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Athlete Profile – Charlotte M.

September 26, 2019 4:05 pm Leave a Comment

Athlete Profile – Team Charlotte!

By Colin Brandt

“… you could just know what it’s like to be like me or just have a lot of fun and try new things.”

Charlotte and her older sister Ava are two members of the Burlington Vipers wheelchair basketball team. Charlotte, 10 years old, first tried wheelchair basketball when she was 6 years old as a recommendation from her future coach. She looks at Melanie Hawtin, a wheelchair basketball player for Canada’s National Team, as an idol for her and one of the reasons why she
started playing wheelchair basketball. One year later, her sister Ava, 14 years old, was playing as well.

Now on the Burlington Vipers, both sisters play with their two cousins and get constant support from their parents, Andrea and John, “they come to every practice and they cheer me on”. Charlotte spoke about how impactful playing wheelchair basketball with her sister is: “It means a lot because she can finally understand what it’s like to be in a wheelchair and try it and play.” Ava enjoys it because “there’s not a lot of sports that we can do together. so yeah this brings us closer together and our family too.” Andrea believes it’s so important to have a sport that they can all play together, “Charlotte navigating this world in a wheelchair, a lot of the times she’s excluded. so, watching them all play and enjoy something together, words can’t explain. it’s what every parent wants.”

Charlotte pointed to the teamwork involved in wheelchair basketball as one of her favourite things about the sport: “… you can’t just dribble up the court, you have to pass, and you have to have a good team to play with.” To encourage her friends to play she, “would say that you could just know what it’s like to be like me or just have a lot of fun and try new things.” Andrea spoke to the inclusiveness and positivity that surrounds the sport and how it, “… is unique in regard to whether you’re able bodied or you have an exceptionality, you’re on an equal playing field. everybody is able to participate, and everybody is able to be a team member.” She mentioned the teamwork and communication that is required by the sport, even more so than stand up basketball: “it doesn’t matter whether you walk all day, or you roll, everybody is important on the team and everybody is needed as a team.”

Wheelchair basketball has allowed the entire family to gain a better understanding of each other. “Wheelchair basketball has definitely built strength in their relationship. its added that extra element that they’re teammates, not just sisters”. Andrea acknowledged how her daughters have been able to learn more about each other through playing wheelchair basketball together. “I look at my oldest daughter Ava, and she’s someone who wheelchair basketball has allowed her to, although she’s always been able bodied, it allows her a lens into a wheelchair world.” “And I think for Charlotte it gives her the sense that she can be included in this right. She can do just what everybody else does. I think for anyone who plays wheelchair basketball it gives you a sense that we’re all equal and we’re all the same.” Her daughter Ava agreed saying the inclusiveness is something she most enjoys about wheelchair basketball: “I think it’s the inclusion, how anyone can play, it doesn’t matter if you’re able bodied or you have an exceptionality, everyone can play.” Invariably

Andrea remembers when Charlotte was the only child playing among only adults. That’s no longer the case as the sport has continued to grow as Charlotte and Ava’s involvement grows as well. “It’s just continued to evolve into a sport that children are playing. Its accessible in the sense that, before we used to have to travel long distance but now there’s so many children playing in our area. It’s come to where we live, so we’re travelling within our city. and all of Charlotte’s friends, there’s opportunities given through Josee (through OnPara), and she gets to invite friends”. Charlotte has been enjoying the expansion of the sport, going to tournaments across Ontario with her team. “I like travelling and I like to see different teams and playing like usually we do scrimmage and split our team in two so it’s nice play with all our team together.” Even though she loves how fun wheelchair basketball is, “because there’s so few people we understand, and we just want to make sure we’re all having fun”, she still enjoys competing and can see herself continuing to play at a competitive level.

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.

Kathy Ludwig Named Team Ontario Head Coach

September 20, 2019 4:10 pm Leave a Comment

Ludwig returns to lead Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program for 2023 Canada Games

The Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is proud to announce the re-hiring of Kathy Ludwig as the Head Coach of the Ontario Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program. She has agreed to a four-year commitment and will work with a pool of Junior-age athletes starting in the 2019-2020 season and leading up to the Canada Winter Games in 2023.

Ludwig returns following her tremendous on and off-court success over the past four seasons, culminating with a silver medal finish at the 2019 Canada Games in Red Deer, AB. She also previously served as Team Ontario Assistant Coach at the Canada Winter Games in 2011 (Halifax, NS) and 2015 (Prince George, BC) where Team Ontario finished 2nd and 5th, respectively.

