The West Toronto Barracudas Club and Special Olympics Toronto would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to Ray Bennett and Peter Simpson for their wonderful idea to start a Fund that helped create the Michael Conrad Memorial Swim Meet. A sincere thank you goes to all of Michael's friends and family who generously donated to the Fund and who volunteered to help out at the Meet.  Through the Michael Conrad Memorial Swim Meet, we are grateful for this opportunity to honour our former coach with those who knew Michael as well as with the Special Olympics family.

As a competitive swimmer, Michael possessed extensive knowledge about swimming and competition from his days in high school and university.  While he was coaching, he shared this expertise in his sensitive and charming way to help advance the skills of his swimmers.  Most memorable were the freestyle races between Michael and coach Andy - they showed everyone what fast swimming and flip turns were all about!

The West Toronto Barracudas valued the time Michael Conrad spent with them and will always be thankful that he was part of the team.  A quote from Helen Keller expresses our sentiments well:

What we once enjoyed we can never lose.

All that we love deeply becomes a part of us

The Michael Conrad Memorial Swim Meet takes place on Saturday, December 4 at the Rosedale Heights School of the Arts.  This is a unique opportunity to not only act as a memorial meet for Michael Conrad but is an excellent opportunity for all Toronto clubs to meet and compete.  The Michael Conrad Swim Meet organizers have been working hard to raise money to go towards swim meets, in honor of Michael and his efforts with Special Olympics. They have done an excellent job and we are very grateful to be able to fund this event through their efforts. Our hope is to make this an annual event. The phenomenal effort of the many donors will allow this event to continue for years to come.

The Meet takes place at 1:00 pm and the school is located at 771 Bloor Street East in downtown Toronto.  There will be more than 12 separate race categories and dinner will be provided for the athletes and volunteers.  Be sure to come out if you can!

The Michael Conrad Memorial Swim Meet is a unique opportunity to not only act as a memorial meet for Michael Conrad but is an excellent opportunity for all Toronto clubs to meet and compete at Rosedale School of the Arts. The Michael Conrad Swim Meet organizers have been working hard to raise money to go towards swim meets, in honor of Michael and his efforts with Special Olympics. They have done an excellent job and we are very grateful to be able to fund this event through their efforts. Our hope is to make this an annual event. The phenomenal effort of the many donors will allow this event to continue for years to come. This event is on Saturday December 4^th, starting at 1:00pm. We have the pool until 7:30 but likely will be finished before then.

 It is a great facility and a great cause so sign up your athletes or come out and volunteer! All details are within the invitation. Should you have any questions, concerns or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Joanna atJoannaV@specialolympicsontario.com .  We ask that you return the completed form with your athlete’s information by November 15^th  to this email address or via mail (to Special Olympics Toronto office) Please also indicate whether you have any volunteers that would be willing to participate.  Thank you for your time and see you on the pool deck!

 *Just a note to prospective volunteers: If you want to indicate to volunteers tasks that will be needed, it will likely be in the following: Registration, Greeting, Timing, and Organization of athletes for races, helping give out food/water, prizes, judging and so on.