Canada’s first-time Paralympians reflect on battles to earn a ticket to the Games

OTTAWA – Six years ago, at age 16, Emma Archibald was fresh from a Canadian Paralympic Committee Paralympian Search event in Halifax when she stepped onto snow in Canmore, Alta. to attempt a sport she knew nothing about.

But Nordiq Canada coaches at that Paralympian Search were convinced Archibald had the athleticism to adapt to cross-country skiing, and they invited her to a development camp.

The Fall River, N.S. native was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome, missing several fingers on both hands and toes on her right foot, and would go on to master the sport in the women’s standing category without poles.

‘’I didn’t really know what the sport was at the time,’’ Archibald told CPC back in November. “But I got hooked.’’

A few weeks later the 22-year-old nursing student at the University of Ottawa was nominated to Canada’s Para nordic skiing team for the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games set for March 6-15 in Italy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Canadian Paralympic Team (@cdnparalympics)

When peak career moments happen, like a major Games nomination, they are not only a time for celebration, but also for reflection, especially on those who helped steer you along the path to success.

 “I wouldn’t have started, or kept going, in this sport without the mighty cross-country ski community in Nova Scotia,” Archibald told The Laker News after her nomination. ‘’Starting a bit later than most wasn’t easy, but their passion and joy for skiing was so contagious.”

“Your dreams are never too big,” she added. “Be brave, work hard, have fun and enjoy the process.”

Para ice hockey player Shawn Burnett’s rise in the sport has been nothing short of astonishing. From McMasterville, Que., he was injured in June 2021 at age 18, when he had a serious skydiving accident that fractured his back and caused a spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

Burnett, also 22, has competed for Canada at the last two world championships including the gold medal victory in 2024.

‘’It’s really special to be nominated to the Paralympic team,’’ Burnett told the Journal de Montréal.  ‘’It was very reassuring for me when I got the call. It was a big load off my shoulders. My dream was to compete at the Games since my accident.’’

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shawn Burnett⚡️ (@burnettt_)

Based on his progression, it appeared his nomination was a slam dunk but last summer Burnett underwent back surgery which kept him off the ice for a month. That added to the uncertainty.

‘’I was crying in the hospital; I thought my dream was over.  I was able to get through it thanks to my family.’’

Brooke Ailey of Thunder Bay, Ont. is headed to the Games as a guide for Para nordic skier Madison Mullin in the women’s visually impaired cross-country events.

“It is such an honour, not only to represent Canada but to make sure Madison is seen and supported,’’ Ailey told the Nipissing University Lakers website. “People can see this partnership and realize that sport can look different and still be powerful.” 

It is a second major Games appearance for Ailey. Last year, she competed at the World University Games in cross-country skiing.

Mullin, who comes from Fergus, Ont., the same hometown as wheelchair basketball legend Patrick Anderson, grew up in an alpine skiing family before being introduced into Para sport and cross-country skiing as a youngster.

 “I made the prospect team last year and the national development team this year,” Mullin told the Wellington Advertiser. “I was pretty excited to learn I’m on the team and heading to the Paralympics.”

All of Kipling, Sask. celebrated Gilbert Dash’s nomination to the Paralympic Games team as the town council passed a motion at their meeting three weeks ago to recognize the wheelchair curler with a sign at the entrance to town.

‘’Kipling council received a letter suggesting the town recognize Dash’s achievements on one of their billboards on the highway corridor on the edge of town, where other notable Kipling people are recognized,’’ wrote the Saskatchewan-based SportsCage.com. ‘’The town was in support of it and will be adding a billboard in Dash’s honour.’’

In an interview with CBC Radio after his nomination, Dash expressed his feelings of going to his first Games at age 57.

‘’I learned it on a Zoom call and it felt great,’’ said Dash, a lifelong curler both before and after his accident in 2006. ‘’It was a dream come true, the results of years of hard work and dedication from myself, the coaches, family.

‘’It was like a fulfillment that I wanted for a long time.’’