“I feel so honoured to be selected as the Junior Head Coach for the next Canada Games quad,” said Ludwig. “I am so excited to begin working with our young athletes as we prepare for 2023.”

Ontario will have a very young team of athletes over the next quad, with only two athletes who are age-eligible to return to the program from the 2019 squad. Ludwig will be responsible for overseeing the team’s selection, training, and development over the next four years, in addition to providing mentorship to the Team Ontario Assistant Coaches. She will work closely with ONPARA to ensure that all Ontario Junior-age athletes have sufficient and appropriate development opportunities.

Kathy is currently the Head Coach of the Cruisers Rockets, the Division 1 team of the Cruisers Sports club, a large multi-sports club for people with disabilities serving the regions of Halton & Peel. She has been coaching with the Cruisers since 2008 and has been the Director of Basketball on their board for a number of years. She is a Competition Development-certified coach with over 25 years of experience in the sport at the grassroots and provincial levels. ONPARA has tremendous confidence in Kathy’s ability to lead the Ontario Junior program and develop the next generation of Team Ontario athletes.

The Ontario Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program is open to athletes of all genders, both with and without physical disabilities, making the sport one the most inclusive in Canada. “Junior-age” wheelchair basketball players must be born in or after 1999 (24 years or younger the year of Canada Games). Please visit the ONPARA website for more information about Team Ontario and the 2019-2023 quad.

2019 Canada Winter Games | Photo: Jonathan Strome

About the Ontario Para Network

Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow adaptive sport opportunities across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair sports in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in wheelchair athletics, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis at recreational, competitive and high performance levels.

Job Opportunity: Coordinator, Schools Program

September 11, 2019 4:26 pm Leave a Comment

The Ontario Para Network is seeking an organized, motivated, and enthusiastic individual with strong communication and facilitation skills for the role of Coordinator, Schools Program. The candidate will be responsible for coordinating our wheelchair basketball and wheelchair athletics school programs. This position will appeal to individuals with experience in the fields of physical education, sport and event management, recreation & leisure, recreation therapy, or a related discipline.

Position: Coordinator, Schools Program
Position Type: Full time – 1 year contract with potential for ongoing renewal
Job Region: ON – Metro Toronto Area with travel across the Greater Toronto Area
Application Deadline: September 26, 2019

The ONPARA Schools Program is designed to successfully educate students and teachers about the sports of wheelchair basketball and wheelchair athletics and inspire students of all abilities to embrace healthy and active lifestyles. Adaptive sport programs promote inclusion and celebrate diversity.

Wheelchair Basketball Component: Armed with sport wheelchairs, you will visit schools in Toronto and the GTA alongside an athlete ambassador to give students a chance to try wheelchair basketball and connect with that athlete ambassador in an interactive, inclusive and informative way. The program provides schools with a wheelchair basketball resource guide and sports equipment in order to incorporate wheelchair basketball programming into their curriculum.

Wheelchair Athletics Component: Visit secondary schools to connect with students who express an interest in wheelchair athletics. Work one-on-one with specific students and teachers to enable the student to try wheelchair racing. Students will be provided with a racing chair in order to compete at an OFSAA track meet.

Key Responsibilities:

Wheelchair Basketball:
- Work with educators to integrate wheelchair basketball into their school’s curriculum.
- Deliver introductory wheelchair sport skills sessions to students and “teach the teacher” how to integrate wheelchair basketball into their week’s activities.
- Inform teachers and students about community-based wheelchair basketball programming and participation opportunities in their area.
- Liaise with school boards, educators and administrators to develop and implement school-based “try it” days, tournaments and 3-on-3 leagues.
Wheelchair Athletics:
- Work with specific students and teachers to introduce them to wheelchair racing.
- Develop resources to promote wheelchair athletics to educate students, teachers and parents about opportunities for on-going participation in the sport.
- Liaise with OFSAA, Athletics Ontario, and Athletics Canada regarding track meets and other events.
Other:
- Administer surveys, collect feedback and testimonials and track reporting data from participating schools.
- Coordinate recruitment and orientation of program volunteers.

Qualifications:

Minimum 1-year relevant post secondary education or experience in recreation & leisure, sport and event management, recreation therapy, physical education, or related discipline.
Experience working with athletes with disabilities is a definite asset.
Excellent communication skills – verbal and written
Program development and coordination experience
Outgoing personality and ability to network, build and develop partnerships
Strong and effective group facilitation skills
Must be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
Ability to work some evenings and weekends
Ability to travel and work off-site as required for program delivery
Experience working with athletes with disabilities a definite asset
Valid driver’s license and use of a vehicle is a must as weekly travel to GTA schools is a requirement of the position.

