Lombardy Fair The 159th Lombardy Fair runs Friday to Sunday. For more information, visit Brockville Ontario Speedway Saturday night is race night at the Brockville Ontario Speedway. Racing starts at 7 p.m. Cornwall Motor Speedway Sunday is race night at the Cornwall Motor Speedway Enjoy racing around the quarter-mile dirt track, with the first race at 6 p.m.


CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
John Freeman Walls came to Canada to find freedom. More than 170 years later, his descendants are keeping the story alive
The John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum in Puce, Ont., tells the story of a man who escaped slavery and found a new life in Canada. The museum was founded in 1989 by Dr. Bryan Walls, a descendent of Freeman Walls and his wife, Jane King Walls. Walls' daughter, Brittany Walls, is next in line to run the site. Ahead of Emancipation Day, CBC's Justin Escoto — a seventh generation descendant of Freeman Walls — went to the historic site to share the family's story.

CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Thunder Bay Hospital Foundation, humane society team up to promote pet adoption
There are more dogs waiting for a spot in Thunder Bay's humane society than the organization can handle, but a new partnership with the Thunder Bay Hospital Foundation is hoped to ease the numbers. The hospital foundation, which raises millions of dollars for the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre through its 50/50 draws, will be promoting pets for adoption through its Dog Days of Summer campaign. In the past, 50/50 players have submitted photos of their pets to be featured on the hospital foundation's web page and social media channels. This time, the spotlight will be on the humane society's tenants. "I think the first year, we [had] just under 2,000 submissions," said Glenn Craig, the hospital foundation's CEO. "We totally underestimated how [much] people love their pets." "This is a way of not only highlighting our own fur babies but trying to find somebody else a new fur baby." The inspiration for the project came from American comedian Stephen Colbert, who regularly features dogs available for adoption on The Late Show, Craig said. "It's just a great idea, great opportunity for us to be able to showcase our animals on a bigger and different platform," said Shawna Beaulieu, executive director of the Thunder Bay and District Humane Society. While there's a steady flow of people taking in puppies and kittens, Beaulieu said finding foster and forever homes for adult dogs is an ongoing challenge. "It's a little bit of a bigger ask, so it can be challenging to find people that have the capacity to foster a dog," she said. "They're sticking around the shelter way too long, so to give them that break, being in a family environment, have some enrichment with people every day." For those who aren't in a position to adopt a dog, Beaulieu says fostering is a great alternative. "We provide all of the supplies, all of the support that you'll need, and we also have our progressive program, which is that we're looking for fosters that will take in a dog and go to training with them," she said. "It's a lot of fun and a great way to be able to spend time with a dog, going out and doing something." The humane society is in need of donations of adult dog food, treats and chew toys, Beaulieu added. The grand prize for the hospital foundation's August 50/50 draw was more than $1.3 million at publication time. While draws occur every weekday, the grand prize draw is scheduled for Aug. 29. "Every month has been increased over last year. People continue to be excited by it. We have some huge announcements we're going to be making this fall," Craig said.