The Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) is the largest public awareness and grassroots fundraising organization for Special Olympics globally. The LETR hold a number of year-round fundraising and awareness events in communities across Canada. The LETR are supported by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), and have been an active partner of Special Olympics Canada since 1981.
The Torch Run™ is the most well-known event that the LETR host. The Torch Run is an event in which officers run the Flame of Hope™ into an Opening Ceremony at local, regional and national competitions. Grown to include a wide range of regional and national events, the LETR have raised more than $ 63 million in Canada, since its inception.
As retired Chief Richard LaMunyon once said, “What started in 1981…as a flicker of hope for Special Olympics has now become a roaring flame of stability for Special Olympics athletes worldwide.”
History of LETR in Canada
The LETR program first began in Wichita, Kansas in 1981. Toronto police officers Chief Jack Marks (Ret’d) and Lorne White (Ret’d) successfully organized the first Torch Run on Canadian soil in Toronto in June 1987. More than 1,100 LETR officers from 36 agencies took part in the event, covering more than 900 kilometres before arriving into Varsity Arena in Toronto to light the flame, signaling the opening of the International Special Olympics Floor Hockey Tournament.
Regional LETR Contacts
To learn more about the Law Enforcement Torch Run, please contact your regional Chapter representative below.
Region XI – Canada
Rick Lucy
Coordinator, LETR International Council
Rlucy111@gmail.com
Alberta
Paul Manuel
Director, Retired Calgary Police Service
pmanuel@telusplanet.net
Lorrie Sitler
Liaison, Special Olympics Alberta
lsitler@specialolympics.ab.ca
British Columbia
Charlotte Taylor
Liaison, Special Olympics BC
Ctaylor@specialolympics.bc.ca
Manitoba
Kristen Tompsett
Director, Manitoba First Nations Police Service
kristen.tompsett@mfnp.ca
Darren Andersen
Liaison, Special Olympics Manitoba
Danderson@specialolympics.mb.ca
New Brunswick
Denis Roy
Co-Director, RCMP “J” Division
Denis.j.Roy@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Brian Cummings
Director, Miramichi Police Force
Brian.cummings@miramichi.org
Josh Astle
Liaison, Special Olympics New Brunswick
Jastle@specialolympics.ca
Newfoundland
Wendy Murphy
Co-Director, Memorial University of Newfoundland
wmurphy131@hotmail.com
Lynette Wells
Co-Director, Memorial University of Newfoundland
lwells130@live.ca
Trish Williams
Liaison, Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador
trishw@sonl.ca
Nova Scotia
Mark Mander
Director, Kentville Police Service
mmander@ns.sympatico.ca
Michael Greek
Liaison, Special Olympics Nova Scotia
greekmr@sportnovascotia.ca
Northwest Territories
Heather Cosenzo
Director, YellowKnife RCMP
heather.cosenzo@rcmp-grc.qc.ca
Lynn Elkin
Liaison, Special Olympics NT
lynn@sonwt.ca
Ontario
Mark McGugan
Director, London Police Service
mmcgugan@police.london.ca
Brock Robinson
Torch Run Manager, Special Olympics Ontario
brockr@torchrunontario.com
Prince Edward Island
Roger Steadman
Director, Parks Canada
Roger.steadman@pc.gc.ca
Charity Sheehan
Liaison, Special Olympics PEI
Csheehanso@eastlink.ca
Quebec
Shawn Dulude
Director, Surete Quebec
Shawn.dulude@surete.qc.ca
Eddie Bonvard
Liaison, Special Olympics Quebec
ebonvard@olympiquesspeciaux.ca
Saskatchewan
Rhonda Meakin
Director, Prince Alberta Police
rmeakin@papolice.ca
Chelsea Fidler
Liaison, Special Olympics SK
cfidler@specialolympics.sk.ca
Yukon
Dan Austin
Director, RCMP “M” Division Whitehorse
Dan.austin@rcmp.grc.gc.ca
Serge Michaud
Liaison, Special Olympics Yukon
Smichaud@specialolympicsyukon.ca