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BY HM MASON jmason@yrmg.com How many people have the fore- ward to their book written by Wayne Gretsz Jim Jordan is in that elite group. The Stouffville resident has edited Make No Small Plans, which commemorates the 40th anniver- sary of Special Olympics Canadq. The fact he iivéd and worked with and for the movement makes it an insider’s view. The Jordans moved to Stoufl’ville from Calgary in 1987 when Jim became executive director of the Ontario council. OLYMPIA" DAUGHTER After four years, he became the national director, holding that post for 15 years. He ran the national foundation for another three year s before tackling the book in 2008. Out since ilast fall, the book is drawing solid reviews. The book highlights everything from the grassroots volunteers who make a direct difference in the lives of Special Olympians to the lead- ership that keeps the organization moving forward. “I was a bit concerned that if we didn’t do a book about our first 40 years, a lot of key people wouldn’t be around for the 50m (anniversary,)" Mr. Jordan said. “I wanted to pay tribute to the people who helped build the organization." It's a pretty read. almost maga- zine-like but in hard cover, perfect for the coffee table. Broken into many segments. it features photo- graphs of athletes, volunteers and celebrities taken from the extensive archives in the national office of the non-profit group. Canada's-first ever national Speâ€" cial Olympics competitions were held at Toronto’s flevglgx Junior “Everyohe who sees it, wants it, Mr. Jordan said. “Now, it’s just a mat ter of making it available.” Iim Iordan’s book has foreward by Gretzky, but ‘best part’ is his own Special Olympian SPECIAL EDITION WWfiWWW V calm-vicedmformedanilnuwoswflmworvhitmonlineatmpfnfivwa.0uuomermanWWWbmmthkmmmflmmw. SUN-TRIBUNE PEOPLE Public School in 1969. Harold Smith, a teacher at the school, got the ball rolling a couple of years earlier by starting a floor hockey program There are 32,000 Special Olympiâ€" ans in Canada and thousands more alumni and coaches from coast to coast. Half are from Ontario, including a group in Whitchurch- We. “They're all spread out now," he said. “But (the program) keeps these kids connected.” Mr. Jordan needed little encour- agement to realize “sport was such a great medium for people with intel- lectual disabilities.” Jim, his wife Margaret know it first-hand through their own Special Olympian, daughter Elizabeth. The 23-year-old has competed in bowling at the now-defunct Stouffville Bowling Centre, speed- skating, curling and softball. She went tothenational games in Man- itoba in 2006. “It's an irony in so many ways," Mr. Jordan recalled of mixing his personal and professional roles in the movement. The lordans have two other chil- dren, Alex and Clara. He's also a big fan of having peo- ple with disabilities play and work with those who don’t. Example? He coached a house league team in the Whitchurch- Stoufl’villeMinorHockeyAssociation during the late 19905 that included Elizabeth on the roster. There’s a photograph of the redâ€"jerseyed Tim Hortons team in the book, part of the chapter on “Lizzie”. “We never anticipated that one day we would adopt a child and that child would be in the Special Olym- pics," Mr. Jordan wrote for the book. “It all just happened. I'm very thank- ful to my career in Special Olympics. But the best E of the move to STOUFFVILLE TEAM Iim Jordan’s career with Special Olympics made him a natural to compile and edit a book on the 40-year history of the movement in Canada. Ontario was finding our own Spe- cial Olympics athlete." His next project? "I don't know,” he said. “1 know I can’t be idle. I need something to do." Make No Small 7 Apre-sold thousands of copies to provincial chapters and sponsors, with hopes a major book retailer will stock it. the mosoincmm/ or call 4164478326 or 41692 7-9050. For mom information on the book, go to STAFF PHOTO/JIM MASON “I'raller Pam’ supervisors take over 19 on the Fat Randy Bobandy and Jim Lahey of the Showcase TV series Trailer Park Boys bring their comedy act to Nineteen on the Park for a WhiStle Radio fund- raiser. Sunnyvale Trailer Park comes to Stouffville April 29. Reserved seats are $35. Standing-room are $28. Tickets are available at the box office or from 905-640-3011 or 416â€"735- 4496. The trailer park supervisors on the now-defunct comedy show have won awards from a national on-campus organiza- tion for their shows. Daffodils will be sold this Fri- day through Sunday at various locations throughout Stouffville. Throughout April, Canadian Cancer Society volunteers will go door-to-door asking for financial support Whitchurch-Stouffville News Digest Daffodil sales begin Bunches of' the bright yel- low flowers are $7 each or two bunches are $12. 'All money raised from the sale of daffodils and the door-to-door canvassing will help fund cancer research, which has resulted in 62 per cent of people diagnosed with cancer surviving. Research has also helped the number of breast and prostate cancer deaths decline since the mid-19903 and cancer incidence rates in children has remained relatively constant since 1985. Have something to say about these or other stories? Eâ€"mail us at jmason@yrmg.oom Wsit yorkregion.com for more on these and other stories SOUND OFF