Guelph athlete Taylor Redmond already has a gold medal from the 2008 Special Olympics provincial competition and a silver medal from the 2012 event. Now, he has added an Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers to his collection.
Redmond received his new award from Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell at Queen’s Park May 30.
This year, 10 nominees received the medal, which is the highest honour a person aged 15 to 24 can achieve for volunteer contributions to the province.
Redmond, 24, volunteers at Community of Hearts Lifelong Learning Centre in Guelph. The not-for-profit organization helps adults with disabilities continue to learn and gain more independence.
Redmond has Down syndrome.
In high school, he completed a co-op placement at the W.F. Mitchell Athletics Centre on campus. Now working part-time at the centre, he helps with intramural programs.
Along with two basketball teammates, he hosts a sports show on campus radio station CFRU on Wednesday afternoons called Gryphons and Special Olympics Sports.
As a motivational speaker for schools and community groups, Redmond raises funds for the Special Olympics.