Archive
Volunteer with Spartan Canada & Support Inclusive Sport
Leave a CommentOntario Para Network is proud to once again partner with Spartan Canada to recruit volunteers for the 2026 Spartan Race season. This is a fantastic opportunity to experience the excitement of race day while supporting inclusive and adaptive sport across Ontario.
By joining the Festival Team, volunteers play an important role in creating an unforgettable event experience for all participants — including para athletes. Volunteers will also be helping advance the mission of the Ontario Para Network, supporting programs and opportunities for athletes with disabilities across the province.
Volunteer Perks Include:
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Free Spartan Race entry
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Volunteer t-shirt and meal
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Hoodie and backpack for full-day volunteers
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Community service hours
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Behind-the-scenes event experience
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Opportunity to support inclusive sport in action
2026 Volunteer Opportunities:
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May 23–24: Toronto Spartan Event Weekend — Brimacombe
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Aug 22–23: Ottawa Spartan Event Weekend — Calabogie Peaks
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Sep 13: London Spartan Event — Gopher Dunes
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Oct 17–18: Blue Mountain Spartan Trifecta Weekend — Blue Mountain
Whether you’re looking to give back, earn volunteer hours, or experience Spartan from the inside, we invite you to be part of the team.
To sign up or learn more about volunteering, please contact doug@onpara.ca.
Volunteer Opportunity- Festival
Volunteer Opportunity- Registration
Have a Go at Wheelchair Tennis-Feb 22, 2026
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Join us for a Have a Go at Wheelchair Tennis on February 22nd, from 1:00pm – 2:00pm at Sobeys Stadium in North York (1 Shoreham Drive, North York).
This event is free, no experience is required, all equipment will be provided, and recommended age is 8+. This session is being held during the ONPARA Provincial Camp – prior to the Have a Go, participants will get the chance to watch/meet provincial and national team players.
The session will be led by 3-time Paralympic medalist and Tennis Canada National Wheelchair Tennis Coach Kai Schrameyer. While we will prioritize individuals with a physical disability in participating in the session, friends and family members are more than welcome to join if equipment permits.
Details on the Have a Go are listed below. If you are interested in attending or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Lisa Myers at wheelchairdev@tenniscanada.com
Have a Go at Wheelchair Tennis
Date: Sunday, February 22nd, 2026
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: Sobeys Stadium (1 Shoreham Drive, North York ON, M3N 3A6)
Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/r/UbQwrhrVa7
Questions? Contact Lisa Myers at wheelchairdev@tenniscanada.com
Volunteers Needed! 🙌
Leave a CommentWe’re looking for volunteers to help support our Great Lakes Conference Wheelchair Basketball tournament on March 7 & 8!
No experience needed — volunteers will be rotated through roles as needed.
🕒 Event Times
Saturday: 7:45am–8:00pm
Sunday: 7:45am–8:00pm
🙌 Volunteer Roles Include:
• Set-up & tear-down
• Operating the game clock
• Operating the score clock
• Filling out the game sheet
• Photography
📍 Location:
Sheridan College – Davis Campus
7899 McLaughlin Rd, Brampton
Interested? Please fill out the sign-up form below and indicate your availability!
Sign up form
Registration Open | WOMEN’S DISABILITY SPORT WEBINAR SERIES
Leave a CommentOntario Para Network is pleased to share a new initiative that is being launched in 2026 – the Women’s Disability Sport Webinar Series.
This 6 part series, tailored for female athletes with a physical disability, will include an array of topics including general health considerations, nutrition, mental performance, funding opportunities to support sport pursuits, an athlete panel on balancing disability, motherhood, and sport, and a coach-focused session on physiological considerations for sport performance.
Sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 5:00 – 6:30pm EST, with our first session kicking off on January 28th, 2026. Please note these sessions will be recorded and shared on the ON Para Network website for later viewing.
“This initiative is made possible through financial contributions from the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Paralympic Foundation of Canada, and the Government of Canada”
City of London Wheelchair Tennis Program! (POSTPONED)
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Program Update: Wheelchair Tennis (London)
The City of London has postponed the Wheelchair Tennis program until spring. New dates and registration details will be available soon. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Questions? Contact Lisa Myers wheelchairdev@tenniscanada.com
Rideau Sports Centre Wheelchair Tennis Program
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Rideau Sports Centre, in partnership with Tennis Canada, ON Para Network, and the Ontario Tennis Association, is pleased to announce the launch of a new weekly wheelchair tennis program in Ottawa! The program will be split into two groups – an introductory level program for those new to the sport and an advanced session for experienced wheelchair tennis players.
