Halifax to host Paralympian Search event for aspiring Para athletes on May 25

The Canadian Paralympic Committee will be searching for promising Para athletes in the Atlantic region next month as Paralympian Search heads to Halifax on May 25.     

Aimed at testing participant aptitudes in various sports and introducing more people to Para sport opportunities, Paralympian Search looks to discover athletes with high development potential. Co-hosted alongside Sport Nova Scotia and Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic, the one-day event will take place at the Canada Games Centre and welcome all athletes ages 14 and up with a physical or visual disability. 

Andrew Haley, a four-time Paralympian in swimming, will be in attendance as the event’s ambassador to share his own story in sport and offer valuable guidance and advice to the participants. Originally from North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Haley won five Paralympic medals throughout his storied career and is a member of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.  

“I’m so excited to return to my home province and help introduce more people to Para sport,” said Haley. “There are so many opportunities out there for people with disabilities to participate in sport and I think there is a sport out there for everyone whether you’re hoping to make the Paralympics one day or just be active. I know the Halifax Regional Municipality is home to many promising athletes at all levels and I can’t wait to meet everyone on May 25. This day could really change lives!”

Participants will go through a series of physical challenges such as obstacle courses and sport try-its, learning more about the different sports available and in which ones they may have the most potential to compete. Representatives from different national and regional sport organizations will be on hand to view the testing and answer any questions. All participants will receive information on how to access sport opportunities at all levels. 

Several athletes from Paralympian Search events have already gone on to attend training camps or compete at international events. For example, Para ice hockey player Garrett Riley attended in Montreal 2017 and has since progressed from Hockey Canada’s developmental team to the national team. He is currently competing at the world championships in Czech Republic. In addition, Para nordic skier Kyle Barber, from the Toronto 2016 event, competed in his first world championships as a member of the Canadian Para nordic NextGen team this past February. 

For more information about Paralympian Search and to register for the upcoming Halifax event, please visit: Paralympic.ca/paralympiansearch.