Special Olympics PEI is pleased to announce the return of Gino Reda, host of Tim Horton’s That’s Hockey, to the Special Olympics Festival. This marks the 18th year that Reda will Co-MC the Festival alongside Paul Phillips, a long time athlete with Special Olympics PEI.
Reda has been a mainstay on TSN for over 25 years. Reda has hosted Tim Horton’s That’s Hockey since 2002. He joined TSN in 1988 as a reporter and was quickly promoted to host of Sports Centre, where he anchored more than 3,000 shows over 12 years. During his time with TSN Reda has also hosted numerous events, including World Juniors, FIFA World Cups, and Olympic Games.
Special Olympics PEI also announced that Andy Fantuz, Player Development Coordinator for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and former CFL Wide Receiver, will be attending the Special Olympics Festival. Fantuz was drafted 3rd overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2006 CFL Draft. Fantuz played 6 seasons with the Roughriders before signing on with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In May of this year Fantuz re-joined the Tiger-Cats in an administrative role.
Additional celebrities confirmed for the 2017 event include Ottawa Senator’s Defenseman, Dion Phaneuf, TV Personality and former host of Canada AM, Jeff Hutcheson, 2 Time Stanley Cup Winning Head Coach, Darryl Sutter, Head Coach and VP Player Development for the Island Storm, Joe Salerno, Found of Special Olympics Canada, Dr. Frank Hayden, and Special Olympics PEI’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year, Art Smith (Charlottetown) and Janet Charchuk (Alberton). Further celebrity announcements are expected in the coming weeks. More information on the Festival can be found by visiting www.sopei.com.
The Special Olympics Festival is Special Olympics PEI’s largest annual fundraiser. Funds raised enrich the lives of Islanders with an intellectual disability through sport. Special Olympics PEI relies on these funds to offer grass roots programing, quality competitions, trained coaches, and much more for athletes of all ages and ability levels. The Festival is a two part event which includes the Summerside Luncheon (being held at the Credit Union Place) and the Enriching Lives Gala (in Charlottetown at the Delta Prince Edward Hotel). This year’s event is being held on Monday, June 26th.
Tickets for the Luncheon are $40 each, or $300 for a corporate table of 8, while tickets for the Gala are $110 each, or $880 for a corporate table of 8, and are available by calling Charity Sheehan at 902-368-8919.
