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TVCC Recreation Open House!
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The Therapeutic Recreation team at TVCC is planning their annual Recreation Open House. This year’s open house will look similar to the last few years as it will again be virtual! The event will take place September 26th 2023, starting at 6:30 pm and finishing up at 7:30 pm.
TVCC goal is to provide as many opportunities as possible to connect children and youth with special needs (and their families) to community programs.
Getting Connected Recreation Open House
Tuesday September 26th 2023 | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Visit HERE for more information
Now in Canada! Wheelchair Squash57
Leave a CommentNew Sport Alert!!
Wheelchair Squash57 will be hosting an open house in partnership with Squash Ontario for a new and exciting game played with a shorter racquet and bigger bouncier ball!
When: Sunday, September 24th, 2023
Where: Toronto Cricket Club (141 Wilson Ave)
Time: 1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Contact squash57@rogers.com
ONPARA is hiring!!
Leave a CommentONPARA is looking for a Head Coach for our Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program
Please click the following for an overview Jr Head Coach Overview
ONPARA will require applicants to gain appropriate criminal records clearance along with two job-related references. Job-related references can be submitted upon application or following a successful invitation to attend an interview. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
- Deadline: July 30, 2023
- Start date: September 5, 2023
Please send your resume and cover letter to:
Tammy Lyle-Gravlev, HP Coordinator, ONPARA Wheelchair Basketball
Email: tammy@onpara.ca
Address: PO Box 26047, Toronto RPO Broadway, ON, M4P 0A8
Toronto Sport Hall of Honour
Leave a CommentOn June 7th, 2023, The Toronto Sport Hall of Honour celebrated the exceptional contributions and accomplishments of those who have inspired and/or brought recognition to Toronto through sport.
Huge congratulations to ONPARA’s very own Claire Buchanan and Shayne Smith on their induction as Para-Athlete of the Year!
The Toronto Sport Hall of Honour is located at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, a legacy of the 2015 Toronto Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.
Shayne Smith: Para-Athlete of the Year
Shayne Smith was born in Toronto and has excelled in wheelchair basketball and then wheelchair rugby. When Shayne was four months old he contracted meningococcal septicemia, requiring multiple amputations. At eight years old, he began playing wheelchair basketball. However, it was another four years before he scored his first basket. This perseverance served him well in his 17-year career in wheelchair basketball, including time on the Junior Men’s National Team.
In 2017, Shayne joined the National Team Program for wheelchair rugby and has gone on to represent Canada in multiple international tournaments. In 2021, he made his Paralympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games and led all first-time athletes in scoring on Team Canada. Shayne and the team earned silver medals at the 2017 World Wheelchair Rugby (WWR) Americas Championship and the 2019 Lima Parapan Am Games. The team also brought home a silver medal from the 2022 WWR Americas Championship, qualifying them for the 2023 International Wheelchair Rugby Cup and the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. When not on the court, Shayne shares his love for Paralympic sport through public speaking engagements, encouraging everyone to persevere.
Claire Buchanan: Para-Athlete of the Year
Claire Buchanan has represented Toronto and Canada on the international stage in both para ice hockey (sledge hockey) and wheelchair basketball. Born with spina bifida, Claire began participating at 12 years of age when she was introduced to para ice hockey. She joined the national team in 2014, playing defense, and competed in the first-ever International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey Women’s International Cup that same year. Claire has helped the team to several silver medals in international competition, including the 2016 and 2018 Women’s Para Ice Hockey World Cup and the inaugural Women’s Para Ice Hockey World Challenge in 2022. Claire was awarded the assistant captain position of the Canadian Women’s Para Hockey Team after several years of dedication. In 2018, she was recognized with the Most Valuable Player award for her performance in the Women’s Para Hockey World Cup. When not participating with the national team, Claire plays para ice hockey for the Whitby Steelhawks.
Claire first explored wheelchair basketball during her time at the University of Alabama. During her time with the Crimson Tide, Claire won two championships. She went on to compete with the Canadian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team. Claire and the team placed fourth at the Osaka Cup in Japan in 2015 before retiring from the sport in 2018.
