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ONPARA Announces Team Ontario Wheelchair Basketball Roster for 2023 Canada Games
Leave a CommentWheelchair basketball athletes and staff selected to represent Ontario in PEI
(December 9, 2022 – Toronto, ON) The Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is proud to formally announce the team selected to represent Ontario in wheelchair basketball at the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Following a series of selection camps that look place between July – October, 2022, 12 of Ontario’s top wheelchair basketball athletes were chosen to represent the province. The team will be led by an experienced, well-respected, and skilled coaching staff which includes Head Coach Kathy Ludwig, serving in her 4th Canada Games and her 2nd as Head Coach. She is joined on the bench by returning Assistant Coach Josh Davies, Apprentice Coach Andrea Foessel, and Team Manager Josée Matte.
“I am very excited and honoured to be coaching such a great group of young athletes,” said Ludwig. “They continue to impress us with their hard work and dedication. I am so proud of this team and I can’t wait to see them on court in PEI.” Kathy Ludwig is the first female Head Coach in the history of the Ontario Junior wheelchair basketball program.
The athletes named to Team Ontario are as follows:
Team Ontario |
||
| Name | Hometown | Home Club |
| Laura Calovini | Brampton | Cruisers Sports |
| Nasif Chowdhury | Toronto | GHDSA Vipers |
| Himmat Dhillon | Brampton | Cruisers Sports |
| Cole Heessels | Exeter | London Forest City Flyers |
| Rosie Long | Oakville | GHDSA Vipers |
| Charlotte McElroy | Hamilton | GHDSA Vipers |
| Broden Nagle | London | London Forest City Flyers |
| Desmond O’Shaughnessy | Carp | OCWSA |
| Ibrahim Odza | Scarborough | Variety Village Rolling Rebels |
| Grace Plumb | Brampton | Cruisers Sports |
| Travis Topping | Vienna | London Forest City Flyers |
| Sana Worley | Brampton | GHDSA Vipers |
| Alternates | ||
| Mercyline Nyakundi | Hamilton | GHDSA Vipers |
| Tyler Bickford | Ottawa | OCWSA |
Wheelchair basketball provincial teams are open to athletes of all genders, with and without physical disabilities, making the sport one of the most inclusive in Canada. Junior-age wheelchair basketball players at the 2023 Games must be born in or after 1999 (24 years or younger).
Ushering in a new generation of players
Ontario has historically been a top contender at the national level and in the Canada Games. They claimed silver in 2019 after a thrilling final and hard-fought battle with hosts Alberta. They also captured silvers in 2011 in Halifax, NS and 2007 in Whitehorse, YT, and a bronze in 2003 in Bathurst-Campbellton, NB, all three times getting edged out by long-time rivals, the powerhouse Équipe Québec.
However, Team Ontario is in a unique and unprecedented position heading into the 2023 Games as all twelve athletes will be competing in the wheelchair basketball competition at the Canada Games for the first time in their careers. With the overwhelming majority of the 2019 squad aging out of their junior eligibility, this all-rookie team will undoubtedly be making its mark as the youngest team in the tournament and gaining invaluable experience along the way.
While this team might be new to the Games, two members – multi-sport athletes Laura Calovini and Rosie Long – will be able to tap into their recent multisport games experience and share their insight with their teammates. Both competed this past summer in para-athletics at the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara, ON. Calovini, a thrower, earned a bronze in the shot put and a 4th place finish in the discus, while Long competed in wheelchair racing, claiming two medals – a gold and silver in the 100m and 1500m events, respectively. Both are members of para-athletics program at Cruisers Sports, based out of the Halton-Peel Region.
When asked what lessons she could share with her teammates, Calovini said, “I learned you need to believe in yourself and to be open to learning from your teammates and coaches. It’s really important to be prepared mentally as well as physically to compete at this level, but being a part of Team Ontario is really special, so enjoy every second!”
The team has been training together monthly since July and have had the opportunity to play some exhibition games against local club teams to simulate the competitive game environment expected in PEI next February. “I am looking forward to seeing how the team has progressed from last year’s Junior Nationals to now, as well as seeing all our work finally culminating,” said co-captain and Brampton native Grace Plumb. “Basketball has been a vital part of my life since I first joined my home club. I never expected to be able to have this experience but with hard work and good support I can say I am overwhelmed and cannot wait for the Games.”
