Together is where dreams begin
Epic Opportunities’ annual campaign opened with stories of achievement, self-advocacy and the people who help make room for everyone to participate.
On November 4, people supported by Epic Opportunities gathered with staff, business partners and community members to launch Dare to Dream: Together.
The event premiered this year’s campaign video and celebrated a message at the heart of the campaign: every experience is better when everyone can fully participate, contribute and belong.
Dreams and goals begin with each person. Community can help those dreams take flight by offering connection, encouragement, opportunity and support. Together is where dreams begin.
A dream supported
Katie Watt knows what it means to work toward a goal. With support from the Epic Inspirations Scholarship Fund, Katie pursued competitive powerlifting. At the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, she achieved two personal bests and earned three silver medals.
“Receiving this scholarship showed me what can happen when people believe in your dream and come together to support it.”
Katie Watt
Her story reflects what can happen when determination meets practical support and a community that believes in someone’s goals.
More opportunities to lead
The kickoff also marked the launch of Talk It Up! MORE, an initiative that creates paid opportunities for self-advocates to develop and deliver presentations for businesses and community partners.
Presenters share their expertise, experiences and perspectives while building leadership opportunities and helping audiences better understand disability, inclusion, accessibility and belonging. The first featured presentation focuses on disabilities in the workplace.
Talk It Up! MORE was developed with support from Advocacy in Action sponsors Assiniboine Credit Union and Mercier & Associates.
Celebrating partnership and person-centred support
Epic Opportunities recognized Stacey Forest for her leadership and countless hours supporting the organization’s Quality Assurances Accreditation from CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. The three-year accreditation recognizes Epic’s commitment to person-centred practices, organizational accountability and continuous quality improvement.
Medigroup Health Services was presented with a certificate recognizing its support as an Epic Opportunities Person-Centred Excellence Partner.
Epic Opportunities also presented the 2026 EPIC HERO Award to Taylor McCaffrey. Taylor has helped open doors, made room for the Epic community and hosted the kickoff celebrations for the past three years. A key incorporated into the award symbolized the doors the partnership has helped open.
Togetherness beyond the kickoff
Throughout the campaign, Epic Opportunities will share Togetherness Moments: photos and stories of connection, participation and belonging in everyday community life. For each photo submitted, the names of participating people supported by Epic and community members will be entered into a draw for a shared community experience.
The Togetherness Moments initiative is made possible with the generous support of Assiniboine Credit Union and Ellement Consulting Group. Our “Togetherness Paparazzi,” together with kickoff sponsor Chlomore Media, captured moments from the celebration.
As Executive Director Ruby Reimer said at the event: “Although each story is different, they share something important: none of them happened alone. They happened because people listened, believed in one another and came together around something meaningful. That is the heart of Dare to Dream: Together.”
Explore the campaign video and donate at epicmb.ca.
Thank you to our 2026 campaign partners: Assiniboine Credit Union, Bell Media, Ellement Consulting Group, I AM Love Project, Manness Family Foundation, Medigroup Health Services, Mercier & Associates, Taylor McCaffrey, Tripwire Media Group and The Winnipeg Foundation.