As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics this year, we are taking a look back at the #50moments that have defined the Special Olympics movement here in B.C. and throughout the world.
An icon in Canadian broadcasting, a successful businessman, and an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities, the late Harry “Red” Foster is considered one of the nation’s greatest champions of Special Olympics.
Foster, the founder of Special Olympics in Canada, set the benchmark of inspired leadership, serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors from the organization’s founding until his death in 1985.
His dedication to Special Olympics Canada was inspired by his mother’s devotion to his younger brother, who was both sight impaired and had an intellectual disability. Foster began early in his career to devote much of his time, energy and wealth to addressing the problems faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Foster’s journey with Special Olympics began when his close friend, Dr. Frank Hayden, was busy in the early 1960s leading ground-breaking research on people with intellectual disabilities. Hayden came calling on Foster when he was looking for help to send athletes to Chicago for the first-ever Special Olympics Games in 1968. Foster was more than happy to jump on board, using his connections to the National Hockey League to assist. With the help of Toronto Maple Leafs great George Armstrong and team owner Harold Ballard, Foster accompanied a floor hockey team to those first Games.
Upon returning to Toronto, he set about laying the foundation for Special Olympics Canada. The following summer – 1969, the first Canadian Special Olympics event was held in Toronto. From that modest beginning, Special Olympics Canada quickly spread across the country and grew into the national sports organization it is today, in no small part to the dedication of Foster.
In 1971 and 1974 he again served as Chairman of the national event, which saw 2,000 participants from Canada and the United States. It was Foster’s hope that Special Olympics would become a permanent feature of a comprehensive sports and recreation program for Canadians with an intellectual disability. His dream took a giant leap forward when Canadian Special Olympics Inc. was formed in 1974, to further develop the programs.
Foster’s advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities did not go unrecognized across the nation. In 1971 he was awarded the Order of Canada for his tireless work with Special Olympics Canada and was elected to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.
His work has lead Special Olympics Canada to grow today to more than 45,000 children, youth, and adults with an intellectual disability participating in programs run across 12 provincial and territorial Chapters. At Special Olympics BC, the numbers have grown from its humble beginnings in 1980 to an organization that features 4,800 athletes in 55 communities. Foster’s legacy of dedication and service is also evident in the 3,900 trained, dedicated coaches and volunteers in B.C.
Hayden eloquently expressed the value of Foster’s contribution to the Special Olympics movement in Canada.
“Red Foster is the greatest friend Canadians with an intellectual disability have ever had.”