When asked about what it means to represent Ontario and compete in the Canada Games, co-captain Cole Heessels said, “It’s an honour to be part of Team Ontario and represent my province. I’m excited about the life experience and opportunities that develop by being part of the team.” The 16 year old from Exeter attributes the team’s development on the hard work put in off the court, such as increased cardio sessions, as well as improved communication and bonding as a team. “Our coaches have been challenging us. I’m eager to see how much we have improved since Nationals last June.”
The wheelchair basketball competition is scheduled during the first week of the Canada Games, from February 18-25 at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre at the University of Prince Edward Island. The Opening Ceremony will take place on Saturday, February 18. Tickets, merchandise, and schedules are now available online at www.2023canadagames.ca
About the Ontario Para Network
Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.
About Team Ontario
Team Ontario is made up of athletes, coaches and managers who represent Ontario with pride at the Canada Games. Our athletes have qualified through a formal selection process and will compete against the best athletes from across Canada. Members of Team Ontario are a valued part of our sport community and are the next generation of national, international and Olympic champions. Follow Team Ontario on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @GoTeamOntario
About the Canada Games
Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games are the largest multi-sport event in the country for Canadian amateur athletes. The Games are inclusive and bring together more than 2,000 able-bodied athletes and athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities. Each Games features two weeks of competition, between 16 and 19 sports, approximately 4,600 summer and up to 3,600 winter participants (athletes, coaches and managers), and over 5,000 volunteers. The Canada Games strengthen the fabric of Canada through the power of sport by sparking greatness in the next generation of athletes and leaders and by creating enduring legacies that transform communities from coast to coast to coast.
ONPARA Announces 2022 Wheelchair Basketball Selection Camp Invitations
Leave a Comment2023 Canada Games selections set to begin for Ontario wheelchair basketball athletes
The Ontario Para Network is pleased to announce the 17 junior wheelchair basketball athletes who have been invited to attend the 2022-2023 Team Ontario selection camps. Athletes selected through the series of camps will represent Ontario at the 2023 Canada Winter Games from February 17-26 in Prince Edward Island.
The first of the selection camps took place this past weekend at Sheridan College – Davis Campus in Brampton, under the direction of Head Coach Kathy Ludwig, Assistant Coach Josh Davies, and Apprentice Coach Andrea Foessel. Guest coaches included Émilie Mondor, Vanessa Giancaterini, Shayne Sharkey, and Dani Bigu.
Selection camps will occur on a monthly basis, starting on July 28-31, followed by the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Ontario ‘NextGen’ Camp at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in Toronto from August 27-28 and single-day camps at the Abilities Centre in Whitby on September 17 and October 1.
Team Ontario Junior Selection Camps – Athlete List
Tyler Bickford (Ottawa)
Laura Calovini (Brampton)
Nasif Chowdhury (Toronto)
Himmat Dhillon (Brampton)
Lara Fennell (Stoney Creek)
Devin Frogley (Whitby)
Jayvon Frogley (Whitby)
Cole Heessels (Exeter)
Rosie Long (Oakville)
Charlotte McElroy (Hamilton)
Broden Nagle (London)
Mercyline Nyakundi (Hamilton)
Desmond O’Shaughnessy (Carp)
Ibrahim Odza (Scarborough)
Grace Plumb (Brampton)
Travis Topping (Vienna)
Sana Worley (Brampton)
The Team Ontario Summer Camp at Sheridan College, which took place form July 28-31, was the first opportunity of the season for the athletes to centralize and train as a group since competing in the 2022 Junior National Championship from June 10-12. Athletes participated in multiple on-court training sessions and had the opportunity to scrimmage against highly-skilled former Team Ontario Junior athletes and club team athletes – Adel Akhmed, Julian Baird, Dani Bigu, Zoe Hahn, Maninder Hothi, Puisand Lai, Joanne Lee, Adrian Melancon, Émilie Mondor, Erik Robezniek, and Shayne Sharkey – for additional competitive experience. The junior athletes also took part in an education session focused on athlete recovery, led by Ervinia Monroe, strength & conditioning coach at Sheridan College.
