Thomasina Payne wins gold at Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020 for speed skating. (Thomasina Payne/Special Olympics Canada)

By Alessia Proietti

International Day of Persons with Disabi

Red Deer wins big at Special Olympics National Awards Night

Dec 3, 2021 | 4:07 PM

Red Deer showed its athletic talent and passion for sports, bringing home two awards at Thursday’s Special Olympics National Awards Night. Hosted virtually on TSN, the 33^rd annual event was held on the eve of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The Athlete of the Year Award went to Red Deer’s Thomasina Payne.

“It was actually pretty cool. It was good to know that I was nominated and to actually see myself on TV giving the speech,” she said.

Entering the competitive sports world in 2003, Payne now competes in curling, athletics, and speed skating. Quickly rising up the ranks, Payne went from small town competitions to representing Special Olympics Alberta at two National Games.

“I’ve gotten to go to some new countries that I probably wouldn’t have gone to if it wasn’t for Special Olympics,” said Payne.

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Her favorite was Athens, Greece, where she won two gold medals for running a 3,000 metre and 1,500 metre, as part of Special Olympics Team Canada at the World Summer Games in 2011.

Not only is Payne an Athlete Ambassador, speaking to the public at Special Olympics Alberta and fundraising events, she also takes part in the virtual Provincial Exercise and Activity Knockout (PEAK) Program, where athletes congregate discussing fitness goals and training sessions.

“They have made bonds and connections with world class coaches and other athletes that have mentored them and accepted them as athletes. Number one: they’re an athlete,” said Payne’s mother Marie, expressing pride in her daughter.

Known for being encouraging and supportive to fellow athletes, it is perhaps this sportsmanship that has Payne scheduled for the World Winter Games in Kazan, Russia, pushed to 2023 from the pandemic.

Thursday’s acceptance speech paid many thanks to those around Payne, including her twin sister Chantal, also a Special Olympics Athlete, and Red Deer’s Lions Speed Skating Club, who she said taught her how to skate.

“Not only does she train hard, but she shows up with a smile on her face for every practice,” said Elaine Findlay, President of the Club. “Thomasina has made so much progress over the last few years and that hasn’t happened without hard work and dedication. She shows up ready to train and is a role model for our young club members. This award is well deserved.”

“She trains and skates against non-disabled athletes,” said Jerry Tenant, Chair and Program Director of Special Olympics Alberta Red Deer.

Tennant was the second Red Deerian to receive an award at the event for the Jim Thompson Volunteer of the Year Award.

Jerry Tennant, Chairperson of Special Olympics Alberta Red Deer wins the Jim Thompson Volunteer of the Year Award 2021.

After working in radio and television, Tennant took a position in 1981 as Athletics Supervisor for the City of Red Deer, where he began engaging with Special Olympics Alberta. Now 40 years in collaboration, Tennant coordinates 13 year-round sports for Red Deer’s 300 Special Olympics athletes.

“It started because of the work of a Canadian doctor, Frank Hayden back in the 60’s when he determined that people with intellectual disabilities were just as capable as anyone else in keeping fit and playing sports, looking after themselves both physically and socially,” said Tennant.

Although Tennant shared that the award was unexpected and gratifying, Special Olympics Alberta said since Tennant’s involvement as Chairperson, they have seen a 300 per cent increase in the number of athletes and volunteers in Red Deer’s program.

While he says society has come a long way with inclusivity in sports, he does admit there is always room for improvement.

“Special Olympians aren’t always treated the same in terms of getting the same publicity, the same press, same acknowledgment and accolades as even Paralympics. We do international games but it doesn’t get the coverage like the Paralympics do after the Olympic games,” he said.

For International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Government of Alberta presented their own “Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disability Awards” recognizing individuals and groups across the province in their achievements as leaders in the community.

The federal government also released in a statement their emphasis on this year’s efforts in supporting persons with disabilities during the pandemic. Aligning with “Nothing Without Us”, an Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada, a COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group was established to ensure these Canadians’s experiences were considered in emergency responses. Funds were also allocated to the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities and the Enabling Accessibility Fund.

“On this day, we commit to continue to work to identify, remove, and prevent barriers that still exist and increase the opportunities available to persons with disabilities, to build a Canada that is fairer, more inclusive, and accessible for everyone.”

On a global stage, the country is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and assigned a candidate for the 2022 election for the UN Committee. Partnered with the Global Action on Disability Network, Canada will also be participating in the second Global Disability Summit in 2022, co-hosted by the Norway and Ghana governments and the International Disability Alliance.

“Just because if you don’t think you could do the sport, it doesn’t mean it’s not something you should at least try,” said Payne. “It’s a good way to get out and meet new people and make new friends.”