More than 500 students gathered at Variety Village in Scarborough on Feb. 27 for the annual Lieutenant Governor Games. The event featured adapted sports designed to ensure every participant could compete regardless of their physical ability. Individuals from across the city participated in activities ranging from wheelchair basketball to sitting volleyball. The games served as a highlight for accessible athletics in Ontario. Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont attended the opening ceremonies to lead the athlete’s pledge alongside several Variety Village ambassadors. The day focused on removing barriers that often prevent children with disabilities from participating in traditional school physical education programmes. Tracy Schmitt, a decorated para-skier and sailing skip, served as the event emcee. Schmitt, who grew up in Scarborough, told the crowd about her own experiences with exclusion. She recalled being forced to sit on the bench during gym class until Grade 6 because no effort was made to include her in activities. "What I love about the Lieutenant Governor Games is that they’re really early on getting schools involved in seeing the possibility that everybody gets to be involved in fun and play, and they’re learning through movement," Schmitt said. She said the event creates opportunities that are often missing in standard school environments.
Connecting sport and daily life
Schmitt is a regular visitor to the facility, having learned to swim and climb there. Those early experiences led to a career in high-performance sport. She recently returned from a sailing race in Australia and competed in San Diego last month as the only female sailor in the fleet, finishing in first place. Her history with the facility illustrates the long-term impact of early access to sport. Schmitt credit the climbing wall at Variety Village for giving her the skills to become the only four-way amputee to ever climb the Himalayas of Nepal. The transition from the fieldhouse to international competition is a path she hopes others will follow. "It lets the world know you can do it, and it jumps from sport to everyday living," Schmitt said. The venue remains a central point for disability sport in the region, much like how major sporting events drive engagement in other jurisdictions. The inclusion of diverse activities throughout the day allowed students to test different skills. At the taekwondo station, athletes from St. Brigid Catholic School and Walter Perry Public School practiced drills. Nearby, representatives from Jays Care helped students from St. Dunstan Catholic School take swings at a baseball station.
Support from local legends
The event also drew support from prominent figures in the Canadian sporting world. Soccer legend Dwayne De Rosario, who was raised in Scarborough, spent the day high-fiving players and encouraging the young athletes. His presence reinforced the connection between local grassroots programmes and professional success. This focus on building athletic pathways is mirrored in other provincial initiatives. For example, the National Indigenous Sport Strategy was recently launched to improve access for under-represented groups. Both programmes aim to provide structured support where it has historically been lacking. The Games included participants from a wide range of local institutions, including Bridlewood Public School and Holy Cross Catholic School. For many, it was their first exposure to sitting volleyball or wheelchair basketball. These sports are designed so that students with and without physical disabilities can compete on the same court.
Future of accessible programmes
Variety Village continues to act as a primary site for integrated sports in Toronto. The facility provides a space where specialized equipment and coaching are readily available. This infrastructure is vital for students who may not have access to similar resources at their neighbourhood schools. The Lieutenant Governor Games are part of a broader effort to ensure that physical education is a right rather than a privilege. The Ministry of Sport regulates many of these programmes to ensure safety and provincial standards are met across Ontario. Events like these help schools identify better ways to adapt their own curricula. For the organisers, the primary goal remains the immediate experience of the participants. Watching hundreds of children move through the fieldhouse suggests a shift in how schools approach accessibility. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, every student in attendance had a role in the day's competition. The success of this year’s games will likely influence the planning for future inclusive athletic events across the province. Local officials are expected to review the participation rates and feedback from school boards as they prepare for the 2027 calendar. Variety Village will host its next major inclusive tournament later this spring.