Final selections for the 2023 Canada Winter Games will take place following the October 1st camp.
About the Ontario Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program
The Ontario Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program provides high performance training & competition opportunities for the province’s Junior-age athletes. The program operates on a four-year competition cycle leading up to the Canada Winter Games in the final year of the quadrennial. Wheelchair basketball provincial teams in Canada are open to athletes of all genders, with and without physical disabilities, making the sport one the most inclusive in the country. “Junior-age” wheelchair basketball players for the 2023 Canada Games cycle must be born in or after 1999 (24 years or younger the year of Canada Games).
About the Ontario Para Network
Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.
Ontario Earns Podium Finishes at Wheelchair Rugby National Championships
Leave a CommentTeam Ontario claims two silvers, one bronze, and multiple individual awards in Montréal
The 2022 Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Championships wrapped up over the weekend, with all three Ontario teams earning podium finishes. The event was hosted within the greater Défi Sportif Altergo and featured 10 teams from across Canada competing in two divisions. This was the first year the championships were able to take place since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ontario Thunder finished in second place in Division 1 with a 61-57 loss to defending champions the Alberta Roughnecks. The team, which consisted of Paralympians Mike Whitehead, Cody Caldwell, Travis Murao, Patrice Dagenais, and Dave Willsie, and rising star Rio Kanda Kovac, gave a hard-fought effort, but couldn’t quite solve the dynamic duo of Branden Troutman and MVP Zak Madell.
The Ontario Lightning earned a place in the bronze medal game after posting a 2-2 record in the preliminary round. Facing formidable foes Équipe Québec, the Lightning came out on top with a close 51-48 win. The team featured athletes of mixed experience levels, including Paralympians Eric Furtado-Rodrigues and Shayne Smith, National Team Program athletes Ben Perkins and Matt Debly, and select Ontario club-team athletes Nick Kovac, Ian Crowe, and Peter Langenecker.
In Division 2, reigning three-time champions the Ontario Storm met their match against a fresh and dynamic Team BC 2. With the Storm in the lead for the better part of the game, a series of costly turnovers in the 3rd quarter allowed BC to capitalize and gain momentum, eventually winning the game with a score of 41-38 and earning the Division 2 national title. The results will undoubtedly make for an eager team hungry for redemption next year.
During the Awards Banquet held on Sunday night following the end of the tournament, seven Ontario athletes were recognized with individual awards for their performances throughout the weekend. In Division 2, Erika Schmutz earned ‘Best 1.5’ and Reid Mulligan earned ‘Best 3.5’. In Division 1, Eric Furtado-Rodrigues (0.5), Cody Caldwell (2.0), Shayne Smith (2.5), and Mike Whitehead (3.0) earned Best in Class awards for their respective classifications, while Matt Debly was granted the Rising Star Most Improved Player award.
The Ontario Para Network would like to extend its heartfelt congratulations to all the Ontario athletes and all the opposing teams who competed at the National Championships. A special thank you goes out to the Ontario coaches and support staff – Garett Hickling, Dave Willsie, Dave Caldwell, Liz Caldwell, Susana Lima, Tanya Crowe, Gwen Debly, Jesse Kozma, and Ian Mayberry – for all their hard work during the tournament and throughout the season, and for their contributions to the sport of wheelchair rugby. Finally, thank you to Wheelchair Rugby Canada, Défi Sportif Altergo, and Parasports Québec for organizing the event and making it possible for athletes to return to the national stage in a safe, fun, and welcoming environment.
Be sure to follow ONPARA on social media at @onparanetwork for photos, upcoming events, news, and announcements. Want to get involved in wheelchair rugby in Ontario? Contact Josée Matte at josee@onpara.ca to get in the game! We’re always looking for more players, coaches, volunteers, and officials. No previous experience needed!
About the Ontario Para Network
Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.
Rosters Announced for 2022 Wheelchair Rugby National Championships
Leave a CommentTeam Ontario headed to Montréal to contend for national titles
The Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is proud to formally announce the teams selected to represent Ontario at the 2022 Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Championships in Montréal, Québec.