The full job posting can also be found on the SIRC website.

Submit cover letter and resume to:

Ontario Para Network
info@onpara.ca

Deadline for applications: Thursday September 26, 2019

This position is made possible in part by the Ontario Trillium Foundation

About the Ontario Para Network

Job Opportunity: Coordinator, Grassroots Programs

2:52 pm Leave a Comment

The Ontario Para Network is seeking an organized, motivated, and enthusiastic individual with strong communication and facilitation skills for the role of Coordinator, Grassroots Program. The candidate will be responsible for coordinating grassroots and recreational adaptive sports events, leagues, and programs across Ontario. This position will appeal to individuals with experience in the fields of sport and event management, recreation & leisure, recreation therapy, physical education, or a related discipline.

Position: Coordinator, Grassroots Programs
Position Type: Full time – 1 year contract with potential for ongoing renewal
Job Region: ON – Metro Toronto Area with travel across the Golden Horseshoe
Application Deadline: September 26, 2019

The successful, motivated and enthusiastic candidate will be responsible for coordinating recreational adaptive sport events, leagues, and programs across the province of Ontario. Programs include awareness, outreach, and education programs that are promoted in partnership with municipalities, rehabilitation centres, or other provincial sport organizations. The coordination of our grassroots and recreational wheelchair basketball leagues will also fall under the mandate of the Program Coordinator.

Key Responsibilities:

Wheelchair Basketball Leagues (Division 2 & 3):
- Establish relationships with team representatives, club representatives, coaches and athletes.
- Work with team and club representatives to ensure each team competes at the appropriate level.
- Review, communicate and enforce the rules of league play.
- Prepare schedules and track statistics.
- Problem solve as required and act as a direct liaison to the team reps and players.
- Ensure that game statistics are recorded accurately and that all game-related information including statistics, game photos and articles are uploaded to the website in a timely manner.
- Organize and schedule playoff games and/or end-of-season events.
Grassroots Programs
- Work with other sport partners and community groups to create adaptive sport opportunities.
- Identify and deliver programming, workshops and/or one-day events in targeted clubs, communities, recreational facilities or schools.
- Explore/execute promotional opportunities for adaptive sports at community events in cooperation with member wheelchair sport clubs, local coaches and athletes.
- Help with the design and distribution of promotional and communications material relating to adaptive sport programming in the province of Ontario.
- Coordinate professional development opportunities for coaches and volunteers.
- Promote the benefits of participation in adaptive sports and encourage people to become active within their community through a variety of sport programs.
- Assist the Bridging the Gap Coordinator with awareness and first involvement programs.
- Other administrative duties as required.

Qualifications:

Minimum 1-year relevant post secondary education or experience in recreation & leisure, sport and event management, recreation therapy, physical education, or related discipline.
Experience working with athletes with disabilities is a definite asset.
Excellent communication skills – verbal and written
Program development and coordination experience
Outgoing personality and ability to network, build, and develop partnerships
Strong and effective group facilitation skills
Must be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
Ability to work evenings and weekends
Ability to travel and work off-site as required for program delivery
Valid driver’s license and use of a vehicle or other method of transportation to attend league games and clinics located across the province.

The full job posting can also be found on the SIRC website.

Submit cover letter and resume to:

Ontario Para Network
info@onpara.ca

Deadline for applications: Thursday September 26, 2019

About the Ontario Para Network

Athlete Profile – Rob Shaw

August 22, 2019 5:11 pm Leave a Comment

“I feel like I’m competing not just for myself but for the dozens and dozens of people who are out there supporting me”

Rob Shaw began his relationship with competitive tennis as a coach, for the stand-up game. He coached stand-up tennis for about three years before his injury. After getting injured, Rob made sure to immerse himself in as many sports as possible, no matter how limited he was functionally or how poorly he started out at the sport. “… I tried it to make sure I could definitely say whether I liked it or not – and that way you have a better idea of what you like, what you don’t like and that allows you to sort of form some more immediate goals in terms of what you want to achieve in those sports.”

Rob started playing wheelchair tennis eight years ago, but he didn’t begin to “take it overly seriously” until almost four years in. Now, Rob has been playing competitive wheelchair tennis at the international level with the national team for five years. He describes representing Canada as “always a good feeling knowing that your work and your effort is being rewarded with an invitation like that” and acknowledges that there is more to be done once you’ve made Team Canada, “it’s an honour to make it but it’s even more of an honour to continually make it year after year – the competition gets harder, the pressure gets more intense.” Rob has competed in five straight world team cups, and will be competing again next year in Portugal. The Parapan Am Games in Lima will be his first international multi-sports games and he is “a little nervous for it” but is mostly very excited.

