Reda’s ready
TSN broadcaster to be co-emcee while Andy Fantuz added to festival line-up
Gino Reda, host of Tim Horton’s That’s Hockey, will return to co-host his 18th Special Olympics P.E.I. Festival on June 26.
Special Olympics P.E.I. has announced the return of Gino Reda, host of Tim Horton’s That’s Hockey, to the Special Olympics Festival.
This marks the 18th year
Reda will coemcee the festival alongside
Paul Phillips, a longtime athlete with Special Olympics
P.E.I.
Reda has been a mainstay on TSN for more than 25 years, and has hosted That’s Hockey since 2002. He joined TSN in 1988 as a reporter and was quickly promoted to host of Sports Centre, where he anchored more than 3,000 shows in
12 years. During his time with TSN,
Reda has also hosted numerous events, including World
Junior Hockey Championships, FIFA World Cups and Olympic Games.
Special Olympics P.E.I. also announced that Andy Fantuz, player development co-ordinator for the Hamilton TigerCats and former CFL wide receiver, will be attending the Special Olympics Festival. Fantuz was drafted third overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2006 draft. He played six seasons with the Roughriders before signing with the Tiger-Cats.
Fantuz re-joined the TigerCats in May in an administrative role.
Additional celebrities confirmed for the festival include Ottawa Senator’s defenceman Dion Phaneuf; TV personality and former host of Canada AM Jeff Hutcheson; two-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach Darryl Sutter; head coach and vice-president of player development for the Island Storm Joe Salerno; founder of Special Olympics Canada Dr. Frank Hayden; and Special Olympics P.E.I.’s male and female athletes of the tear, Art Smith (Charlottetown) and Janet Charchuk (Alberton).
Further celebrity announcements are expected in the coming weeks. More information on the festival can be found by visiting www.sopei.com.
The festival is Special Olympics P.E.I.’s largest annual fundraiser. Funds raised enrich the lives of Islanders with an intellectual disability through sport. The festival is a two-part event, which includes the Summerside luncheon, being held at Credit Union Place; and the Enriching Lives Gala in Charlottetown, at the Delta Prince Edward Hotel. This year’s event is being held on Monday, June 26.
Tickets for the luncheon are $40 each, or $300 for a corporate table of eight, while tickets for the Gala are $110 each, or $880 for a corporate table of eight, and are available by calling Charity Sheehan at 902-3688919.