A total of 22 Ontario athletes were selected to compete in the event and have been divided amongst three teams – the Ontario Thunder and Lightning in Division 1 and the Ontario Storm in Division 2. This will be the first time in almost three years that these athletes will compete together on the national stage after the 2020 and 2021 championships were cancelled due to the pandemic. The athletes are eager and excited to compete and reconnect with members of the wheelchair rugby community from across the country.
In the 2019 edition of the tournament, hosted in Ottawa, the Ontario Thunder was narrowly defeated by the Alberta Roughnecks in a buzzer beater thriller. They will be looking for revenge and to reclaim their national title while the Ontario Lightning is aiming to join them on the podium after their 4th place finish in 2019. The Ontario Storm, three-time reigning National Champions in Division 2, will be working hard to make it a four-peat in what is sure to be a competitive field this year.
The athletes and staff named to Team Ontario are as follows:
| Ontario Thunder | Ontario Lightning | Ontario Storm |
| Cody Caldwell (Cavan) | Ian Crowe (Ingersoll) | Dwayne Besharah (North Gower) |
| Patrice Dagenais (Embrun) | Matt Debly (Windsor) | Faisal Burale (Toronto) |
| Rio Kanda Kovac (Toronto) | Nick Kovac (Toronto) | Garrett Dieleman (Wallacetown) |
| Travis Murao (Toronto) | Peter Langenecker (London) | Corey Jalbert (Spencerville) |
| Dave Willsie (London) | Ben Perkins (North Augusta) | Dylan Lamoureux (Trenton) |
| Mike Whitehead (Windsor) | Eric Rodrigues (Mississauga) | Kevin McEwen (North Gower) |
| Shayne Smith (Toronto) | Reid Mulligan (Ottawa) | |
| Erika Schmutz (Kingston) | ||
| Jamie Sopha (Toronto) | ||
| Team Ontario Staff | ||
| Garett Hickling – Provincial Coach | ||
| Dave Caldwell – Equipment | ||
| Jesse Kozma – Equipment | ||
| Ian Mayberry – Equipment | ||
| Liz Caldwell – Support | ||
| Tanya Crowe – Support | ||
| Gwen Debly – Support | ||
| Susana Lima – Support | ||
Team Ontario will be led by Provincial Coach and wheelchair rugby legend Garett Hickling with assistance from player-coaches Dave Willsie, Patrice Dagenais, and Erika Schmutz throughout the tournament, in addition to an amazing equipment & support staff.
The Ontario wheelchair rugby program has historically had strong representation and results at the National Championships. A total of eight Paralympians will be representing the province at this year’s event in addition to a group of long-time veteran players. Current National Team Program athletes include Caldwell, Dagenais, Debly, Kanda Kovac, Murao, Perkins, Rodrigues, Smith, and Whitehead. Rookie Garrett Dieleman is the new kid on the block and the newest athlete to join Team Ontario, having recently taken up the sport over the past year with home club the London Annihilators.
The 2022 Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Championships run from April 28 to May 1 at the Patro Villeray in Montréal. The event is hosted as part of the greater Défi Sportif Altergo in partnership with Parasports Québec and Wheelchair Rugby Canada. For event information, schedules, and results, visit https://wheelchairrugby.ca/competition/2022-canadian-wheelchair-rugby-national-championships/ and be sure to follow @wcrugbycanada and @onparanetwork on social!
About the Ontario Para Network
Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.
ONPARA Welcomes Kyle Brisbane as School Programs Coordinator
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The Ontario Para Network is pleased to welcome Kyle Brisbane in the role of School Programs Coordinator.
Kyle comes to the organization with a practical background in Recreation Therapy, having recently obtained his diploma in Therapeutic Recreation from Canadore College and gained first-hand experience working at the Abilities Centre in Whitby.
Additionally, Kyle has years of experience as a basketball athlete and coach, which will undoubtedly translate well to introducing students and educators to wheelchair basketball and other adaptive sports as part of the ONPARA School Programs. He spent a year in Ireland at the Limerick Institute of Technology completing his Bachelor of Science in Strength and Conditioning and playing basketball competitively.
