Gaining Independence through Work, Maxim Thibault will Swim at Special Olympics Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026
Alongside other Special Olympics Nova Scotia athletes going to National Games, Maxim Thibault is swimming in a weekly practice designed to help him get ready for competition. He is also in a Master’s Swim Program that runs year-round out of the Canada Games Centre, which in summer takes place three times a week. “I also go to Evolve Fitness with my dad by the [local high school],” Maxim said, “and do workouts at home.”
The guys there have been really encouraging to Maxim, they think he’s a beast.
His mother—Jane Thiabault—added. Complimenting his rigorous workout routine, Maxim has spent the last couple years following a New Year’s resolution he made to eat healthier. While Maxim was never overweight or had any urgent medical reasons to clean up his diet, he still found that his swimming performance noticeably improved after he started eating healthier food.
My husband Claude laughs, because Maxim is going to be 24 this summer and Claude is 54. There was a time when the dad is stronger than the son. Things have started to flip, so now he’ll pick up 30lb weights, and Maxim is lifting 40lb weights. Humbling for the elder, and great for the younger.
Starting his job in April, Maxim is a proud employee of Sobey’s Bedford South (which is owned by the Empire Family of Brands). He began working there through a Nova Scotia Community College’s Achieve program, designed to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live independently. Part of the course—which teaches life skills such as taking public transportation and putting together a resume—gives their students two work terms. Maxim’s school-related term with Sobey’s has since concluded, but he is still working with them as an employee as Maxim applied for part time work and was hired as an employee in 2023.
Like many grocery stores, the Bedford South Sobey’s has a large staff-only section behind the milk fridges, where employees like Maxim restock the shelves for hungry customers. Maxim added that their store gets milk orders five times a week, with Thursdays and Sundays being the only days they are not getting more shipments of dairy products. Jane replied that a major benefit of her son’s job is how independent he is while doing it.
He gets himself up for his shifts by himself. We’ve seen in the last couple years his managers will call him up for extra shifts, Maxim’s become somebody they rely on which is great for everybody involved.
