WELCOME
Welcome to the official site for the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026. We’re proud to host athletes, coaches, families, and fans from across the country for a celebration of sport, inclusion, and community spirit. Set against the natural beauty and warm hospitality of Medicine Hat, these Games will showcase the incredible talents and inspiring stories of athletes with an intellectual or developmental disability. Together, we’ll create unforgettable moments of competition, connection, and pride as Canada comes together for this extraordinary event.
SLOGAN
We Shine Together
OUR MISSION
To shape an impactful Games that honour the voices of Special Olympics athletes, while celebrating community collaboration, and expanding awareness that inclusion matters.
OUR VISION
To create an inclusive and memorable experience for all participants, while igniting our community spirit, and leaving a lifelong legacy for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The logo for the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026 captures the spirit, landscape, and community of the host city.
The sun and moon represent Medicine Hat’s “Sunshine State of Mind,” celebrating the city’s bright and welcoming atmosphere. The circle, wave, and crossover lines symbolize a figure in motion, reflecting the energy, determination, and movement of Special Olympics athletes.
Three stars signify achievement and celebration - 3 of them representing gold, silver, and bronze medals. The flowing coulee lines illustrate the city’s distinctive landscape, while the South Saskatchewan River symbolizes connection and vitality.
The two crossed lines form a teepee, honouring the Indigenous heritage and cultural significance of the region. Surrounding these elements, the pathway or roadway and band around the teepee represent connection, unity, and the shared journey of athletes, volunteers, and supporters coming together for the Games.
Together, these elements create a dynamic and meaningful emblem — one that reflects inclusivity, motion, and celebration in the heart of Medicine Hat.
OUR BRAND
MEET THE TEAM
Board of Directors
Brian Varga
Games Chair
Elisha Ammann
Director of Accommodations
Natalie Sauer
Director of Administration
Sean Rooney
Director of Communications
Michael Anctil
Director of Facilities
Keith Edwards
Director of Finance
Darlene Keeler
Director of Food Services
Jerri Gainer
Director of Friends of the Games
Malcolm Sissons
Director of Language Services
Director of Marketing & Promotions
Barry Finkelman
Mike Christie
Director of Protocol
Rob Grisonich
Director of Registration
Camille Darr
Director of Medical & Safety
Cassidy McKelvey
Director of Sport
Glenn Brunet
Director of Sport
Fred Weinheimer
Director of Accommodations
Darla Grasley
Director of Volunteers
Jen Dickson
Special Olympics Medicine Hat Liaison
Nick Wepruk
Medicine Hat Sport and Event Council Liaison
Scott Richter
City Liaison
Staff
Kara Brake
Games Manager
kara.brake@socmedhat2026.ca
Communications and Experience Coordinator
Jenna Chaykowski
jenna.chaykowski@socmedhat2026.ca
Hailey Gray
Games Coordinator
hailey.gray@socmedhat2026.ca
Misty Zanger
Games Coordinator
misty.zanger@socmedhat2026.ca
Alexander Rahal
Games Assistant
alexander.rahal@socmedhat2026.ca