“I’m looking forward to working for the Ontario Para Network. It’s important to me be part of an organization that actively increases opportunities for those with disabilities and raises awareness. Sports have played a large role in my life growing up and I believe that everyone should get the opportunity to participate if they want to,” said Brisbane.
Kyle can be reached at schoolprograms@onpara.ca
About the Ontario Para Network
Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.
Foessel named to CAC’s ‘Women in Coaching’ Apprenticeship Program
Leave a CommentCoaching Association of Canada announces 2023 Women in Coaching Canada Games Apprentice Coaches
The Ontario Para Network is proud to announce that wheelchair basketball coach Andrea Foessel (Shelburne, ON) has been selected to take part in the Coaching Association of Canada’s ‘Women in Coaching’ Canada Games Apprenticeship Program for 2023.
The program provides the opportunity for each province and territory to send two female coaches to the Canada Games in apprentice roles to further their development in coaching. Apprentice coaches receive valuable professional development opportunities that can lead them to achieving their NCCP ‘Competition Development’ certification, and also provides much-needed exposure to multi-sport games, support from a dedicate Mentor Coach, and access to high performance coaches from across Canada. The 2023 Canada Winter Games will be taking place in Prince Edward Island from February 18th to March 5th.
Foessel got her start in wheelchair basketball around the age of 15 by joining her local club, Cruisers Sports, with her younger sister Renee. While Renee eventually found her love of para-athletics and went on to represent Canada at the Paralympics, Andrea continued her involvement in wheelchair basketball and competed at the club level and with Team Ontario in the 2015 Canada Games in Prince George, BC. After taking a step back from the sport to complete her post-secondary education and begin her career, she expressed an interest in returning in a coaching capacity and reached out to her long-time coach Kathy Ludwig and offered to volunteer with the Cruisers. She later got involved with the Junior provincial team and made the decision to commit to coaching throughout the 2019-2023 Canada Games cycle.
“When I made the decision to pursue coaching more seriously, it was a natural transition for me to move from a volunteer mentor to an Assistant Coach with the Ontario Junior program,” said Foessel. “Being an Assistant Coach with the Juniors has been such a rewarding and valuable experience so far. I have had the ability to work with almost every junior-age athlete across the province, assisting them individually on and off the court. Being accepted into the Women in Coaching Apprenticeship Program is an honour, and I know it will benefit me as a coach and help me strengthen my skills.”
Kathy Ludwig, Head Coach of the Ontario Junior provincial team and the first ever female Head Coach in the history of the program, will act as Andrea’s formal Mentor throughout her apprenticeship where she will undoubtedly be a tremendous resource. With over 20 years of experience coaching wheelchair basketball, Ludwig was also part of the CAC’s Women in Coaching Apprenticeship Program for the 2011 Canada Games in Halifax, NS. She then moved into an Assistant Coach role with Team Ontario from 2011-2015, became Head Coach in 2015-2019, and was once again selected as Head Coach for the 2019-2023 cycle.
“In 2011, I had the privilege of being one of the Apprentice Coaches in the Women in Coaching Program. That experience was very meaningful to me and connected me with amazing women who have had great success in coaching. It gave me confidence and empowered me to continue to pursue higher levels of coaching, and I look forward to supporting Andrea in her own development,” said Ludwig. “I know this opportunity will help her build her own confidence and give her the experience she needs to take her coaching to the next level,” she added. “I have known Andrea for over 15 years, ever since she started playing wheelchair basketball for Cruisers Sports, and I am grateful to have witnessed her growth and development. She is a gifted technical coach and Team Ontario is better by having her involved.”
