Every Canadian Paralympian has a story about their start. The moment when they tried Para sport for the first time and realized they found a community and place where they belong.
Since 2016, the Paralympic Sport Development Fund (PSDF) has helped create life-changing opportunities in communities across Canada – all made possible by the generosity of donors to the Paralympic Foundation of Canada.
Delivered by the Canadian Paralympic Committee, with vital support from the Paralympic Foundation of Canada, the Paralympic Sport Development Fund provides financial assistance to local Para sport programs across the country.
Whether it’s supporting the launch of a wheelchair curling program in Saskatchewan, hosting “come and try” Para sport days, advancing the coaching career of a young female wheelchair rugby coach in New Brunswick, or funding a goalball training camp for emerging blind athletes in Nova Scotia, the PSDF plays a vital role in breaking down barriers and creating new opportunities for Canadians with a disability to participate in sport.
“You can’t have Paralympians if you don’t start in the community,” shares Dean Brokop, Executive Director of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada. “This program has always been critical. It’s about creating that first opportunity, where someone with a disability can try a sport, fall in love with it, and dream of competing for Canada. But it starts right there in their hometown, with access to equipment and a welcoming team.”
Since its inception, the PSDF has contributed more than $1.5 million in grants, supporting Para sport programs in over 75 communities across the country. These grants help community groups support the growth of inclusive training environments, purchase adaptive equipment like racing chairs and sit-skis, and provide critical competition and coaching opportunities.
Despite this success, the demand continues to grow.
The Fund typically distributes between $100,000 and $200,000 each year, yet requests often exceed $500,000, highlighting the continued need for donor support to help meet the growing interest in Para sport across Canada.
“Our donors believe in the potential of Para sport to change lives,” adds Brokop. “It’s their generosity that opens doors, whether that’s helping a young athlete buy their first sport wheelchair or creating a local program where a child with a disability can try sport for the first time.”
Beyond the community level, the PSDF is also helping strengthen Canada’s entire Para sport system. National Sport Organizations are able to identify athletes who show early promise and provide them with the support they need to move toward the Paralympic pathway.
“The Paralympic Sport Development Fund is helping to build the athlete pipeline in Canada,” says Catherine Gosselin-Després, Chief Sport Officer, Canadian Paralympic Committee. “These grants are allowing community clubs to introduce more people to Para sport, helping National Sport Organizations identify athletes with potential, and providing them with the early support they need to begin their pathway to becoming future Paralympians.”
As the Paralympic Foundation of Canada celebrates a decade of impact, the Paralympic Sport Development Fund stands as a powerful example of what donor support can achieve. By creating that first opportunity, we help build a stronger, more inclusive sport system for the future.
We need your support to IGNITE change through sport.
If you want to help IGNITE the future of Canadian Para sport, consider making a donation today. Your support will have a lasting impact on the next generation of Para athletes.
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