Beloved 'Operation Trackshoes' sports festival ending after 50 years
A highlight for thousands of athletes in B.C. is coming to an end after 50 years in operation.
The sports festival Operation Trackshoes launched on Vancouver Island in 1971.
"A small group of us had seen a film on Special Olympics and a couple of us had just been up at summer camp, and we wanted to put those concepts together," said Operation Trackshoes president Judith Armstrong about the formation of the event.
Since then, anyone with a developmental disability in B.C. who wants to compete has been welcomed into the sports festival.
From running, to soccer to tug-of-war, the event has meant a lot to competitors and their friends and family members.
Nothing beats the roar of the crowd.
"Everybody cheering you on when you do the 1,500 [metre run]," said athlete Dixon McGowan, who started competing back in 1987.
Over the years, he's collected many ribbons and has a scrapbook celebrating the event.
Besides the games, some people just love the banquet and the dance.
"We love to gather," said Armstrong with a laugh.
Dixon even started DJ-ing the teen dance for the event, and picked up a fun nickname.
"DJ Lighting!" he told CTV News with enthusiasm.
But after 50 years, the baton starts to get heavy.
A lack of resources and personnel means Operation Trackshoes is coming to an end.
"I'm just very grateful we get to do it one more time," said Armstrong.
The 50th Operation Trackshoes kicks off in Victoria from June 9 to 11.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. charges Indian national with conspiracy to assassinate U.S.-Canadian Sikh separatist
The United States has charged an Indian national with conspiring to assassinate a U.S. citizen who advocated for a sovereign state for Sikhs, the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan said on Wednesday.
Three in four Canadians say higher immigration is worsening housing crisis: poll
A large majority of Canadians agree that higher immigration is fuelling the housing crisis and putting pressure on the health-care system, a new Leger poll suggests.
Homes near ski hills are increasing in price across Canada. Here's where
A new report from Royal LePage predicts the cost of homes near ski hills will not cool in 2024, but instead heat up across in many regions. Here's where.
Winter weather forecast: A warm start thanks to El Nino, but then what?
Chilly nights and snow-covered slopes may not be easy to come by in much of Canada during the first part of the winter season, according to the winter outlook from one of Canada's prominent forecasters.
Ont. driver who 'needed to use the bathroom' charged with stunt driving
A 26-year-old is facing charges after he was caught driving nearly triple the speed limit in Brampton, Ont. Peel Regional Police say the driver was stopped near Queen Street East and Goreway Drive on Monday night. According to investigators, the driver from Caledon, Ont. was travelling at a speed of 153 km/h in a 60km/h zone.
Alberta town to put proposed bylaw banning symbols such as Pride crosswalks, flags to plebiscite
A group in Westlock, Alta., is trying to ban crosswalks painted in rainbow colours and other symbols.
Canadians increasingly turning to charities to meet essential needs, but cost of living also hitting donations
Every Giving Tuesday, many Canadians generously dig into their wallets to donate to charities, but as the cost of living climbs, research suggests many Canadians are also in need of help.
Sask-wide emergency alert was 'unintentional,' town says
An emergency alert concerning drinking water in Maple Creek sent to phones across Saskatchewan Tuesday afternoon was a mistake.
Andre Dawson wants to be remembered as a Cub, not an Expo in Hall of Fame
Andre Dawson wants to be immortalized in the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Chicago Cub – not a Montreal Expo.
Vancouver
-
Vancouver Park Board approves fee hikes for 2024, sparking backlash
The Vancouver Park Board approved its operating budget for 2024, bringing with it increases to recreation fees and parking.
-
B.C. teacher who sent 'sexually explicit photos' to former student fired
A high school teacher from Nanaimo, B.C., who was fired after sending sexual selfies to a former student has also been banned from teaching for five years.
-
Vancouver city council votes to give police and firefighters millions of dollars to address budget shortfalls
Vancouver city council voted Tuesday to give the Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Fire Rescue Services millions of dollars to make up for budget shortfalls related to payroll expenses.
Edmonton
-
Alberta town to put proposed bylaw banning symbols such as Pride crosswalks, flags to plebiscite
A group in Westlock, Alta., is trying to ban crosswalks painted in rainbow colours and other symbols.
-
Winter weather forecast: A warm start thanks to El Nino, but then what?
Chilly nights and snow-covered slopes may not be easy to come by in much of Canada during the first part of the winter season, according to the winter outlook from one of Canada's prominent forecasters.
-
Alberta Health Services issues measles alert in Calgary
Alberta Health Services is warning the public about a lab-confirmed case of measles in the Calgary area, adding that the public may have been exposed.
Toronto
-
BREAKINGBREAKING Moving science centre to Ontario Place could save province millions, business case says
Moving the Ontario Science Centre to Toronto’s waterfront could save the province millions while creating a “cultural anchor” at Ontario Place, a business case for the decision has found.
-
12 arrested, 81 charges laid in connection with auto theft and insurance fraud ring: Peel police
Peel police say 12 people accused of operating a vehicle theft and auto insurance fraud ring in and around the Greater Toronto Area have been arrested following a “lengthy” and “complex” investigation.
-
Ont. driver who 'needed to use the bathroom' charged with stunt driving
A 26-year-old is facing charges after he was caught driving nearly triple the speed limit in Brampton, Ont. Peel Regional Police say the driver was stopped near Queen Street East and Goreway Drive on Monday night. According to investigators, the driver from Caledon, Ont. was travelling at a speed of 153 km/h in a 60km/h zone.