The Team Ontario Junior program is currently preparing to attend the Junior National Championship from June 10-12 in Prince Edward Island. Afterwards, the coaches and athletes will turn their attention to training and preparing for the 2022-2023 season and competing in the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
About the Coaching Association of Canada
The Coaching Association of Canada unites stakeholders and partners in its commitment to raising the skills and stature of coaches, and ultimately expanding their reach and influence. Through its programs, the CAC empowers coaches with knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches. For more information, please visit www.coach.ca, follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
About the Ontario Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program
The Ontario Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program provides high performance training & competition opportunities for the province’s Junior-age athletes. The program operates on a four-year competition cycle leading up to the Canada Winter Games in the final year of the quadrennial. Wheelchair basketball provincial teams in Canada are open to athletes of all genders, with and without physical disabilities, making the sport one the most inclusive in the country. “Junior-age” wheelchair basketball players for the 2023 Canada Games cycle must be born in or after 1999 (24 years or younger the year of Canada Games).
About the Ontario Para Network
Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.
Research Study: Classification Experiences of Parasport Athletes
Leave a CommentResearchers from Western University are seeking participants for a study on the classification experiences of parasport athletes.
The goal of the study is to understand the embodied experiences associated with disability sport classification and potentially highlight the power dynamics within sport and create space for new understanding of the ways in which bodies inform sport participation opportunities.
Understanding the experiences of athletes in the process of classification is fundamental to understanding how the process impacts the quality of their participation in disability sport.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be a parasport athlete
- Must have experienced classification nationally and/or internationally
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Must live in Canada
- Must speak English
Participation Requirements:
Involvement in the study will be complete virtual due to the ongoing pandemic. You will be asked to complete two (2) virtual interviews via Zoom that will range between 45-90 minutes in duration.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please click on the link below and complete the brief screening survey.
https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a4usNzAATrxOa8u
Upon completing the survey, you may be contacted via email to complete the consent process and schedule an interview with the research team.
Contacts:
Megan Kalbfleisch, Research Assistant, MA Student, mkalbfl3@uwo.ca
Dr. Laura Misener, Principal Investigator, Supervisor, lmisene@uwo.ca
For Two Little Girls; The Importance of Representation – Julia Hanes
Leave a CommentFor Two Little Girls; the Importance of Representation
Julia Hanes, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Ottawa and a Canada Games gold medalist in para-athletics, often thinks about the two little girls in wheelchairs she met as a med student while on placement at a hospital.
“I tell the story sometimes of two little girls who were wheelchair users and who were just awe-struck when they saw me, not because I was so beautiful or so smart or so anything, (but because) I looked like them,” Hanes says.
Hanes acquired her disability, hemiplegia, which is a condition that leads to paralysis on one side of the body, at age 17. Having attended three hospitals during her rehabilitation process and meeting countless doctors over the years, she wonders if seeing a physician with a disability would have changed how quickly she came to terms with her disability. As one of the first medical students in Ottawa U history to use a wheelchair on a regular basis—according to the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine—she thinks of these two girls in challenging times as a reminder of the impact of representation.
“I think about them when there’s a lot of accessibility challenges at school, when I’m getting a lot of pushback for accommodations, when somebody in the hallway, whoever it may be—physician, nurse, [physiotherapist], [occupational therapist]—asks, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ and I start to get frustrated about having a disability and being in medical education. I think about how important it is to continue to push for representation of people with disabilities in medicine,” she says.
Hanes used to dream of becoming a chemist, a subject she was quite good at in high school. However, after acquiring her disability, she realized that the university chemistry labs may not be accessible to her. For this reason, she was more than thrilled when she found out that she had been accepted into the Health Sciences program at McMaster University. She initially had no interest in the program but applied following her high school English teacher’s suggestion.
It was during her undergrad, through her involvement with the CanChild Centre—a childhood disability research and educational centre within the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster—that she discovered her calling.
“I discovered that A) I like clinical research more (than lab work) and B) I thought it would be really cool to be a physician and to give back to my community, to people with disabilities,” she says.
However, adapting to university life wasn’t a smooth ride for Hanes. Although the idea of getting a fresh start and being surrounded by people who didn’t know her story appealed to her, she says the first year of her undergrad was probably the most challenging despite the attitude on campus being very progressive and inclusive.
“I acquired (my disability) in January of 2013, and that September I went to university with all of these new impairments. My left hand didn’t work properly. My left foot didn’t work properly. I couldn’t walk, I was using this wheelchair, and it was winter, and I was coming up on a year where I didn’t get better,” she says. “I was doing okay in school, but I really started to struggle socially, feeling like I didn’t belong. And (I struggled) being in that head space, like, ‘What am I doing? Why am I doing this?’”
