Toronto Sport Hall of Honour
On 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
