B.C. fundraising champions win 2025 Special Olympics Canada Awards

The Special Olympics Canada awards are presented annually to recognize the inspiring athletes, coaches, and volunteers from across the country who exemplify the spirit and essence of the Special Olympics movement. This year’s awards were livestreamed by TSN, in a ceremony co-hosted by TSN's Lindsay Hamilton and Special Olympics athlete Olivier Martel. 

The dedication, passion, and tireless efforts of Binkley and Lucas have made a lasting impact on the lives of Special Olympics athletes across British Columbia. Special Olympics BC is deeply honoured by their involvement with our movement, and thrilled to celebrate their inspiring achievements. 

This award is presented to a fundraising volunteer who has made significant contributions to the movement locally, provincially, and/or nationally, and has best exemplified the spirit, philosophy and goals of Special Olympics Canada.   

Binkley, President of Harmony Honda & Harmony Acura, has provided remarkable support to Special Olympics BC through the Auction for Athletes for more than 26 years. This vital annual fundraiser makes a difference for Special Olympics BC and the New Car Dealers Foundation of BC. 

Under Binkley’s leadership as the event co-chair, the auction has raised an outstanding $6.2 million for Special Olympics BC, which has made a lasting impact on year-round programs for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Binkley comes from a long family auto dealer tradition, and he took over his father’s dealership in Brandon, Manitoba. Through this family connection, he has observed the tradition of corporate citizenry and community investment amongst his peers in the car dealer industry.  

After starting the Kelowna phase of his career, he took over Don Folk Chevrolet's Honda dealership in 1991 and renamed it Harmony Honda based on a staff idea contest. Binkley said it was Folk who first introduced him to the idea of the auction, causing him to make inquiries and be drawn into the Special Olympics movement.   

Binkley is a champion of recruiting auction items, building meaningful connections, and giving generously himself in order to make a difference for Special Olympics athletes in his community and across B.C.   

Special Olympics BC extends heartfelt congratulations to Binkley on his deserving achievement, and sincere thanks for his lasting impact. 

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Lucas, a Special Olympics BC – Victoria coach and BC Law Enforcement Torch Run champion, has supported Special Olympics BC for more than 26 years. Her leadership in LETR events and unwavering support have empowered athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities for decades.  

Lucas’s support is far-reaching and extensive, having supported the LETR and Special Olympics on the local, provincial, national, and international levels. This includes coaching multiple Special Olympics sports programs in her community, supporting all local and provincial LETR events and initiatives, volunteering at Special Olympics Canada Games, running in multiple World Games Final Leg events, and attending multiple LETR International Conferences. 

Over her time as a fundraising champion and coach, Lucas has found many joyful moments. 

After a long and successful career in law enforcement, Lucas jumped into coaching swimming, bocce, and Club Fit, and brought her family with her. 

Her daughter Ryleigh now volunteers with swimming, and her husband Paul Lamoureux, also retired law enforcement, volunteers with Club Fit.  

Lucas’s dedication has been recognized internationally, as a recipient of the LETR International John Carion Unsung Hero Award in 2022.    

Her leadership has directly resulted in the success of LETR events and initiatives in her community of Greater Victoria, in British Columbia, and across Canada.    

Special Olympics BC sincerely thanks Lucas for her inspiring commitment to athletes with intellectual disabilities, and celebrates her well-deserved win of this national award! 

Watch the video:

Meet the winners of the 2025 SOBC Awards

Thousands of Special Olympics BC athletes, volunteers, and sponsors help to inspire greatness within our organization and within our community.  

Special Olympics BC was honoured to recognize the exceptional contributions and achievements of SOBC athletes, volunteers, and sponsors through our own annual awards!