A big change for wheelchair tennis was just implemented at the Parapan Am Games with the introduction of the ‘Quad’ division, the division in which Rob competes. It’s the first Parapan Am Games to offer the division. Rob credits American wheelchair tennis players David Wagner and Bryan Barten as advocates for the division. Rob’s division is very competitive, with other players from the Americas ranked top 12 in the world including David Wagner, Ymanitu Silva, Bryan Barten, and Rob himself. “So obviously the talent level has been there for a while but it’s nice to be recognized and it should be a very exiting first games for us all.” Rob will be joined in Lima and cheered on by his mom, Tennis Canada’s national wheelchair tennis coach Kai Schrameyer, and good friend of his Mitch McIntyre, who will also be competing in the Quad division. He also expects a Canadian contingent to come out and cheer on the Canadian athletes. Rob views the Tokyo 2020Summer Paralympics as his big goal, with the Parapan Am being an important path to qualification. He needs to be top 12 in the world in the Quad division next year in order to qualify for Tokyo 2020. “Qualifying for Parapan Am, don’t get me wrong, was amazing and it’s going to be just a fantastic experience. But we’re looking beyond Lima as well towards Tokyo – that’s our major goal as a team.”

Rob has an interesting approach to what motivates and inspires him as a wheelchair athlete. “I’m not one of those athletes who wakes up and is completely enamoured with his sport, enamoured with the process, I don’t consider myself to have the best job in the world being an athlete. The level that I’m at now, I do see it more as work.” He identified two things as continuing to drive him and his competitive spirit. The first is that he is even able to compete in the first place and has the skill to do so at an extremely high level. Rob acknowledged that he is in a position that a lot of individuals post-injury don’t have the luxury to be in. “They may have functional limitations that restrict them from playing high level sport. They may have financial restraints, lots of other barriers that don’t allow them to sort of achieve and complete those goals.” The second motivating factor for Rob is he really enjoys training. He admits to only recently starting to enjoy competing but has always enjoyed pushing himself in practice and developing all aspects of his game. “I really enjoy that process of being an athlete, having that structured routine, just trying to push your own limits and seeing how far you can take yourself.”

Rob believes the biggest misconception about wheelchair tennis to be the level and quality of the sport. He sees people wondering if wheelchair tennis players are using ‘real’ tennis balls and ‘real’ racquets, asking if the courts are the same size as in stand-up tennis. “I think until you see it you don’t have this idea that people in wheelchairs can play at the same high level. Over the last 30 years, the sport has really evolved to the point where when you’re watching these high-level athletes out there, you really do forget about the chair, you just see tennis.” Being a stand-up tennis player before his injury, Rob appreciates how similar to two sports are. “… that’s what I love most about tennis specifically – just how similar it feels watching, it feels playing as it did before my injury. I really don’t notice that much of a difference anymore.”

Rob made note of the media’s role in how athletes are viewed. He believes the media portrays athletes as “having these amazing, glorified jobs”, most notably “in the able-bodied community where you’re getting paid millions of dollars.” Rob reminded us that there are negative sides to sport, “I am away from my family a lot, I’m away from my friends, I’m away from my work, I live out of a hotel room”, but they are outweighed by the positive aspects of competing, “… a lot of fulfillment, just trying to push myself, trying to better myself, trying to set goals and achieve them.” The camaraderie amongst teammates and opponents and being able to travel the world are also things he loves about being a competitive, high-performance athlete. But the number one thing that Rob enjoys most about sport is the social participation it fosters. “Just the ability to communicate with people, to connect on a level that’s very equal, everybody who plays sport understands sport. It’s a really good equalizer in that sense to bring people from different cultural backgrounds, people from different socio-economic backgrounds together”.

