Registration is open for the 2026 DRPS Children’s Games, an inclusive sporting event for children and youth with a range of physical abilities.
The games will take place Saturday, October 24 at Durham College’s Recreation Centre, 2000 Simcoe Street North in Oshawa. Participant registration begins between 9:30 and 10 a.m.
Activities adapted for broad participation
Children aged five to 18 from Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area can take part in basketball, wheelchair rugby, parachute games and other activities. Organizers say each station is adapted so athletes with different abilities can participate.
Participants receive a team T-shirt and rotate through activity stations with support from Durham Regional Police Service members, community volunteers and Grandview Children’s Centre staff.
The day also includes a shared lunch. Every athlete receives a medal, while participants who demonstrate exceptional enthusiasm and sportsmanship may be recognized with the Laura Zutell Spirit Award.
Event traces its history to 1985
The DRPS Children’s Games began in 1985 after Const. Stew Giffin proposed an annual sports day for children living with physical disabilities. The first organizing committee worked with police leadership and the City of Pickering to establish the event.
The games have since grown into a regional gathering that typically welcomes 50 to 100 young athletes. Activities emphasize participation, teamwork, confidence and connection rather than competition.
The program received Pickering’s Access Award for Disability Issues in 2006 and Ontario’s David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility in 2016.
Volunteer roster is already full
DRPS says its volunteer roster for the 2026 event has reached capacity. Only pre-approved volunteers will be permitted to work on game day.
Families can register an athlete through the form linked from the DRPS Children’s Games page. The event is designed for young people living with varied physical abilities and their families.
