On March 8 th , 2025, at the Special Olympics World Games in Turin, Italy, our Chair, Brian Etherington was presented with the King Charles III Coronation medal by Special Olympics Canada President and CEO, Gail Hamamoto.
Brian is someone whose visionary leadership and philanthropic spirit has transformed the Special Olympics Movement in Canada.
His impact spans decades. He co-founded the Sports Celebrities Festival ( SCF) in 1983 – a fundraiser that started as a small breakfast and grew to be a full day of events that raised millions of dollars annually to support athletes. This model was replicated in Chapters across
Canada. At SOC, the SCF evolved into what is now known as our annual LIMITLESS Gala.
But Brian’s impact did not stop there. His devotion to the Special Olympics Movement and our values helped inspire his three sons to found motionball which has raised over $20 million net to date and introduced thousands of young Canadians to the movement.
Brian served as a past Chair of Special Olympics Canada which led him to found the Special Olympics Canada Foundation (SOCF) in 1998, which he currently once again serves as Chair, always leading with heart, purpose and a commitment to ensuring athletes have opportunities to
excel both in sport and in life.
As Gail Hamamoto quoted in her medal presentation:
“Brian, your generosity, leadership and commitment to Special Olympics has shaped this movement for generations. Your efforts have created lasting opportunities for athletes across the country and we are proud to recognize you with the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
On behalf of Special Olympics Canada , we thank you for your commitment, passion and belief in the power of sport to change lives. Your contributions have helped shaped this movement in ways that will be felt for years to come and we are so proud to celebrate you today.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Congratulations, Brian!