Congratulations to all the inductees on this amazing accomplishment!
To read more on all the 2023 inductees, please click HERE
Bios written by: City of Toronto
Volunteers Needed!
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Badminton Canada is recruiting volunteer Line Judges for the upcoming 2023 YONEX Canada Para Badminton International happening at the University of Ottawa from June 14-18, 2023. No experience required. Training will be provided virtually and onsite.
Who: 2023 YONEX Canada Para Badminton International
What: Line Judges Needed!
Where: Monpetit Hall, University of Ottawa, Ontario
When: Wednesday June 14 to Sunday June 18th 2023
Why: Opportunity to be front row for the top 2024 Paralympic qualifying event for Para Badminton!
Register: https://forms.gle/dePh8ce9GuUA7qBW8
Besoin de Bénévoles! – 2023 YONEX Para-badminton International
LineJudges Needed – 2023 YONEX Para-badminton International
Wheelchair Rugby 2023 National Championships
Leave a CommentTo view pictures from the 2023 Wheelchair Rugby Nationals Championship
Please see drobox of Day 1 Photos.
Please see dropbox link for Day 2 Photos
Please credit: Fran Harris Photography (tag @fharrisphotos)
2023 CWBL Women’s Championships
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The 2023 CWBL Women’s Championships have come to an end concluding 3 days of 5v5 and 3v3 competition in Montreal, Quebec. Congratulations to Team Ontario for coming together for their first event as part of the NEW Ontario Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, led by Coach Dylan and Assistant Coach Sana.
Our athletes remained strong and resilient throughout the weekend, resulting in two of our athletes being named as All-Stars. We are excited about the development and future growth of this team.
Congratulations to the following athletes who were selected to represent Ontario:
- Tamara Steeves (All-Star)
- Puisand Lai
- Charlotte McElroy
- Larissa McClellan
- Natalie Robinson
- Emilie Mondor (All Star)
- Tayler O’Shaughnessy
- Keisha Panoff
- Mackenzie Chase (New Brunswick)
Head Coach: Dylan Carter
Assistant Coach: Sana Worley
Thank you to Wheelchair Basketball Canada and Parasport Quebec for organizing a great event!
Huge thank you to the spectators who came out to cheer on our athletes! These tournaments are made by the atmosphere, and it was such a fun and positive environment at Centre Pierre Charbonneau in Montreal, Que.
Final Standings
5-on-5
1 – Quebec
2 – BC
3 – Mixed
4 – Ontario
3-on-3
1 – Bulldogs
2 – BC 2
3 – Quebec
4 – BC 1
5 – Mixed
6 – Ontario
MVP and All-Stars
MVP: Cindy Ouellet (Quebec)
All-star: Tara Llanes (BC)
All-star: Tamara Steeves (Ontario)
All-star: Rosalie Lalonde (Quebec)
All-star: Katie Miyazaki (BC)
All-star: Emilie Mondor (Ontario)
Community and Quadzillas’ Wheelchair Rugby for Mike Breske
Leave a CommentWheelchair Rugby shares story of club president, Mike Breske
61-year-old club president prepares for 4th edition of Quadzillas Tournament, provides story on navigating the sport and their club
To read more, click HERE
Paracanoe Summer Club
Leave a CommentInterested in trying something new?
Mississauga Canoe Club will be launching a Paracanoe and Special Olympic program this summer. They are inviting individuals with physical and/ or cognitive disabilities to come out and try paddling. Their goal is to provide people with disabilities safe, fun and inclusive paddling experiences facilitated by highly skilled coaches.
For more information, please click the following MCC PARA LETTER (1)
Contact Erica Scarff: scarffe@hotmail.com
OLG x Toronto Raptors
Leave a CommentOLG AND THE TORONTO RAPTORS ARE PARTNERING TO CELEBRATE SIX LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING THE BOROUGHS OF TORONTO, WHO ARE MAKING A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES THROUGH BASKETBALL. THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE FOCUSED ON BUILDING POSITIVE, INCLUSIVE AND EMPOWERING SPACES FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Representing East York will be some of ONPARA’s own members!
To read more and see the other teams, click HERE
Write up by: OLG