Calgary
-
Alberta Health Services issues measles alert in Calgary
Alberta Health Services is warning the public about a lab-confirmed case of measles in the Calgary area, adding that the public may have been exposed.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Calgary will end November with the first 'below freezing' day of the month
Calgary’s average daytime high for the month of November ranges from 7 C to 0 C, but brief influxes of colder air during this transitional season mean it is not uncommon to see days that are colder than that.
-
Full parole granted to SUV passenger convicted in Calgary police officer's death
A man convicted of manslaughter for his role in the death of a Calgary police officer almost three years ago has been granted full parole.
Montreal
-
Quebec may backtrack on university tuition hikes, increase by 33% instead: report
Quebec seems ready to back down from its plan to double tuition prices for university students outside of the province, opting for a 33 per cent increase instead.
-
Quebec college students may be in classes or exams over Christmas holiday: CEGEP president
College students in Quebec may be taking exams or even classes over the winter holidays, as administrators scramble to find ways to hold the required number of classes in a semester.
-
Quebec's winter chalet prices up to over $500,000 this year, says Royal LePage
Quebec's winter chalet market is resisting the effect of rising interest rates. Despite a moderation in activity, prices are rising in most resorts, according to a report published Wednesday by Royal LePage.
Atlantic
-
Canada's top admiral says navy staff, resource needs in 'critical state'
Canada's understaffed and resource-stretched navy is in 'a critical state' and might not be able to carry out its basic duties next year, the top admiral said in a YouTube video released this week.
-
Over one million illegal cigarettes seized in N.B. so far this year, 6.5 times more than in 2022
Since April 1, New Brunswick has seized 1,016,000 illegal cigarettes, at a value of about $259,300 in provincial tax and $160,900 in federal excise tax.
-
Small fire closes Sussex Regional High School for the day
A small fire at Sussex Regional High School in Sussex, N.B., Wednesday morning lead to the school being shut down for the day.
Winnipeg
-
Ste. Anne doctor found guilty of sexually assaulting patients
A Manitoba doctor has been found guilty of sexually assaulting five of his former female patients during medical appointments.
-
One man dead following police shooting near Pembina Highway
A police shooting near Pembina Highway on Tuesday morning has left one man dead.
-
CN Rail files lawsuit over pro-Palestine protesters' rail blockade in Winnipeg
CN Rail has launched a lawsuit against a group of pro-Palestine protesters who set up an hours-long blockade on train tracks in Winnipeg.
Kitchener
-
Caught on camera: Kitten stolen from Waterloo, Ont. pet store
A pet store in Waterloo, Ont. is asking for the public’s help after someone stole a 10-week-old kitten named Crosby.
-
Pig gets loose on Kitchener, Ont. highway
A pig somehow got loose Tuesday afternoon on Highway 8 in Kitchener, Ont.
-
Kitchener man honoured by Canadian military after saving his best friend’s life
What started as a round of golf ended in a medical emergency. Now one of the men involved is being honoured for saving his best friend's life.
Regina
-
Regina's Frost Festival returning in 2024 despite operating at a loss
The Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) has announced the Frost Festival is planned to return in January 2024, even though a recent MNP report said the event was not profitable.
-
Sask. worker fired after submitting order from 'QAnon queen' gets his job back
A Saskatchewan labour arbitrator has ordered a Regina-based company to reinstate two employees who were fired for refusing to follow its COVID-19 policy.
-
Sask-wide emergency alert was 'unintentional,' town says
An emergency alert concerning drinking water in Maple Creek sent to phones across Saskatchewan Tuesday afternoon was a mistake.
Barrie
-
Security video reveals moments OPP officer assaults woman in Orillia holding cell
Security video released from inside a holding cell in Orillia in 2019 shows the interaction between an officer and a woman accused of intoxication that resulted in an assault conviction for the eight-year OPP veteran.
-
Man airlifted to hospital after serious crash in Shelburne
One person has been airlifted to hospital after a 'serious' crash in Shelburne Tuesday evening.
-
Local ski resort is ready to open for the season
The snow guns are fired up, and the slopes are ready for winter enthusiasts to swish and swoop down at Mount St. Louis Moonstone.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon seniors in shock after getting massive power bill
A retired Saskatoon couple says they're being forced to scale back Christmas after they received a bill from SaskPower for almost ten times more than usual.
-
Saskatoon city council approves $8M increase to police spending
City councillors approved an $8 million increase in spending next year for the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS).
-
See Saskatoon police catch an escaped cow
Saskatoon police responded to an unusual call where they were confronted with an escaped cow.
Northern Ontario
-
Winter weather forecast: A warm start thanks to El Nino, but then what?
Chilly nights and snow-covered slopes may not be easy to come by in much of Canada during the first part of the winter season, according to the winter outlook from one of Canada's prominent forecasters.
-
Sudbury senior killed in Hwy. 69 crash Tuesday
A 65-year-old from Greater Sudbury was killed in a single-vehicle crash just after midnight Tuesday on Highway 69.
-
Parents charged after Northern Ont. police checking on children find drugs and weapons
Acting on behalf of another government agency, Ontario Provincial Police in Blind River, Ont., found weapons and drugs while doing a wellness check on children.