As one of her coping mechanisms, she threw herself into work to prove to herself and others that she was just as capable as she used to be.
“It literally feels like the old you died, and then there’s a new you, right? And I think the way that I coped was I made myself very, very busy, almost as if to prove to myself that I was just as capable, I was just as strong, I was just as athletic, I was just as caring. I was ‘just as’ all of these things before. I built my identity around my [able-bodied] identity that was something I was very proud of. It almost made that disability less difficult,” she says.
She credits sports for playing a huge part in her recovery process as well. “Honestly, sports were a huge part of my return to function and my ability to cope,” she says. The first parasport she was introduced to following her injury was para ice hockey (formerly known as sledge hockey), which she was strongly encouraged to try by one of the custodians at a summer camp for kids with disabilities where she volunteered from June to August of 2013. She gives credit to para ice hockey for getting her back to playing sports again.
“[Sledge hockey] was the first one to get me really active. And the community is something that—people don’t talk about it a lot—but having a good group of people with disabilities, even if you’re not talking about disabilities all the time, you learn tips and tricks from them. There’s a common understanding that everybody just gets it,” she says. “I tried it and it was the first time in eight months I really felt like I just had actual tons of fun. I loved it. My disability did not matter. And it was just so freeing. Nobody really cared what happened to me. And it was nice to be seen not as someone who is disabled, and not as someone who is not whole, but just an athlete,” she says.
Hanes has always been an athlete. She grew up playing multiple sports at a competitive level; she swam, played soccer, figure skated for 13 years, and dabbled in volleyball, cross-country and more.
Since sledge hockey reawakened her love for sports, she has gone on to participate in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and para-athletics at competitive or high-performance levels.
She thinks there are major advantages to being a multisport athlete because of the transferrable skills and aptitude she developed that are required in all sports.
“Like the chair skill—from wheelchair basketball to wheelchair rugby and vice versa—and thinking about plays in advance is helpful regardless in whatever sports you play. And I think the core of it is that at one point, you are athletic, so you have a certain level of fitness, you have a certain level of drive, you have a certain level of intelligence or sport aptitude to figure out plays and stuff. And I think those skills are very broadly applicable in sports but life in general,” she says.
Hanes’ unique ability to adapt her life around her disability has been noted by many in some of the creative solutions she employs and mobility devices she utilizes. For instance, to play rugby, she uses a wrist sleeve she bought from a drug store with a linebacker glove and some tape to efficiently push the rugby chair around; to play sledge hockey, she uses a massive arm splint—which her Orthotist made for her—and a stick that is longer than the one she tapes to her hand, which helps her to push evenly; to navigate inaccessible spaces, she wears her “robot legs” (a powered exoskeleton device) which she funded through a GoFundMe campaign; and to help her get around campus, she rode a tricycle everywhere for three years.
Hanes is also very mindful of which assistive device she uses depending on the environment she’s in and the tasks she must perform.
“I describe it as choosing a pair of shoes for the day. Whatever makes sense depending on the environment—so thinking about the tasks you’re going to do that day, what you need to do, what you need to accomplish and what your goals are—you make a decision about what aid is best for you in that context. So, if I have a 26-hour call shift, which we have, I’m not going to use either a cane or robot legs. A wheelchair would be the most convenient option,” she says.
The last seven years of learning to adapt her life around her disability and participating in multiple parasports has been an eye opening experience for Hanes to understand the additional barriers women and girls with disabilities face while getting involved in sports. As a strong advocate for women and girls with disabilities, she says sport participation is and should be a human right.
“Girls, we know, participate in sports until a certain age for many, many reasons and then stop participating. Period. The important thing for females with disabilities in sports, is often their participation starts later; they are often participating in a co-ed environment that is predominantly male; and they have the same barriers to participation as every other girl on the planet, plus their disabilities and all of these other things that are going on,” she says. “So, I think that knowing how big of a difference sports played in my life as an able-bodied kid growing up and as someone who acquired a disability, I think that it’s almost a right, it should be a right for people to be involved in sports to reap those benefits to learn skills like hard work, adaptability, team work, and all of those things.”
