After 35 Years of Competing, Cranbrook’s Erin Thom Lands Spot in Special Olympics BC Hall of Fame

A lifetime of medals, leadership, and quiet determination earns one local athlete the province’s highest honour in sport

You don’t compete for over three decades without a story to tell. For Cranbrook’s Erin Thom, that story now includes a permanent place in the Special Olympics BC Hall of Fame.

Thom, known across British Columbia’s athlete community as a force of nature in alpine skiing, bowling, and just about any sport she touches, was inducted at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Games on July 12. Her name now sits beside some of the most respected figures in Canadian sport — and not a single soul who knows her is surprised.

A competitor since the early ’90s — and still not slowing down

Back in 1994, Thom strapped on her first pair of alpine skis for the Special Olympics. She hasn’t looked back since.

Now in her early 50s, she’s competed in every single regional and provincial skiing event since that year. That alone is an incredible streak. But Thom didn’t stop at provincial meets — she turned heads on the national and international stage, racking up medals in events from 1997 right up through 2023.

Her career spans five decades. Let that sink in.

In those years, she’s taken on:

• Alpine skiing at the national and world levels

• Local and provincial competitions in bowling, soccer, and golf

• Volunteer leadership in community outreach and fundraising for SOBC

She’s not just an athlete. She’s a lifer.

Medals are great — but her real wins are personal

Yes, Thom has brought home hardware. Plenty of it. But the thing most folks remember? It’s not the podium moments — it’s her unwavering energy, her quiet leadership, and her way of making everyone feel seen.

“Her incredible skills have inspired countless others,” said Dan Howe, president and CEO of Special Olympics BC. “But it’s her leadership and example that have made a lasting difference.”

And he’s right. At local events in Cranbrook, Thom is often the first to arrive and the last to leave. She welcomes new athletes. She cheers until her voice cracks. She remembers people’s names.

She’s not just in the sport. She is the sport.

One volunteer who’s worked with her for 15 years said it like this: “When Erin’s around, the atmosphere changes. Things feel lighter. She brings people with her, not just across the finish line, but up.”

A well-earned place beside other giants

Thom shares her 2025 induction with Abbotsford coach Donna Bilous — herself a local legend. Together, their inclusion this year is a reminder that SOBC isn’t just about wins; it’s about perseverance, community, and showing up.

Unlike flashy ceremonies for major league pros, SOBC’s Hall of Fame focuses on grit, heart, and impact. And that’s where Thom shines.

The July 12 award ceremony at the 2025 Games was emotional. Thom’s name was met with cheers that didn’t fade — they built. It was as if everyone in that room had some personal memory of her. Because they probably did.

She’s done it all, but she’s still raising the bar

Most people, after thirty-five years in the game, would call it a day. Not Thom.

She’s still competing. Still training. Still mentoring younger athletes. In fact, she’s more active now than ever.

One of her most visible roles in recent years has been in community advocacy. She’s organized awareness campaigns in Cranbrook, written letters to city council, and helped raise thousands through charity events for SOBC programming.

Here’s what she’s been part of just in the last few years:

There’s no slow lane for Erin Thom.

Her impact goes far beyond the medals

Ask parents of new athletes what helped them stick with SOBC, and you’ll hear her name again and again.

One mom said her son had trouble adjusting when he first joined alpine. “Erin took him under her wing without being asked. She made him laugh. Gave him a nickname. He’s still competing today because of her.”

Another recalled how Thom stayed late after a game — just to high-five everyone as they packed up. “She doesn’t know it, but that stuff matters. It mattered to my daughter, and it mattered to me.”

Those moments aren’t recorded in stat sheets. But they’re the reason the SOBC Hall of Fame exists in the first place.

Recognition overdue, but right on time

There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing someone like Thom honoured after decades of service. It validates the long hours. The missed weekends. The bruises and cold mornings on the slopes.

But perhaps more importantly, it sends a message to the next generation of Special Olympics athletes — that this is possible. That commitment counts. That community leadership isn’t something extra. It’s part of being a great athlete.

She may be soft-spoken in interviews, but her presence is loud and clear on the field, on the track, and at the mic when it’s time to speak about what matters.

One sentence she said at the ceremony stuck with a lot of people: “I never thought I’d end up in a Hall of Fame — I just wanted to play with my friends and help where I could.”

That’s Erin Thom. No drama. Just decades of showing up.