Rob’s path to competing at the international level of wheelchair tennis wasn’t always assured. He doesn’t think he was ready for the commitment when he first started playing. “I got burned out within my first two years, had to take 2 years off, and in hindsight while it was a good experience travelling around those first 2 years, I just wasn’t ready for it. Mentally I just hadn’t coped with my injury yet.” He advises people to make sure that “you’re really okay with the new lifestyle that you’ve found yourself in before you really start throwing yourself right into sport right away.” Rob also preaches patience to those who are new to wheelchair sports, “… I think once you have a disability you have to learn to be patient, the world is not accessible – it’s getting better but mundane, routine things that take people seconds to do could often take us minutes to hours.” A big reason why Rob has been able to have so much success in wheelchair tennis is his support system. He identified his parents and siblings who have “been with me from the lows of the sport and now that I’m doing a lot better, they’re there with the highs”, his friends who “take care of my condo back in Kelowna when I’m away, watering my plants” and his supervisor from work, who allows him to compete full time and has the confidence in him to still get all his work done. Rob also recognized the organizations who have supported him throughout his career, listing Tennis Canada, Own the Podium and ONPARA. He views all these supporters of his as another motivating factor to compete, “I feel like I’m competing not just for myself but for the dozens and dozens of people who are out there supporting me.”

Charity Motorcycle Ride and Classic Car Rally in Support of ‘Soldier On’

August 1, 2019 11:05 am Leave a Comment

Our friends at the Gallant Knights Charity Sports Association are hosting their 1st annual Motorcycle Ride and Classic Car Rally in support of ill and injured veterans. Funds raised from the event will go to Soldier On / Sans Limites – a program of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group that is committed to supporting veterans and serving members to adapt and overcome permanent physical or mental health injury or illness through physical activity and sport.

100% of net proceeds will go directly towards assisting veterans recover physically, mentally, and emotionally through the power of adaptive sport in the Soldier On program – including participation on Canada’s international Warrior Games and Invictus Games teams.

The ride will be taking place on Saturday September 21 and Saturday September 28, 2019 in various locations across Ontario and will include a Poker Run and a draw for two main prizes – a 2019 Triumph Speedmaster or a 2019 Harley-Davidson Street 750.

Register to Ride

Riders: Riders can register for the event for a fee of $50.
The registration fee includes an entry ballot to win one of two main prizes – as well as a poker card for both the September 21 and 28 rides, a ride pin, and a ride patch.

Passengers: Passengers (both motorcycle and classic car) can register for $30.

Register by simply emailing gallantknights.csa@gmail.com with your name and contact information and submitting payment via e-transfer to the same email address.

Enter by Friday August 2 for a chance to win the Early Bird Prize of a $2,500 Harley-Davidson cash card!

Routes

Ottawa
Cornwall
Trenton-Kingston
Peterborough
Greater Toronto Area
Mississauga-Oakville
Kitchener-Waterloo
London
Windsor
Brantford-Hamilton
St Catharines-Niagara
Pembroke-Renfrew
Sudbury-North Muskoka
Muskoka
Bruce Peninsula-Owen Sound
Sault Ste Marie-Manitoulin Island
Kenora-Winnipeg
Thunder Bay-Lake Superior

For route details, including start times, starting locations, and other locations, please contact the Gallant Knights directly, or join the Gallant Knights facebook page. Routes are subject to change.

Donations

As an incentive for you to raise as much as you possibly can, for every $100 in donations collected and remitted you will receive a bonus contest prize entry ballot to win any one of the main prizes consisting of the:

Early Bird Prize consisting of one (1) $2,500 Two Thousand, Five Hundred Dollar (CDN) Harley-Davidson Cash Card redeemable at any Harley-Davidson dealer across Canada, to be drawn on August 2, 2019;
‘Warrior Prize’ consisting of one (1) 2019 Harley-Davidson Street 750 cc motorcycle, in Wicked Red Deluxe, to be drawn on Saturday September 28, 2019; and/or
‘Invictus Prize’ consisting of one (1) 2019 Triumph Speedmaster 1200 cc motorcycle, in Black, to be drawn on Saturday September 28, 2019.

In other words, if you raise $500 in donations, you will have ‘won’ or ‘earned’ for yourself five (5) prize entry ballots!

Donation collection forms can be downloaded electronically. Forms include collection and remittance instructions.

All donations of $10 or more are eligible for a tax receipt issued by Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services on behalf of Soldier On.

Tickets – Main Prize Draw

You do not need to be a rider or passenger to buy a ticket to win one of the main prizes. If you win a motorcycle, it can be sold or raffled off to benefit your own organization.

Anyone can purchase a ticket by emailing gallantknights.csa@gmail.com with his or her name and contact information and making a $50 e-transfer.

Thank you for your support!

