On Saturday January 30, 2010, Canadian Progress Club - Toronto Downtown hosted our fourth annual Special Olympics "Fun" Bowling Tournament at Thorncliff Bowlerama for the athletes of the Toronto area Special Olympics program. Most club members were in attendance and together with a network of volunteers and members of other clubs in the GTA, we hosted more than 100 athletes. SOO Toronto provided prizes and ribbons for the athletes, and Toronto Downtown as host also provided lunch. In addition, we presented Pratima Bhatt, SOO Toronto District Developer with a cheque for $5,000.
Many positive comments were received from athletes, parents and volunteers alike, and club members and volunteers got just as much out of the day as the athletes. Most of the athletes attended last year’s event, and for some this was their fourth time participating. For others, this was their first time attending the event, and expressed they were very excited and happy to participate. One athlete even commented he wanted to know how to sign up again for next year.
Toronto Downtown wishes to acknowledge and thank all volunteers for their enthusiasm and support. Special mention should go to Del Wright and Hugh Daley for running the registration desk, Durham Region Women members Margaret McAllen and Judy Wilson, Toronto Trillium members Sandy Robb and Juanita Soutar, as well as Leslie and Kim Bone for coming out and lending a hand, and especially Margaret and Bruce French from York Region who brought out a busload (literally) of athletes to participate!

