The Ophea Award for Outstanding Contribution recognizes an individual, group, or organization for their exemplary contribution to the lives of children and youth in the areas of inclusive health and physical education, health and physical activity promotion, advocacy, and/or community development. The Ophea Award for Outstanding Contribution is presented in honour of Bill Paterson, a dedicated and generous individual who worked tirelessly to improve kids’ health. Throughout Ophea’s early years, Bill was dedicated to supporting the organization and spent many years working as a volunteer for Ophea.
Ophea is proud to announce William Fenton as one of the recipients of the 2024/2025 Ophea Award for Outstanding Contribution.
William’s decades-long dedication to health and physical education, inclusive coaching, and community leadership has had a transformative impact on youth in Windsor-Essex and beyond.
With a career rooted in education and a heart for volunteerism, William has served the Greater Essex County District School Board in multiple capacities—technology education, manufacturing, physical and health education, and special education—while simultaneously giving back to his community as a lifelong coach and mentor. A passionate advocate for inclusive sport, William has created space for students of all abilities to thrive, most notably through the establishment of the Special Olympics Ontario School Sports Academy at Leamington District Secondary School. This initiative, the first of its kind in the region, promotes a whole-school approach to physical education and fosters meaningful relationships between students with intellectual disabilities and their peers.
Over the past 30 years, William has coached a wide range of sports, often simultaneously balancing school-based and community-level teams.
William’s coaching philosophy goes beyond strategy and competition. Whether on the baseball diamond, basketball court, or bocce field, he instills values of teamwork, resilience, and mutual respect. From early beginnings in Essex Minor Baseball to introducing inclusive lunch-hour intramurals and high school fishing tournaments, William has never stopped seeking innovative ways to engage youth in healthy, active living.
A hands-on educator, William has reimagined the way physical education is delivered to students with disabilities. His classes feature individualized training plans, nutrition education, and opportunities to build physical literacy through teamwork-based games and fitness rotations. His students see him as more than just a teacher—he is a role model, often participating in activities alongside them to demonstrate effort and inclusion in action.
The success of William’s inclusive programs speaks volumes. Since founding the Special Olympics Ontario School Sports Academy in 2022, participation has grown from just 8 students to more than 35, with new sports and leadership opportunities continually being added. His teams have earned provincial recognition, including multiple silver medals, and this year, two of his unified teams will compete at the Provincial School Championships in Ottawa. He’s also led fundraising initiatives, like the Polar Plunge, raising nearly $2,000 to support Special Olympics athletes.
William Fenton’s legacy is one of unwavering commitment, inclusive practice, and genuine care for student growth and success.
Through his leadership, countless students have discovered their potential—on the field, in the classroom, and within themselves. Ophea is honoured to recognize William for his outstanding contributions to children and youth across Ontario.