Contact:
Major G.R. Cory Moore LL.B, CD
Canadian Armed Forces – JAG;
Event Director, 1st Annual Soldier On Charity Motorcycle Ride & Classic Car Rally
Member, 2019 Team Canada Warrior Games, Tampa FL
President, Gallant Knights Charity Sports Association
613-795-2805 (cell)
gallantknights.csa@gmail.com

Nine Ontario Athletes Compete at 2019 Canadian Track & Field Championships

July 31, 2019 12:47 pm Leave a Comment

Ontario wheelchair athletes come away with 16 medals at National Championships

This past weekend, nine Ontario Para-Athletics wheelchair athletes (T/F 51-57) competed in the 2019 Canadian Track & Field Championships. The event, hosted by Athletics Canada, took place at the Complex Sportif Claude-Robillard in Montreal, QC from July 25-28 and featured some of the best able-bodied and para-athletics competitors vying for national titles.

The Ontario athletes competed in both wheelchair races and seated throws and came away with a total of 16 medals – eight gold, three silver, and five bronze.

On the Track:

Paralympian Josh Cassidy earned the title of national champion in all three of his middle and long-distance races, placing first in the Men’s T54 800m, 1500m, and 5000m races. In an interview with Athletics Canada, Cassidy had this to say about his performance: “It’s great to have this consistency again. It was about five years ago where I was on a stint of inconsistently winning, so it’s good to come here and be in good shape to make it happen.”

In the sprints, Isaiah Christophe of Brampton appeared to be in top form as he went on to win gold in the Men’s T54 100m, 200m, and 400m events. On the women’s side, Cruisers Sports athlete Nandini Sharma took 1st in the Women’s T34-53-54 200m race and 2nd in the T54 400m, while also placing 4th in the Women’s 100m (T34-52-53-54) and 800m (T53-54). Fellow competitor Katty Abran of the London Western Track & Field Club finished 3rd in the Women’s T34-51-53-54 100m, 2nd in the Women’s T34-53-54 200m, and 4th in the T54 400m. To top it off on the track, Ottawa athlete Brett Babcock won a silver medal in the Men’s T33-51 400m.

On the Field:

Four Ontario athletes competed in seated throws that include events such as shot put, discus, and javelin. In the women’s competition, Tiffany Gaudette of Cruisers Sports led the way with three bronze medals. Her best results were 5.71m in shot put, 11.21m in javelin, and 16.64m in discus. Fellow Cruisers teammate Martha Sandoval Gustafson, who was recently named to the Team Canada roster for the upcoming 2019 Parapan Am Games, finished just off the podium with a 4th place finish in the shot put and javelin, and 6th in discus.

In the men’s events, Toronto athlete Anthony McMillan, in only his 2nd year of competition, came away with a gold medal in shot put, throwing his best distance of 9.70m. He also won bronze in discus, throwing 26.92m. Rounding out the Ontario competitors in the field was Josh Watson. He competed in all three throws and placed 9th, 6th, and 7th in the discus, shot put, and javelin, respectively.

To view the full 2019 championship results and standings, please visit the Athletics Canada website.

Ontario Competitors (T/F 51-57):

Katty Abran (London Western TFC); T54
Brett Babcock (National Capital TFC); T51
Joshua Cassidy (Ottawa Lions TFC); T54
Isaiah Christophe (Cruisers Sports); T54
Tiffany Gaudette (Cruisers Sports); F56
Anthony McMillan (Cruisers Sports); F57
Martha Sandoval Gustafson (Cruisers Sports); F52
Nandini Sharma (Cruisers Sports); T54
Joshua Watson (Cruisers Sports); F56

Abran, Gaudette, and Sharma are all recipients of the Ontario Athlete Assistance Program, better known as ‘Quest For Gold’, a program funded by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport in support of amateur high performance athletes.

About the Ontario Para Network

Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is together with our partners, to grow awareness and opportunities for adaptive sports in Ontario. As the governing body for three wheelchair sports in the province, we strive to increase opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in wheelchair athletics, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis at recreational, competitive, and high performance levels.

Coaching Opportunity: Head Coach, Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program

July 26, 2019 1:21 pm Leave a Comment

ONPARA is currently seeking a passionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated individual to fulfill the role of Head Coach for the Team Ontario Junior wheelchair basketball program over the next four years leading up to the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

Position: Head Coach, Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program
Position Type: 1 year contract with subsequent full-season renewals leading up to the 2023 Canada Winter Games
Job Region: Ontario – as well as travel to Junior Regional and National events
Application Deadline: Monday August 12, 2019

The Head Coach is responsible for leading the preparation, training, development, and coaching of the Junior Provincial Team in advance of and during the Junior Regional Championship, Junior National Championship, and the 2023 Canada Winter Games. The Head Coach will work with the ONPARA Manager, High Performance to design, implement, and analyze the Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program. The successful candidate will also be responsible for providing mentorship and guidance to the Assistant Coach and other coaches-in-training involved with the program.

