2017 Festival

Special Olympics Festival Dinner Auction presented by Canadian Tire Whitehorse

“It is my honour to support the Special Olympics Festival Dinner and Auction.  It is an amazing evening of inspiration and entertainment.  Every penny of the funds raised are used here at home to support our own Yukon Special Olympians.  They are brave, fun loving and dedicated to their sports and community.  They set an example for us all.  The Special Olympics Festival Dinner and Auction helps these enthusiastic athletes strive for their goals and what could be better than that!” 

              -Tracy McPhee, 10 time attendee of the Special Olympics Festival-Yukon

The purpose of the Special Olympics Festival (SOF) is to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics chapters across Canada.

SOF hosted its first event in 1983 and raised $4,300 for Ontario Special Olympics. To date, SOF has helped raise millions of dollars for all ten provinces and the Yukon Territory.

Special Olympics Festivals include breakfasts, dinner/auctions, golf tournaments and celebrity floor hockey games. The culmination of its yearly efforts is the annual Special Olympics Festival Day which is held each December in Toronto and is attended by over 50 national and international sports celebrities and over 2500 guests.

The Yukon Connection

Yukon is no stranger to Dinner Auctions. In 1990, McDonald’s Whitehorse hosted one such Dinner for the benefit of Yukon Special Olympics. Rick and Joy Karp (initial owners of McDonald’s Whitehorse) and YSO were so pleased with the event that they decided to host a “McDonald’s Dinner Auction” every other year.

In 2000, with the departure of the Karps from McDonald’s, Yukon Special Olympics became a conditional member and the first Territory to join the National SOF family. Also in 2000 saw Whitehorse Canadian Tire become our new title sponsor.

Now considered to be one of the premiere events in the Yukon Social Calendar, attendees of the Special Olympics Yukon Festival Dinner Auction have the opportunity to bid on over 100 silent and live auction items and enjoy terrific entertainment which includes a nationally recognized sports figure and great music! Special guest speakers in the past have included Catriona Le May Doan, Travis Lulay and Howie Meeker.

Many of our guests attend the event year after year in support of their local Special Olympics athletes.

2017 Special Olympics Festival presented by Canadian Tire Whitehorse

April 8 – Yukon Convention Centre

Doors Open at 5:30pm, Dinner starts at 6:30pm

Special Guests include:

Dr. Frank Hayden, Creator of the Special Olympics Global Movement - Owen Munroe, 2016 Special Olympics Yukon Male Athlete of the Year - Special Olympics Athletes - Local Accomplished Athletes

Featured Entertainment:

Chelsea Jacobson - Gurdeep Pandher - Fawn Fritzen & Grant Simpson - Dancesonic - Master of Ceremonies, Bobby Ferris - Live Auctioneer, John Macdonald

Over 100 Live and Silent auction items including:

Autographed Sports Memorabilia - Yukon artwork - Lovely Jewelry made locally and beyond - Outdoor furnishings - Trips for 2 - Terrific Housewares

Each guest has the chance to win 2 return flights to Vancouver, Edmonton or Calgary with Air North courtesy of ATCO Electric Yukon!

Ticket Prices:  $110 per ticket or $720 Table for 8 Guests                    

How you can buy them: Phone us at 668-6511 or email us at smichaud@specialolympicsyukon.ca

The Special Olympics Golf Gala presented by Finning and Meadow Lakes Golf Resort

"We all believe in supporting the great work Special O does and the positive energy that it shows. This is great event annually that allows Special O to enhance programs for children and adults. Supporting these events are crucial in supporting the work they do while helping raise funds."

                                         - Gerry Desharnais & Larry Burton Golf Gala since 2001

“Our little Friday evening 9 holer” has become a favorite amongst Yukon duffers since its inception back in 2001. Every year over 60 golfers take on Meadow Lakes Golf Resorts’ challenging layout in July. The tournament kicks off with a shotgun start at 6pm and teams maneuver each hole in a “best ball” format.

Once everyone comes back to the clubhouse after 2 hours of great shots, terrific putts and plenty of laughs, a delicious dinner is served to the all. The fun continues as contest winners and team awards are announced and prizes are distributed. EVERY player that plays in the tournament goes home with a prize.

The whole event is usually wrapped up by 10pm which gives our players the rest of the weekend to boast about that one great drive they hit or lament about the putt that just wouldn’t drop in the hole!

If you are interested in playing in the Golf Gala, register early as the tournament usually sells out in the first week it is advertised!