NextGen: The Program Sparking Canada’s Paralympic Future

As the Paralympic Foundation of Canada (PFC) celebrates its 10th anniversary, a PFC initiative has helped to reshape the landscape of Para sport in Canada. For hundreds of athletes across the country, the NextGen Program has been the spark that ignited their Paralympic journey.

Established in 2014, the Next Generation (NextGen) Program was created to support Para athletes who had shown early potential at community club programs but weren’t yet at the elite level, a critical phase in an athlete’s development but was a “missing link” in the Canadian Para sport system.

“There was a clear need to support athletes earlier in their high-performance journey,” Catherine Gosselin-Després, Chief Sport Officer of the Canadian Paralympic Committee shared. “We had talented Para athletes who were too advanced for entry-level programming but not yet ready for full podium funding. That’s where the NextGen Program comes in and where the Foundation’s support has been absolutely critical.”

Launched through a partnership with the Government of Canada, the NextGen Program was built on the commitment that for every dollar raised by the Paralympic Foundation of Canada (up to $1 Million annually), the Government of Canada would match it. That commitment created a powerful funding stream that has since supported 28 National Sport Organizations (NSOs), building stronger athlete pipelines across the country.

“We are so proud of the impact the NextGen Program has made for the Canadian Para sport system, it has been one of the landmark successes of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada,” Dean Brokop, Executive Director of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada said. “Since the creation of the program, we have contributed $8 million, which along with the Government of Canada matching funds has led to $16 million directly supporting emerging Canadian athletes with a disability and we continue to support the program to this day on the road to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.”

Each year, NSOs work with Own the Podium to submit detailed development plans, identifying athletes to represent Canada at future Paralympic Games. These athletes, often trending towards future podium performances, gain access to critical resources: coaching, training camps, competition experience, and integrated support teams.

The results have been undeniable.

“One of the great successes of the NextGen Program, has been our support of Volleyball Canada and the National women’s sitting volleyball program,” Gosselin-Després explains. “The program began a decade ago, with minimal resources, but thanks to sustained NextGen investment, the program has grown into a Paralympic bronze-medal-winning team. It’s a phenomenal story of growth and belief.”

For athletes, development timelines vary and that’s where the flexibility of the NextGen Program has been so effective. In some Paralympic sports, an athlete might be identified and ready to compete internationally within two years. In others, the development pathway can span nearly a decade.

“Every sport has their own development pathway andwhat the NextGen Program does is allow sports to build their capacity, it helps athletes, coaches and technical staff to all grow together and ultimately lead to stronger performances at the international level,” Rob Frost, Director, Paralympic Performance of the Canadian Paralympic Committee said. “We’ve been able to create a successful program thanks to Canadians donating to the Foundation and supporting emerging athletes when they need it most.”

The NextGen Program helps Canada’s emerging Para athletes gain exposure to international events, building confidence in the process, and learning what it means to be a high-performance athlete.

“What we’re seeing is the result of long-term planning and investment,” Frost shared. “Athletes are arriving at the Paralympic Games not just as participants but as contenders. That’s a direct outcome of the NextGen Program. It is the bridge.

“It connects grassroots passion to podium dreams. And thanks to the Foundation and its donors, we’ve built a bridge that works. Now, we need to make it stronger.”

As the Paralympic Foundation of Canada marks a decade of impact, this is your opportunity to help shape the next decade of excellence. With Milano Cortina 2026 now less than a year away, and the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games on the horizon, the importance of NextGen Program support has never been clearer.

Donate today. Help IGNITE the next generation of Canadian Paralympians.