05/24/2026
This is what happens when people believe in something bigger than themselves.
The Pfeffer Derby is proof that inclusion, community, and belonging matter. What started as an idea has grown into an event that now brings together Developmental Education Classrooms from every high school across St. Thomas alongside day programs and organizations from St. Thomas, Aylmer, Simcoe, and beyond.
Hundreds of people.
One arena.
Pure joy, chaos, cheering, creativity, and connection.
This event matters because it creates a space where individuals with disabilities are not sitting on the sidelines — they are the main event. Entire schools, organizations, families, and communities come together to celebrate people exactly as they are.
You could feel it in every corner of the room.
The pride.
The excitement.
The friendships.
The school spirit.
The absolute energy of people showing up for one another.
And next year? We want it even bigger.
Packed stands.
Student buyouts.
Entire schools cheering on their teams like any major sporting event. Because this deserves that level of celebration.
But moments like this do not happen by accident. They happen because people care deeply, volunteer endlessly, sponsor generously, advocate loudly, and continue fighting for inclusive spaces even when funding systems make it difficult.
The Pfeffer Derby is more than cars racing down a track.
It is community in action.
It is belonging in action.
It is proof that when people believe in something, incredible things can grow from it. ❤️
