The OWSA would like to wish the best of luck to the Cruisers Suns, the sole Ontario wheelchair basketball club team heading to the 2018 CWBL National Championship!
The Suns will be competing in Tier 2 against three other club teams from Manitoba, Lethbridge, and Saskatchewan, while Tier 1 will see 5 teams in the tournament – Saskatchewan Green, Alberta Northern Lights, BC Royals, CIVA, and Gladiateurs de Laval.
Want tickets? It’s simple! OWSA members can email intern@onpara.ca by Thursday April 19 to enter their name for a chance to win 2 tickets to the 8:45pm screening of the film on Sunday May 6 at the Aga Khan Museum. Winners will be announced on Friday April 20!
We Could Be Heroes | Hind Bensari | 78min
A gold medal–winning athlete returns home to Morocco after the Paralympics amid wild fanfare and hopes for a better future, but when he’s abandoned by his athletic federation, he finds the drive to defend his title by training a successor and protesting for social justice. For more information on the film and screening dates, visit: https://goo.gl/A8JJCY
TV ad seeks wheelchair users or persons with visible physical disabilities
Real People Casting is currently casting non-speaking roles for a national bank tv commercial. They are seeking a wheelchair user or person with a visible physical disability of any gender or ethnicity, aged 20 and over. Pay is approximately $2000.
All applicants must live near the Greater Toronto Area and be available for the shoot dates below. Non-actors are strongly encouraged to submit an application, and you do not have to be an ACTRA member to apply.
Wheelchair Rugby Canada announces its 2018-2019 National Team Program athletes
(Ottawa, ON – Mar. 29th) The Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) is pleased to announce the names of the 18 athletes selected to the Canadian Wheelchair Rugby National Team Program for 2018-2019.
From March 4th to March 8th, a selection camp was held at the Richmond Olympic Oval in British Columbia. The camp served as an opportunity for the national team coaching staff to evaluate the athletes vying for a place in the program.
“All the athletes present at the Selection Camp showed up well prepared, performed really hard and displayed a very solid level of wheelchair rugby.” said Head Coach Patrick Côté. “The group we have selected is formed of passionate athletes, but most importantly quality people, that will work relentlessly and challenge each other to get better individually and as a team as we continue to build towards the 2018 World Championship in Sydney and 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo.”
The full roster of athletes named to the 2018-19 National Team Program, in alphabetical order by last name, is listed below. Ontario athletes have been bolded for reference.
NAME
HOMETOWN
CALDWELL, Cody
Cavan, ON
CAMERON, Kristen
Fonthill, ON
DAGENAIS, Patrice
Embrun, ON
DEBLY, Matt
Windsor, ON
FOURNIE, Cody
Victoria, BC
GREEN, Byron
Vancouver, BC
HIRSCHFIELD, Trevor
Vancouver, BC
LAVOIE, Fabien
Quebec City, QC
LÉTOURNEAU, Anthony
Boisbriand, QC
MAYER, Britt
Regina, SK
MURAO, Travis
Toronto, ON
PERKINS, Benjamin
North Augusta, ON
RACICOT, Yanick
Montreal, QC
RODRIGUES, Eric
Mississauga, ON
SIMARD, Patrice
Quebec City, QC
SMITH, Shayne
Toronto, ON
TROUTMAN, Branden
Edmonton, AB
WHITEHEAD, Mike
Windsor, ON
So what is next for Team Canada?
Team Canada will be competing in two tournaments in quick succession at the beginning of April. The first of which, will see the team travel to Copenhagen, Denmark to compete in a Tri-Nations (April 8th – 9th) competition against Denmark and France. The team will then cross back over the Atlantic and travel to Phoenix, where they will battle it out against a selection of local club teams (April 12 -14).
These two tournaments will help prepare the team for the upcoming 2018 Canada Cup in Richmond, BC from June 11-17 and the GIO 2018 IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championship in Sydney, Australia, from August 5-10.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Ben Parker-Jones
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association
Tel : 613-523-0004
Email : ben@cwsa.ca
Great news! The Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association has joined Instagram!
Follow us today at @wheelchairsportson to see photos, videos, and stories about our amazing athletes and our various events such as Bridging the Gap and Enabling Change sessions, league games, tournaments, skills clinics, community events & festival, fundraisers, and much more!
While you’re at it, be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter too!
Team Ontario narrowly misses podium to claim 4th place finish at Nationals
The best junior wheelchair basketball talent in Canada competed over the weekend at the 2018 Junior National Championship in Longueuil, Québec. The three-day tournament was co-hosted by Wheelchair Basketball Canada and Parasports Québec and acted as the seeding tournament for next year’s 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta. The event takes place every 4 years and is fully inclusive to male and female athletes, both with and without disabilities, aged 24 and under.
Among the competing teams was a strong Ontario contingent, featuring 12 athletes from various club teams across the province, 4 of which are training full-time as part of the WBC National Academy at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in Scarborough.
