Canada Games help fuel Paralympic dreams

Reed De’Aeth, a member of the men’s national wheelchair basketball team, still has strong recollections of his two Canada Games appearances at which he helped Alberta to gold and silver.

‘’The biggest memory for me was the 2019 gold medal game before a home crowd in Red Deer,’’ said De’Aeth, a 22-year-old Sherwood Park resident recalled.

‘’The gym was sold out, people were standing everywhere. It was crazy. You couldn’t even hear yourself talk, never mind your teammates. It was unreal when we beat Ontario for the gold.’’

The 2025 Canada Games opened Saturday in St. John’s, N.L., and run until August 25.  Five-time Paralympian and Kippens resident Katarina Roxon lit the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony. This year’s competition includes three Para sports: Para cycling, Para swimming and Para athletics.

Para cycling is a new addition to the Games.

Playing in two consecutive gold medal games, was crucial in De’Aeth’s development. He was named Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s Junior Athlete of the Year in 2020.  In 2022, he was named to the U23 national team and that same year to the national team.

He competed at the Paralympic Games for the first time at Paris 2024.

‘’I learned a lot at the Canada Games about being in high pressure situations,’’ he said. ‘’You got to learn to control your nerves, keep calm, and hit the big shots when it matters the most.’’

The Canada Games Council is a trailblazer for integration. The first Para events were added to the program in 1995, that’s 30 years ago. That was just one year after, the Commonwealth Games Federation did the same for its Games in Victoria, B.C.

Therefore, for many Paralympians, the Canada Games was the first event where sports became serious.

Here are some more comments from other Para athletes Canada Games alumni

Nik Goncin, Team Saskatchewan, 2011, 2013, wheelchair basketball, three-time Paralympian: ‘’I love the Canada Games. It has the same vibe as a Paralympic Games. You’re staying with your team, you got your village, you got the cafeteria and there’s all these other athletes that you go out and support. It’s a super fun experience.

‘’On the court you really learn how you are going to react in the big moments. When you play for a medal it was the same feeling back then as it is today at a Paralympic Games.’’

Puisan Lai, Team Ontario, 2019, wheelchair basketball, two-time Paralympian:

‘’My Canada Games experience was such a special time for me. I was really young and surrounded by all of my teammates. We all trained so hard for each other and we were all around the same age. It was a time when I started being comfortable in the spotlight and comfortable in that kind of Games atmosphere. The Games are important for athlete development.’’

Collin Lalonde, Team Quebec, 2019, 2023, two bronze medals, wheelchair basketball: ‘’The Canada Games really helped my game. It is one of the biggest tournaments in Canada and it takes place in just one week. Your fitness needs to be optimum. It’s the first tournament where there is an impressive crowd so that adds a little pressure.’’

Dr. Julia Hanes, Team Ontario, 2017, Para Athletics (throwing events), 2024 Paralympian: ‘’The Games were vital in my development. Having the experience of a multi sport Games  and the opportunity to compete side-by-side with our able-bodied counterparts was really unique. With the village and the communal dining areas and the tight scheduling it’s a really good opportunity for new and young athletes to get a taste of high performance sport.’’

Katarina Roxon, Team Newfoundland and Labrador, 2005, Para swimming, five-time Paralympian:  ‘’I was 12-years-old and everything was just very exciting. I had such a great team. They treated me like a little sister. But when it got to swimming it was like a dogfight. It was fun and I enjoyed it. That’s where I started my career.’’ (from CBC.ca)

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