Responsibilities:

Design and develop the Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program for the 2019-2023 cycle, with support from ONPARA’s Manager, High Performance.
Identify High Performance athletes in Ontario for development toward Provincial and National teams.
Develop and maintain a targeted athlete list with testing scores and other documentation.
Develop, communicate, and implement clear, fair, and objective Athlete Selection Criteria at the beginning of each season.
Oversee athlete testing procedures and the overall selection process at the beginning of each season.
Design and execute effective training and practice plans that enhance and develop athletes’ skills and knowledge.
Provide a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all athletes, coaches, volunteers, etc.
Select the Assistant Coach and additional Program Coaches.
Contribute to the development of Athlete Selection Criteria and athlete nominations as part of the Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP) ‘Quest For Gold’ Selection Committee.
Work in partnership with Wheelchair Basketball Canada and ONPARA to plan and implement the annual Ontario High Performance Camp.
Promote the positive benefits of participation in wheelchair basketball as a fully inclusive sport.
Contribute to the fostering and development of positive team culture.
Submit a detailed summary/report to ONPARA’s Manager, High Performance following the conclusion of each season.
Work with ONPARA’s Manager, High Performance, Wheelchair Basketball Canada, the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario and other stakeholders to ensure athletes progress along an aligned high performance pathway.

Qualifications:

NCCP Wheelchair Basketball ‘Competition Development’ certification (or demonstrated plan to obtain certification)
Knowledge of Rowan’s Law and concussion protocols for coaches
Standard First Aid certification, or plans to obtain certification
Strong leadership skills
Demonstrated passion for the sport of wheelchair basketball
Experience running and administering a wheelchair basketball team or program
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Outstanding time management and organizational skills
Willingness to adapt and make adjustments to plans as necessary
Desire to represent Ontario and ONPARA in a manner that is positive, professional, and in accordance with ONPARA’s values and policies
Ability to travel as required for program delivery
Ability to work evenings and weekends as required for program delivery

Compensation:

Travel expenses for all Junior Provincial Program identification, selection, and training camps, and other approved training and/or competitive opportunities.
Travel and accommodations at Junior Regional and National Championships.
Honourarium to be paid following the applicable year-end championship event
(e.g. Junior Regionals, Junior Nationals, Canada Games).

How to Apply:

All interested candidates must submit the following documentation to the Ontario Para Network in order to be considered for the role of Head Coach, Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program:

Cover Letter
Resume
NCCP Transcript
Plan to obtain the desired level of NCCP certification (if applicable)

Documents should be sent to info@onpara.ca

Coach candidates will be contacted regarding potential interview dates following the application deadline.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS is Monday August 12, 2019

Full Posting: Head Coach_Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program_Final

About the Ontario Para Network

Casting Call for Wheelchair Users in Various Roles

July 25, 2019 4:50 pm Leave a Comment

Jigsaw Casting is seeking individuals with a physical disability who use a regular and/or basketball wheelchair for various roles in a personal injury law campaign.

Roles

Hero Male (Keegan) – Male, ages 30-35. This person uses a regular wheelchair for mobility. Let us know if you play basketball and happen to have a basketball wheelchair in your submission.
Real Mom and Son – Boy, ages 8-11. Uses a wheelchair for mobility. His real mom, ages 30-45. She is a power mom and will do anything to help her child. She is strong but warm.
Boy who uses a wheelchair – Ages 8-11. Same role as above. You can apply alone without your mom if she is not available.
Wheelchair Basketball Players – Male, ages 20-50. Guys who actually play wheelchair basketball. They should have a basketball wheelchair.

Non-speaking roles. No previous acting experience is required. This is a non-union job.

Compensation

Pays $750 per person for a one day shoot, if selected. This is for 1 year online usage (or $1200 for 2 years online usage). Usage is TBD.

Please note that you will not be compensated for the audition.

Details & Submission Information

If interested, please apply via our online application form below: https://projectlegal.castingcrane.com/

Submissions are due ASAP or by July 31st, 2019 at 9am.

Availability

You must be available for these key dates:

INTERVIEW: There is no in-person audition, we will be conducting online interviews for Role 1 and 2 ONLY via Google on August 1st, 2019. Time TBD.
WARDROBE: August 7th, 2019. Time TBD. (1 to 2 hours to try on clothing for the shoot)
SHOOT: August 10th, 2019. Time TBD.