In the Round Robin, a 4th seeded Ontario finished 2nd in Pool A with a 2-1 record, winning their games against New Brunswick (49-48) and Manitoba (43-32) while falling to 1st seed Québec (52-59) in their last game on Friday. The team’s performance allowed for a favourable Quarter Final match-up against British Columbia on Saturday morning where Ontario came out victorious with a score of 59-32.
In Semi Final action, Ontario battled hard, but ultimately lost 40-58 to eventual National Champions Alberta. Still striving for a place on the podium and looking to end the tournament on a high note, Ontario eagerly awaited its Sunday bronze medal game against defending champions Saskatchewan. The fast-paced and high intensity game saw Ontario and Saskatchewan exchanging baskets and quickly accumulating fouls throughout the first half. Saskatchewan led by just 4 points going into half-time. Only in the 3rd quarter did Ontario lose its momentum and struggle to regain scoring ability. Saskatchewan went on to win 69-51 and capture the bronze medal.
Notable performances throughout the tournament for Team Ontario came from veterans Eric Voss and Michael Kilonzo as well as newcomer Lee Melymick. Voss and Melymick were recognized as tournament All-Stars for the event.
Next, Team Ontario looks to the off-season to refine their skills and continue to work together in pursuit of the ultimate goal – a gold medal at the 2019 Canada Winter Games. Training Camps will start back up again in June with final selections taking place in the fall. Canada Games are scheduled for February 15 – March 3, 2019. Go Ontario!
Roster
Club Team
Sara Black (1.0*)
Variety Village / National Academy
Vanessa Giancaterini (1.0*)
Toronto Tornadoes / Burlington Vipers
Adel Akhmed (1.0)
Variety Village
Lee Melymick (1.0)
Variety Village / National Academy
Anthony Protomanni (2.0)
Cruisers Suns
Joanne Lee (2.5*)
Toronto Tornadoes / Burlington Vipers
Maninder Hothi (2.5)
Cruisers Suns
Zoe Hahn (3.0*)
Cruisers Suns
Eric Voss (3.0)
National Academy
Michael Kilonzo (3.5)
Cruisers Suns / National Academy
Nick Hill (4.5)
Burlington Vipers
Erik Robeznieks (4.5)
–
Head Coach: Kathy Ludwig
Assistant Coach: Jesse McNalley
Team Manager: Rhiannon Davies
Final Results
1st – Alberta
2nd – Quebec
3rd – Saskatchewan 4th – Ontario
5th – British Columbia
6th – New Brunswick
7th – Manitoba
8th – Nova Scotia
MVP and All-Star Awards
MVP – Bradon Doll (AB)
All-Star – Garrett Ostepchuk (SK)
All-Star – Benjamin Palmer (QC) All-Star – Eric Voss (ON) All Star – Lee Melymick (ON)
All Star – Alex Hayward (NB)
About Parasports Québec
Parasports Québec is an organization dedicated to the promotion and development of parasports in Quebec. Its mission is to develop programs or projects that promote the development of people with physical limitations by promoting health and active living to stimulate their integration process. In addition, Parasports Québec promotes access to parasports at all levels of performance.
About Wheelchair Basketball Canada
Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the national sport governing body responsible for the organization of the sport in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization that is committed to excellence in the development, support and promotion of wheelchair basketball programs and services for all Canadians from grassroots to high performance. Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport in which Canada is held in high esteem around the world for winning a combined six gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the last seven Paralympic Games. For more information, please visit www.wheelchairbasketball.ca.
Junior and Women provincial teams selected for the 2017-2018 season championships
The OWSA would like to congratulate the following athletes on their selection to the Team Ontario Junior & Women’s wheelchair basketball teams:
Juniors
Adel Akhmed
Sara Black
Vanessa Giancaterini
Zoë Hahn
Nick Hill
Maninder Hothi
Michael Kilonzo
Puisand Lai
Lee Melymick
Anthony Protomanni
Erik Robeznieks
Eric Voss
Alternates: Joanne Lee, Natalie Robinson, Victoria Ross
Women
Sara Black
Mara Bucknell
Sierra Cottrelle
Vanessa Giancaterini
Zoë Hahn
Julia Hanes
Puisand Lai
Joanne Lee
Lia Luis
Omaya Rakieh
Natalie Robinson
Victoria Ross
We wish them all the best in their upcoming competitions! The Juniors will be competing in the Junior National Championship in Longueuil, QC from March 16-18, while the Women will be sending a Development Team to the Défi Sportif Altergo from April 27-29.
The teams will be accompanied to their respective events by the Provincial Team program coaches.
Juniors
Head Coach – Kathy Ludwig
Assistant Coach – Jesse McNalley
Team Manager – Rhiannon Davies
Women
Head Coach – Paul Bowes
Assistant Coach – Christina Swett
Thank you coaches for all the hard work and dedication you have shown throughout both the teams’ tryout & selection processes! The present and future of wheelchair basketball in Ontario is looking promising! GO ONTARIO!