Hanes says even though there may be challenges and tough times ahead, she will strive to pave a way for better representation of people with disabilities in the medical field. By doing that, she hopes other wheelchair users—like those two little girls—receive better medical care.
“You have to think about how many hundreds of doctors, nurses and physios [the two girls] have seen, and that probably was their first experience ever seeing someone who looked like them actually caring for them, which is pretty remarkable,” she says. “I never saw a doctor with a disability [during my recovery] and I never saw someone who looked like me. I had a lot of good doctors and a lot of bad doctors. I thought to myself I could add to the pool of good.”
Update: Since this article was originally written, Julia has graduated from medical school and moved to Vancouver, British Columbia to pursue a five-year residency in physical medicine & rehabilitation at UBC. She continues to play wheelchair rugby with Team BC (BC Wheelchair Sports Association) and has been enjoying outdoor activities like open water swimming.
You can follow Julia on Twitter at @juliathelefty
About the Ontario Para Network
Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.
COVID-19 ‘Return to Sport’ Update – March 1
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CHANGES TO PROOF OF VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS IN ONTARIO (March 1, 2022)
With key public health and health system indicators continuing to improve, Ontario is cautiously and gradually easing public health and workplace safety measures.
Most notably, as of March 1, 2022, proof of vaccination requirements have been lifted across the province. Businesses and organizations may now choose to require proof of vaccination upon entry. Other changes include the removal of capacity limits in all indoor public settings, while protective measures such as the wearing of masks and face coverings, health screening, and mandatory safety plans, are still in effect.
As a multi-sport provincial organization, ONPARA recognizes the potential for differing rules and requirements for sport facilities across Ontario, and therefore recommends that all affiliated clubs/programs and sanctioned events follow the recommendations of their respective facilities with regards to proof of vaccination requirements. Clubs and programs may also independently choose to set stricter guidelines than those of their facilities and continue to require proof of vaccination for all club-based activities.
Proof of vaccination or medical exemption will continue to be required for participation in ONPARA provincial team programs for wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby for the remainder of the 2021-2022 season in accordance with the requirements set by the NSOs for all 2022 national events. This extends to all athletes, coaches, bench staff, officials, and volunteers. Vaccination requirements for ONPARA’s provincial wheelchair tennis program will be dependent on facility guidelines and it should be noted that proof of vaccination may be required to compete in certain tournaments.
ONPARA has updated its ‘Return to Sport’ guidelines in accordance with the government of Ontario’s newest measures. This information can be found on the COVID-19 Information and Resources page on our website.
It is important for us to continue being extra careful about COVID-19 protocols and guidelines at this time, even as restrictions continue to be lifted. The health and well-being of our community continues to be our number one priority.
Dolinar Named as 2022 Petro-Canada FACE Grant Recipient
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Wheelchair tennis athlete Anne-Marie Dolinar among group of 11 para athletes to receive FACE grants
A group of 55 up-and-coming athletes and their coaches have recently been announced as recipients of the 2022 Petro-Canada FACE grants. Among the class of 2022 includes wheelchair tennis athlete Anne-Marie Dolinar of Deep River, and her coach Brian Ma of Toronto.
The Petro-Canada FACE program (Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence) supports athletes from across various sports who have the potential and are striving to represent Canada at the Olympic or Paralympic Games, but don’t yet qualify for government funding. Grants in the amount of $10,000 are used to support their training, competition, and equipment-related expenses, with $5,000 going to the athlete and $5,000 to the coach.
Dolinar, a rising star on the Canadian wheelchair tennis scene, made her mark in 2019 when she captured gold in the women’s singles event at the National Championships. She is among a notable group of 10 other para-athletes from across Canada to receive FACE grants.
FACE grant recipients are nominated by their National Sport Organization and selected by a committee made up of representatives from Petro-Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, and the Coaching Association of Canada. Since 1988, Petro-Canada has given over $12 million in financial support to over 3,000 Canadian athletes and coaches.
About the Ontario Para Network
Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.