Cheering on New Brunswick's Anna Keyes

PHOTO: (L-R) Brenda Keyes, Anna Keyes, Paul Keyes

Anna Keyes is a forward on New Brunswick’s co-ed soccer team, competing from August 11 - 15 at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026.

The 25 year old is participating in her first national Games this year, and her parents Brenda and Paul have made the trek across the country to see her take the field.

Before her parents arrived in Medicine Hat, Anna was excited for a chance to speak with us, and thrilled about having people come out to cheer her on – something her mother was not surprised to hear.

“She does like a cheering committee,” said Brenda. “We’re going to get some paper, some construction paper and make a sign for the games tomorrow. She likes the attention, she loves soccer, and she loves meeting new people.”

Anna has played sports for most of her life, competing with school teams until the end of high school. She joined local Special Olympics programs after that, and quickly became involved in a big way.

“We didn’t start Special Olympics until after Anna graduated high school,” said Brenda. “We’ve had a very positive experience with her in sports, but Special Olympics is where it’s at. She does it all, six nights a week.”

And according to her father, Anna has been the real driver of her increased participation.

“Days where they’ll be an equivocal ‘are you going to go or not?’ – she always goes,” said Paul. “We don’t have to encourage or bribe or anything.”

Coming from Saint John, N.B., Paul was also amazed by the sport infrastructure at and around Big Marble Go Centre, where the soccer competition is taking place until Saturday.

“It was also impressive to see the facilities that are here. When you look at what we have in New Brunswick, and even if you were to combine the resources amongst the three cities, you might have the same resources that they have here in a relatively small town.”

The schedule for all competition and livestream links can be found online: socmedhat2026.ca