Gino Reda returning to Special Olympics Festival

Andy Fantuz also announced for event, which will take place 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 on June 26.

This marks the 18th year that Reda will co-emcee the festival alongside Paul Phillips, a longtime athlete with Special Olympics P.E.I.

Reda, with TSN for over 25 years, has hosted “Tim Horton’s 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 over 12 years.

During his time with TSN, Reda has also hosted numerous international events.

Special Olympics P.E.I. also announced that Andy Fantuz, player development co-ordinator for the Hamilton TigerCats and a former CFL wide receiver, will attend. Fantuz was drafted third overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2006 CFL draft and played six seasons with the Roughriders before signing on with the Tiger-Cats. In May, Fantuz re-joined the Tiger-Cats in an administrative role.

Additional celebrities confirmed include Ottawa Senator’s defenseman Dion Phaneuf, TV personality and former host of Canada AM Jeff Hutcheson, two-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach Darryl Sutter, head coach and VP player development for the Island Storm Joe Salerno, founded of Special Olympics Canada, Dr. Frank Hayden and Special Olympics P.E.I.’s male and female athletes of the year Art Smith (Charlottetown) and Janet Charchuk (Alberton).