After years of planning and preparation, the Special Olympics Canada 2020 Winter Games officially came to a close in Thunder Bay on February 29. Hundreds of athletes competed across eight sports in four days of intense competition with the support of thousands of volunteers and visitors.
The winning athletes – now official members of Team Canada – will attend the Special Olympics World Winter Games in 2021. Congratulations to all the athletes who represented their province and competed at the highest level of their sport.
As a gold sponsor of the Games, close to 40 Resolute employees from our Northwestern operations cheered on the athletes in three Resolute-sponsored initiatives: the Airport Welcome for athletes, their families and coaches; the 2020 Games Cauldron Tour; and the Celebration Dance, which honored all athletes at the close of the Games.
During the Celebration Dance, Kent Ramsay, general manager of the Thunder Bay pulp and paper mill, and Terry Ouellet, manager of the Thunder Bay sawmill, addressed the crowd on behalf of Resolute, congratulating the 1,200 athletes, coaches, mission staff; the 800 friends and family; and the nearly 500 volunteers for providing four days of thrilling competition.
“The Special Olympics are helping to build an inclusive world – one that celebrates diverse backgrounds, cultures and abilities in sport, schools and the workplace. At Resolute, our goal is also to foster a welcoming and inclusive work environment – teamwork starts with a true desire to support each other,” said Kent.
“Our employees are very proud to have played a part in such a wonderful national event, and we are pleased to have hosted all participants in the beautiful city of Thunder Bay,” added Terry.
Resolute is committed to supporting the needs and interests of the communities where we operate.
The company contributed C$35,000 toward the Special Olympics Canada 2020 Winter Games. In 2019, our donations and sponsorships to community health and environmental organizations and initiatives totaled over US$1.2 million.
