Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day with Erin Magee
World Down Syndrome Day means a great deal to pretty much everyone at Special Olympics Canada, given how many of our athletes and volunteers live with the chromosome anomaly. Today, we would like to highlight one particularly accomplished athlete and Special Olympics Canada Board member: Erin Magee!
Erin said, “As a child, I was shy, often hiding behind my mom and struggling to speak up in class. In grade four a teacher told my mom I didn’t have to give presentations in class. My mom advocated that I be given the opportunity to develop public speaking skills, which was the beginning of many presentations allowing me to grow and develop.
Special Olympics has given me opportunities to further develop my knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead and advocate for all individuals living with intellectual disabilities.
Through Special Olympics, Erin has been given the support she needed to excel both on and off the field. Heading to the Special Olympics Canada Summer Medicine Hat National Games 2026, she will be competing on Special Olympics Nova Scotia’s co-ed soccer team.
“For me, soccer [is my favourite] because it’s a team sport.” Erin said, adding, “I’ve always been a team sport person, the cheer from the crowd makes you want to run faster and try harder to score.”
Erin has developed a much greater variety of social skills and confidence during her time in Special Olympics. This is shown by all she has done to help local programs as an athlete leader, including as the Special Olympics Nova Scotia Board of Directors’ Athlete Representative.
Taking on high-profile roles like advocating for Special Olympics as part of a Global News broadcast, Erin’s hard work paid off when she became Nova Scotia’s representative to the Canadian Athlete Leadership Council (CALC). The CALC is made up of athlete leaders from each of the country’s provincial and territorial chapter offices that run Special Olympics programs at the grassroots level. Because Erin is the CALC’s current chair, she also has a seat with the Special Olympics Canada Board of Directors, as an athlete representative much like she is on Special Olympics Nova Scotia’s own Board.
Outside Special Olympics, Erin has been working parttime for 14 years at her local Sobey’s. She works in the produce department, hand chopping fresh fruits and vegetables for salads and other similar products. Erin also enjoys working out at her local gym 3-4 days a week.
Crediting the support she got from her family, Erin recommends other people with Down syndrome get help from their family and community members to support their goals and aspirations.