Special Olympic athletes to meet with Senator

Senator Jim Munson is stopping in Whitehorse tonight to catch a Special Olympics Yukon soccer game at the Canada Games Centre.

Senator Jim Munson is stopping in Whitehorse tonight to catch a Special Olympics Yukon soccer game at the Canada Games Centre.

Senator Munson is in the Yukon spreading awareness for the Special Olympics and to meet with members of Autism Yukon.

He will be meeting with Jim Tucker, president of Special Olympics Yukon and Natasha Jaczek, program director of Special Olympics Yukon, at the game.

Warm up starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Canada Games Centre and goes from 6:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

Athletes will have a chance to cool down and have a meet and greet with the senator after the game.

Munson is heavily involved with the Special Olympics across Canada.

Christian Dicks, special assistant to the senator said Munson takes every opportunity to visit new communities.

“He’s always eager to see new places and do [Special Olympics] outreach there,” said Dicks. “He’s really travelled across the country.”

Dicks says the senator believes sports are a great way to engage and include people.

“He is an athlete himself,” said Dicks. Senator Munson plays basketball and hockey.

While in the Yukon Munson will be meeting with Autism Yukon, which is preparing for a photo exhibition this weekend featuring families that are facing Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The photo exhibition, called Profoundly Artistic will go on display in October.

Initially Munson was supposed to be an honorary coach of one of the teams that will be playing along with Senator Daniel Lang. Unfortunately Senator Lang had a prior commitment and plans were changed.