Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board

Unified Champion Schools

Posted on 01/22/2026

Earlier this month, Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School was formally recognized as a Unified Champion Schools “All Province” Banner School for the 2024–2025 academic year, an honour awarded for the very first time in Ontario by Special Olympics Ontario.

The banner presentation brought together students, staff, families, past and present Unified athletes, and community partners, including Special Olympics Ontario President and CEO Cody Jansma, Ontario Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden, and Chief Bergen, to celebrate Bishop Tonnos’ leadership in inclusive education.

Bishop Tonnos is one of only seven schools across the province to receive this new designation, which recognizes schools that have fully embedded the three foundational pillars of the Unified Champion Schools movement into daily practice: Inclusive Sport and Health, Youth Leadership, and Whole-School Engagement.

During the celebration, students shared reflections on the impact of Unified programming at the school. Grade 12 student Avery Hedley, a Unified athlete, spoke about what her involvement with Special Olympics meant to her perspective.

“What I didn’t expect was how quickly my mindset changed,” she said. “After that first soccer tournament, it became clear that this experience was far more than just checking off volunteer hours. These athletes have completely changed my perspective on life, teaching me to value the little things and approach challenges with more empathy and patience.”

In its congratulatory letter to the school, Special Olympics Ontario noted that recipients of the All Province designation have gone beyond participation, making inclusion a shared responsibility and lived culture embraced by the entire school community.

The recognition highlights how dignity, belonging, and inclusion are lived each day within the Bishop Tonnos school community.

Director of Education Dave Hansen said:
“Each Belongs is a philosophy that guides how we support students across our system. It is grounded in dignity, belonging, and the belief that every student can achieve to the fullness of their humanity. The exemplary staff and students at Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School who have been recognized as Unified Champions, reflect this philosophy in action. They create a Catholic school community where all students are known, supported, and able to thrive."