Through his selfless dedication and tireless efforts, Brian Etherington has made a remarkable contribution to the lives of thousands of Canadian athletes with an intellectual disability. During his many years of voluntary leadership with Special Olympics Canada, and later as Chairman of its Foundation, he has promoted greater awareness and funding for competitors. In 1983, he co-founded the Sports Celebrities Festival, a yearly event that has raised millions of dollars for the Special Olympics. He has also generously shared his time with several community and not-for-profit organizations, including Big Brothers of Metropolitan Toronto and Cops Helping Kids.