Details on the first block of programming are below. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Lisa Myers at wheelchairdev@tenniscanada.com. We look forward to seeing you on the courts in the New Year!
RSC Wheelchair Tennis Program
Dates: January 10th – February 14th, 2026
Time: Introductory Group: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Advanced Group: 2:30pm – 4:00pm
Location: Court 1, Rideau Sports Centre (1 Donald St, Ottawa ON, K1K 4E6)
Cost: $30+tax
Questions? Contact Lisa Myers at wheelchairdev@tenniscanada.com
**If finances are a barrier to participating in this program, please contact Lisa to discuss subsidy options
This program has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada and Tennis Canada through the Community Sport For All Initiative.
🎉 Congratulations to Shawn Courchesne!
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Join us in celebrating an incredible year for Shawn Courchesne, one of Canada’s fastest-rising stars in wheelchair tennis!
Shawn’s 2025 season was nothing short of exceptional. He captured back-to-back quad singles titles in Setúbal, Portugal — marking the first ITF singles championships of his career. He followed that up with a dominant performance at the 2025 Birmingham National Wheelchair Tennis Championships, earning both the quad singles and doubles national titles.
To cap off this remarkable year, Shawn was recognized by Tennis Canada as the 2025 Wheelchair Tennis Most Improved Player of the Year — a well-deserved honour reflecting his dedication, growth, and impact on the sport.
Congratulations, Shawn! Your hard work, passion, and commitment to inclusion continue to inspire athletes across Ontario and Canada. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with you! 💙💪🎾
ONPARA Featured on “Para Sport Nation” Podcast
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ONPARA joins Para Sport Nation on the latest episode of Beyond the Field: Growing Para Sport in Ontario. Our Executive Director, Doug Hannum, sits down with hosts Alex Smyth and Nathan Clement to discuss how ONPARA is expanding para-sport opportunities across the province, the importance of sustainable funding, and the impact of hosting major national and international events.
This episode is produced by AMI — a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through its broadcast services AMI-tv, AMI-audio, and AMI-télé, as well as its streaming platform AMI+. AMI is committed to providing accessible content and authentic storytelling that represents and supports Canadians with disabilities. Learn more at AMI.ca and AMItele
Drive to December: Fueling ONPARA, Powering Possibility
Leave a CommentDrive to December: Fueling ONPARA, Powering Possibility is officially underway — our year-end fundraising campaign supporting athletes, clubs, and programs across Ontario.
We’re launching early, ahead of the Black Friday and Giving Tuesday rush, so our community can hear from us before inboxes start to overflow. Early support gives ONPARA a strong start and helps us build momentum throughout December.
With significant reductions in government funding and a growing demand for parasport opportunities, your support matters now more than ever. This campaign will help us continue delivering life-changing programs in Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby, and Wheelchair Tennis — while strengthening clubs through our 25% give-back model:
➡️ 25% of every donation goes directly back to the donor’s chosen club.
Your generosity will help us:
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Expand youth and grassroots programming
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Increase access to equipment and coaching
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Support athlete development pathways
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Strengthen club operations and sustainability
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Deliver inclusive, high-quality parasport experiences across Ontario
Every dollar makes a difference — and every donation fuels the future of parasport.
👉 Donate today: https://www.ontariosportnetwork.ca/nstf-projects/352-ontario-para-network
(Link also available in our bio)
Thank you for helping us power possibility for athletes across Ontario.
Let’s get ahead of the year-end noise and finish strong — together
Good Luck to Team Ontario at the 2025 Birmingham National Wheelchair Tennis Championships!
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ONPARA is proud to cheer on our athletes as they compete at the 2025 Birmingham National Wheelchair Tennis Championships, taking place November 13–16, 2025 at the UBC Tennis Centre in Vancouver, BC.
Representing Ontario this year are:
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Shawn Courchesne
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Anne-Marie Dolinar
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Nevin Dunn
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Hisham Mohammad
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Flavio Pagliero
The team will be led by Provincial Team Coach, Joel Cruz, whose leadership and support continue to strengthen the program and athlete development across the province.
We are incredibly proud of each of these athletes for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence. Please join us in wishing them the very best as they take the court in Vancouver!
Go Team Ontario! 🎾🍁