Olympians Scott Moir, Tessa Virtue and Patrick Chan Choose to Include Special Olympics athletes in Rock the Rink tour

Olympic gold medalists – and longtime Special Olympics champions - Scott Moir, Tessa Virtue and Patrick Chan are choosing to include individuals with an intellectual disability in their upcoming cross-country tour, Rock the Rink.

Scott and Tess and Patrick Chan

The all-star cast of Moir, Virtue, Chan, two-time Olympic silver medalist Elvis Stojko, Canadian figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond, American figure skater Jeremy Abbott and Italian figure skater Carolina Kostner, will be joined by a local Special Olympics Canada athlete,who will perform a solo at each Canadian stop in the 31-city tour this fall. 

“It’s an honour to be able to share the stage with all of the phenomenal Special Olympics athletes who will be performing in Rock the Rink this year,” three-time Olympian Scott Moir said about the partnership announced Tuesday.

Moir, Virtue and Chan are members of Special Olympics Canada’s Champions Network – a dedicated group of Canadian Olympians, professional athletes and celebrities who support and promote the movement and the transformative power of sport it brings to Canadian children, youth and adults with an intellectual disability.

The trio were inspired to include Special Olympics athletes in Rock the Rink after attending the 2018 Special Olympics Canada National Awards Night – an annual event honouring athletes, coaches, volunteers and supporters from across the country with awards like Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year.

“We see FIRST-HAND the power of inclusion, AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS CERTAINLY builds confidence - BOTH ON AND OFF THE ICE - for individuals with intellectual disabilities." -- Scott moir

"Special Olympics is an organization that is incredibly close to our hearts,” said Olympic champion Tessa Virtue. “We have no doubt that the Special Olympics athletes' triumphs and exuberant performances during Rock the Rink will inspire crowds!"

According to Special Olympics Canada CEO Sharon Bollenbach, this partnership demonstrates that “Rock the Rink is a true champion of inclusion.” 
“We couldn’t be more excited for this collaboration, which focuses on sport, friendship and leadership,” she added.

Meet the Special Olympics  athletes performing at Rock the Rink: 

Marc Theriault
From: Surrey, BC 
Performing: October 5th 
Location: Abbotsford, BC - Abbotsford Centre 
Alexandra Magee
From: Kelowna, BC 
Performing: October 6th 
Location: Penticton, BC - South Okanagen Events Centre
Alexander Pang
From: Vancouver, BC 
Performing: October 7th 
Location: Vancouver, BC - Thunderbird Arena
Meg Ohsada
From: Canmore, AB
Performing: October 10th 
Location: Red Deer, AB - Westerner Park Centrium
Darlene Jakubowski
From: Fort St. John, BC 
Performing: October 11th & 12th 
Location: Dawson Creek, BC - Encana Events Centre & Prince George, BC - CN Centre
JorDen Tyson
From: Calgary, AB 
Performing: October 13th 
Location: Grande Prairie, AB - Revolution Place
Kennedy Zaytsoff
From: Coalhurst, AB 
Performing: October 16th 
Location: Calgary, AB - Stampede Corral
Moriah Van’t Land
From: Calgary, AB 
Performing: October 17th 
Location: Lethbridge, AB - ENMAX Centre 
Victoria Sarty
From: Regina, SK
Performing: October 18th
Location: Regina, SK - Brandt Centre 
Emma Bittorf
From: Strathmore, AB 
Performing: October 19th 
Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Canalta Centre 
Julia Romualdi
From: Timmins, ON 
Performing: October 29th 
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, ON - GFL Memorial Gardens
Hailey Fulford
From: London, ON 
Performing: October 30th 
Location: London, ON - Budweiser Gardens
Nadia Boullion
From: Chelmsford, ON
Performing: November 1st 
Location: Sudbury, ON - Sudbury Arena
Tim Goodacre
From: Dundas, ON
Performing: November 2nd 
Location: Kitchener, ON - Memorial Auditorium
Sarah thomas
From: Whitby, ON
Performing: November 3rd 
Location: Kingston, ON - Leon's Centre
David Robertson & Nicole Vespa 
From: Hamilton, ON
Performing: November 6th 
Location: Mississauga, ON - Paramount Fine Foods Centre
Jack Fan & Katie Xu
From: Ottawa, ON
Performing: November 7th 
Location: Ottawa, ON - TD Place
Danielle Waters
From: Merriton, ON
Performing: November 8th 
Location: St. Catharines, ON - Meridian Centre
Grace Morris 
From: Ajax, ON
Performing: November 9th 
Location: Oshawa, ON - Tribute Communities Centre
Alicia Smith
From: Uxbridge, ON
Performing: November 13th 
Location: Peterborough, ON - Peterborough Memorial Centre
Émile Baz 
From: Laval, QC
Performing: November 14th 
Location: Laval, QC - Place Bell
Stéphanie Lachance  
From: Quebec City, QC
Performing: November 15th 
Location: TBC
Molly Kane
From: Moncton, NB
Performing: November 16th 
Location: Moncton, NB - Avenir Centre
Jessica Cranton
From: Halifax , NS
Performing: November 17th 
Location: Halifax, NS - Scotiabank Centre 
Melanie Taylor
From: St. Johns, NL
Performing: November 23rd 
Location: St. Johns, NL - Mile One Centre

Rock the Rink Tour Dates and TICKETS 

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