2025 Honorary Chair

Michael Greek

CEO of Special Olympics Nova Scotia

We are so excited to announce our 2025 Race on the River Honorary Chair is Michael Greek, CEO of Special Olympics Nova Scotia 👏

A proud native of Lunenburg, NS, with a love of sport and the outdoors, Michael found his way to Dalhousie University (BSc and B PhysEd) and a job in Chester at a residential and vocational workshop for individuals with special needs. The combination of sport and this work lead to a volunteer coaching career with Special Olympics in 1990 and later being hired in 1999 by Special Olympics NS.

This 35 year relationship with Special Olympics has been transforming and wonderful, with opportunities to see different parts of Canada and the world. China, South Korea, Morocco, Los Angeles, Dubai … New Glasgow, are just some of the places visited through Special Olympics and more importantly opportunity to meet and develop relationships with many amazing people including SO athletes, coaches and volunteers.

Outside of Special Olympics, Greek is a level 4 hockey official, minor hockey/soccer coach and enjoys travelling and being on the ocean. An opportunity to represent Canada at 6 World Games including 2 as Chef de Mission is certainly a proud accomplishment. However, nothing makes him prouder than the success of Special Olympics in Nova Scotia and working alongside the incredible, dedicated and passionate volunteers who truly are the engine of this great organization as we further the mission to enrich lives of people with an intellectual disability.

Blessed with two wonderful and now grown children and , and a talented wife who is a leader in the sector in her own right and a former Special Olympics CEO in Manitoba. Truly … when it comes to Special Olympics … he is all in!

Board & Volunteer Committee Members:

Name	Board Title / Responsibility
Bob Rogers	Team Services
Carolyn Thompson
Chris Higdon	Site, Security
Cindy Skinner	Ceremonies and Entertainment
Emma Eagles	Marketing
Jannah Carree	Treasurer
Jillian MacNeil	Past President / Competition
Meghan Brophy	President / Marketing
Nikki Parnell	Human Resources
Sherry Cheek	Director
Susan Higdon
Terry Richardson	Sponsorship
Tom Mooney	Ceremonies and Entertainment

Patrons of the festival

Lesley Sobey
Roger Swarbrick
Shirley Murray
Allison Leil
Ann MacLean