Contact

Jigsaw Casting Ltd.
60 Sumach Street
3rd Floor
Toronto, ON, M5A 3J7
www.jigsawcasting.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JigsawCasting/

Four Canadians Named to Wheelchair Tennis Team for Lima 2019 Parapan Am Games

July 22, 2019 3:02 pm Leave a Comment

– All four players will be making their Parapan Am debuts

Canadian Paralympic Committee – https://paralympic.ca/news/four-canadians-named-wheelchair-tennis-team-lima-2019-parapan-am-games

Ottawa, July 22, 2019 – Four wheelchair tennis players will be making their Parapan American Games debuts in Lima next month, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Tennis Canada announced Monday.

Lima 2019 marks the first time the quad classification in wheelchair tennis, a mixed gender category for athletes who have impairments affecting both their upper and lower limbs, has been added to the Parapan Am calendar. Canadians Rob Shaw and Mitch McIntyre will be among the first quad athletes to compete at the Parapan Am Games.

Shaw is the highest-ranked member of the Canadian wheelchair tennis team at world No. 8 and is the reigning four-time national quad singles champion. He reached the Top 10 for the first time in 2018 when he reached his biggest career final on home soil, the ITF 1 series Birmingham Classic. He holds an 18-5 match record in 2019 so far, including three ITF titles.

“Four years ago I was selected as a torch bearer for the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto, and I never imagined being able to compete in them four years later,” said Shaw. “Qualifying for Lima is the biggest accomplishment of my sporting career thus far and I can’t wait to represent Canada at my first multi-sport Games.”

Also competing in the quad draw will be McIntyre, currently ranked a career-high world No. 27 in singles. Shaw and McIntyre, who both also helped Canada to a sixth-place finish at the World Team Cup tennis event earlier this year, will be competing in singles and teaming up together in doubles should there be enough teams for a draw.

Two athletes will be competing in the men’s tournament in Lima – Thomas Venos and Jonathan Tremblay. At 20 years old, Venos is the youngest of the group and has been on the rise since starting the sport under four years ago. He is Canada’s No. 1 men’s player with a world ranking of No. 111, and recently helped the University of Alabama win a national championship.

“I am very happy and honoured that I was able to qualify and be chosen to compete for Canada at the upcoming Parapan Am Games in Lima,” said Venos. “This will be my first time going to an event of this magnitude with not just tennis being the main sport but also many other sports taking place. The competition there will be amazing and I am looking forward to it. Go Team Canada!”

For his part, Tremblay is ranked world No. 180. Both Venos and Tremblay will enter the singles draw in Lima and pair up for the men’s doubles tournament.

Shaw and Venos both qualified for a spot in Lima based off their world rankings as of July 8, while McIntyre and Tremblay were the recipients of Bipartite Commission Invitation slots as allocated by the International Tennis Federation.

“Congratulations to our wheelchair tennis players and welcome to the Canadian team!” said Stephanie Dixon, chef de mission of the Lima 2019 Canadian Parapan Am Team. “I’m so excited that we have four athletes who will be experiencing their first big multi-sport Games and I can’t wait to support you in your journey at the Games. You have earned your spot to represent Canada on the court and I hope you have an amazing experience!”

Wheelchair tennis action in Lima will start August 24 with men’s singles action and conclude August 30 with the quad singles final.

“Congratulations to Rob, Mitch, Thomas and Jonathan for qualifying to represent Canada at the Parapan Am Games in Lima,” said Kai Schrameyer, national coach, Tennis Canada. “This is a fantastic opportunity to experience a multi-sport Games and compete for a place on the podium. The team is excited to take the court in Lima and has been training hard to be ready for their first ball.”

LIMA 2019 PARAPAN AM GAMES WHEELCHAIR TENNIS TEAM

NAME	HOMETOWN	AGE IN LIMA	CATEGORY
Mitch McIntyre	Vancouver, BC	34	Quad
Rob Shaw	North Bay, ON	29	Quad
Jonathan Tremblay	Saint-Felix-de-Valois, QC	47	Men’s
Thomas Venos	Arnmore, BC	20	Men’s

The Lima 2019 Parapan American Games will take place August 23 to September 1 in Peru and will surpass Toronto 2015 as the largest Parapan Am Games ever with a record 1,850 athletes set to participate. Canada is expecting to send a team of approximately 152 athletes and competition partners in 13 sports. The Canadian Paralympic Committee will announce the official full team heading to the Games later this month.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: Paralympic.ca
About Tennis Canada: TennisCanada.com

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– All four players will be making their Parapan Am debuts

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