When Special Olympics athlete Corbin Mayer took a serious fall one day before the final torch ceremony, it looked like Cpl. Jonathan Cormier would have to carry the torch without him. The Medicine Hat athlete needed nine stitches for a cut above his eye, and organizers prepared to move forward without him.
But Corbin had other plans. He made it back in time and, despite his injury, carried the Flame of Hope alongside Cpl. Cormier.
“He never gave up,” Jonathan said. “That determination is what the athletes are all about.”
Cormier, an RCMP Member and Local Area Representative with the National Police Federation, was selected as a Guardian of the Flame for the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Through the Law Enforcement Torch Run, he joined athletes, law enforcement members and volunteers as the Flame of Hope travelled through 14 legs across several Alberta communities, culminating in Medicine Hat.
“My why is simple: the athletes. From resilience to perseverance and creating lifelong memories, it’s an honour to be chosen as a Guardian of the Flame of Hope [and] to be trusted with their coveted torch.”
More Than a Torch Run
The Law Enforcement Torch Run has long brought police officers and Special Olympics athletes together through a shared commitment to service, teamwork and perseverance. For RCMP Members, taking part is an opportunity to support athletes whose dedication and determination reflect many of the same values they bring to their work.
Travelling with athletes, law enforcement members and volunteers quickly turned the Torch Run into something more personal for Jonathan.
“It was life-changing,” he said. “The friendships and relationships that were built happened so quickly because everyone was there for the same reason.”
Across those 14 legs, it was the athletes Jonathan met along the way who made the biggest impression.
Remembering a Name
During the Torch Run, Jonathan ran alongside Sarah, a swimmer from Red Deer, whose enthusiasm stayed with him. A few days later, when he saw her again, he remembered her name, and she became emotional.
“Moments like that really bring it to life,” he recalled.
For Jonathan, it was a reminder that the impact of the Torch Run isn’t always found in the big moments or grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s in making someone feel seen, remembered, and valued.
Fourteen Communities. One Message.
At every stop on the way to Medicine Hat, residents, volunteers, and law enforcement members welcomed the Flame of Hope with their own energy and pride. The message was consistent: the Games belonged to the athletes, and RCMP Members were proud to support them and cheer them on.
For Jonathan, Corbin’s return was more than a memorable moment. It reflected the determination of athletes who had worked so hard to get there, and it also connected to something deeply personal.
Growing up, Jonathan watched his older brother, who lives with cerebral palsy, overcome challenges with strength and persistence. Those experiences helped shape his understanding of inclusion long before he became a police officer.
Through the Special Olympics, he found himself seeing those same qualities in a different group of people. But there was one thing he wanted people to understand above all else.
“What I’d like people to realize is that they’re athletes. That’s their title.”
He points out that Special Olympics athletes dedicate themselves to their sports in the same way as any competitive athlete, training regularly and overcoming challenges both on and off the field of play.
A Journey That Stays with You
The run may be over, but Jonathan says the lessons from the journey will stay with him. He saw resilience in athletes who refused to give up, kindness in communities that welcomed the Torch Run, and connection among people brought together by a common purpose.
As the father of twin teenage daughters, he hopes they carry those same values with them.
“Be kind. Be good humans. The world needs it.”
For Jonathan, that is at the heart of inclusion: seeing people for who they are, rather than making assumptions based on ability, background, or any other difference.
“For me, it’s about seeing the person, not the challenge.”