Special Olympians from Muskoka celebrate successful year

Awards were handed out during a banquet to celebrate some of Muskoka’s best athletes, but the most important thing for the many in attendance was just being able to see their friends again. 

Special Olympics Ontario’s branch in Muskoka hosted its awards banquet at Santa’s Village in Bracebridge on June 5. 

Christine Grom, who was chosen as the best member of the swimming team, says she’s been with the organization for over five years and has expanded from being on just the swimming team to joining the skiing, baseball, and pickleball groups, too. 

“All the coaches are really nice,” she says. “Everyone is really nice. I love being part of the team.” 

The other award winners were: 

• Top Nordic athlete: Scott Mournahan 

• Curling: Karen Maunder 

• Swimming: Christine Grom 

• Bowling: Amy Hall 

• Pickleball: Steven Green 

• Softball: Courtney Moreau 

• Mary Hines Award: Scott Mournahan 

Beth Moreau, community lead for Muskoka’s Special Olympics Ontario branch, explains the Mary Hines Award is named after the long-time supporter of local athletes. She says Mary, along with her husband Harvey, allowed 72 individuals to stay with them and was a frequent volunteer for Special Olympic-related events. Hines passed away in 2007 at the age of 78. 

“It makes me feel important,” says Grom about being part of Special Olympics, adding she loves going to events because she gets to see her friends. 

Courtney Moreau may have celebrated for her participation on the softball team, but she says she also takes part in all the winter sports and swimming, too. 

“After I was done high school, I wanted to get back into doing sports again to get stronger and keep my body healthy,” she says. “I was nervous the first year when I didn’t know anyone. I made a lot of new friends after I got to know them. They’re my brothers and sisters.” 

Moreau has been with the program for close to 15 years while Grom joined five years ago. However, they both started with Cathy Janke on the swimming team. 

“She’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” says Grom. 

Janke has been a coach going on 20 years. 

Since swimming is done at the Bracebridge Sportsplex, she explains many athletes start with the sport since the facility is connected to Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School. 

“It’s great to see so many of them have an avenue for sport, especially after high school,” continues Janke. 

She points out how it’s not just young people, but all ages, who are part of the Special Olympics locally. Janke says they currently have team members as old as 50 to go along with the handful of high school-aged athletes. “It’s great that there’s a wide range of ages,” she says, adding how the veterans will take the rookies under their wing and welcome them to the team. 

Janke says what makes the events great is that it’s not necessarily about the competition, but about seeing friends and making new ones. She adds the positivity extends to practice. 

“You could be having a bad day but when you go to practice, everybody is happy to see each other,” continues Janke. “It lifts your whole mood when you’re greeting by hugs and smiles from everybody.” 

She remembers one athlete who was part of the swimming team years ago who was often leading the races but would always stop just short of the finish. “[She] would stop if the crowd wasn’t cheering loud enough would stop and wait for them to cheer louder before she crossed the finish line,” says Janke. 

Janke, along with a few of the other coaches, were also honoured during the ceremony for their dedication to supporting the athletes.