Ontario Provincial Team athletes to play in 5×5 exhibition matches
The Ontario Winter Games are coming to Orillia and neighbouring municipalities from March 1-4, 2018. Orillia has a rich sport history, both as participants and as event planners, and Orillia was chosen as host due to its premier sport venues, engaged community with outstanding civic pride, and willingness to work with all levels of government.
The multi-sport event is expected to include more than 3,000 athletes, coaches, managers and officials participating in 25 different sport events. Events include alpine skiing, boxing, curling, figure skating, hockey, ringette, snowboarding, synchronized swimming, and parasports including para-alpine skiing, para-nordic skiing, sledge hockey, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair curling. For a full list of events being held as part of the Games visit the Orillia 2018 Ontario Winter Games ‘Sports’ page.
The wheelchair basketball competition will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School in Barrie and will feature some of Ontario’s best young talent. The weekend will be used as a competition opportunity for the Ontario Junior & Women’s provincial teams who are preparing to compete at the upcoming Junior National Championship and Défi Sportif in March and April.
The group of 28 wheelchair basketball athletes confirmed to participate in the Games will include a mix of provincial team athletes, up-and-coming “next generation” athletes, as well as some club-level athletes.
The wheelchair basketball competition will be taking place from Friday, March 2 – Sunday, March 4 and will be open to the public. All events at the 2018 Ontario Winter Games are free to attend for spectators! Visitors, family, and friends are encouraged to visit www.orillia2018.ca for details on sport schedules, venues, and results.
The Orillia 2018 Ontario Winter Games is supported by the Ontario Government, through its Games Ontario program. This program delivers or supports multi-sport events, including the Ontario Winter and Summer Games for youth, the Ontario 55+ Summer and Winter Games, the Ontario Parasport Games, the 2017 North American Indigenous Games and the 2017 Invictus Games.
Supporting Ontario sporting events is part of Game ON – The Ontario Government’s Sport Plan, which is encouraging as many people as possible to play organized sports, helping Ontario’s high-performance athletes pursue excellence and promoting increased tourism and economic development.
DRAFT List of 2017-2018 Quest for Gold Ontario Card Nominations Announced!
The Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association is pleased to announce a draft list of athletes and alternates who have been nominated for Ontario Cards under the 2017-18 Quest for Gold – Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP). The athletes nominated were selected using the sport specific selection criteria developed by the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, approved by its Board of Directors and applied by the selection committee.
2016-2017 Draft List of Quest for Gold Nominees
Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair Rugby
Wheelchair Athletics
Wheelchair Tennis
Adel Akhmed
Faisal Burale
Robert (Brett) Babcock
Shawn Courchesne
Vanessa Giancaterini
Kristen Cameron
Isaiah Christophe
Gillian Cruz
Zoë Hahn
Ian Crowe
Tiffany Gaudette
Gary Luker
Maninder Hothi
Brianna Hennessy
Nandini Sharma
Puisand Lai
Dylan Lamoureux
Anthony Protomanni
Ben Perkins
Natalie Robinson
Jamie Sopha
Victoria Ross
Please note that this list is unofficial and is subject to change pending the outcome of any appeals and/or any re-selection decisions made by the OWSA Selection Committee or the Quest for Gold Appeals Committee. As a consequence, this list should not be seen as final.
Athletes who have not been nominated and who wish to appeal this decision can do so by following the process set out in the Selection Criteria document.
Your chance to present the game ball at a Toronto Raptors game is back!
Through our partnership with Ontario Basketball we have been presented with the amazing opportunity to once again take part in the Toronto Raptors Game Ball Delivery program!
One lucky OWSA wheelchair basketball athlete between the ages of 8-12 will be selected to present the game ball at the beginning of the Toronto Raptors game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday February 13.
What to expect:
The child selected will receive two tickets to the February 13th game, a t-shirt, and an opportunity to watch the Raptors’ pre-game shoot around! Upon arrival the participant and guardian will be taken to half-court to watch warm-up. Right before the game the participant will be taken to centre court and will get to meet both captains, deliver the game ball, and have their photo taken. They are then taken to their seats for the game (in the upper bowl) – all free of charge!
How to enter:
In order to have a chance to be selected for this amazing experience simply email Josée Matte at josee@onpara.ca with the following information:
Participant’s name
Age
Club/program
Primary email address
Primary phone number
A photo of them playing wheelchair basketball!
Deadline to enter is Friday, January 26 at 5:00pm. The successful participant will be announced on OWSA social media and contacted directly on Monday, January 29.
Requirements:
Must be a registered OWSA member for the 2017-2018 season
Must be between the ages of 8-12
Must be currently actively participating in a wheelchair basketball club or program in Ontario
Must be available on Tuesday February 13 for the Raptors game
The tournament will be taking place from May 4-6 at the Martensville Athletic Pavillion in Martensville, SK, just north of Saskatoon. It is hosted by the 
(Ottawa, ON – Mar. 29th) The Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) is pleased to announce the names of the 18 athletes selected to the Canadian Wheelchair Rugby National Team Program for 2018-2019.
Great news! The Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association has joined Instagram!
Indigenous Games and the 2017 Invictus Games.