This National AccessAbility Week, take a closer look at the programs and people behind the Paralympic Foundation of Canada’s (PFC) work to make Para sport more accessible, supported, and visible across the country.
More than 8 million Canadians live with a disability, yet barriers such as limited programming, high equipment costs, and inaccessible systems still make sport harder to access than it should be. PFC works every day to break down those barriers and expand opportunities nationwide.
Access begins with discovery
Before athletes can compete, they need the chance to try.
This year, two new granting programs were launched to strengthen Canada’s Para sport system, supporting athletes, coaches, and organizations at every stage. They build on the former Paralympic Sport Development Fund (PSDF), which invested more than $1.68 million across 110 organizations over the past decade.
The PSDF grants have incredible success stories behind them.
In Ontario, a partnership between the Abilities Centre and Wheelchair Rugby Canada delivered a free community program where participants built skills, confidence, and even competed alongside national team athletes. In British Columbia, BC Adaptive Snowsports hosted a national development camp, connecting athletes with high-level coaching, peer support, and clear pathways into Para alpine skiing.
These programs are more than opportunities; they are entry points. They build confidence, strengthen community, and create pathways to participate and progress.
A key part of this vision is the new Paralympic Sport Discovery Days program, which supports inclusive, high-quality events where individuals can try Para sport, often for the first time – and receive guidance on next steps. By strengthening this critical entry point, it helps grow participation today while building a stronger pipeline for tomorrow.
Community grows the movement
Para sport in Canada doesn’t grow in isolation. It grows when communities come together around a shared belief that sport should be accessible and inclusive for everyone. The ParaTough Cup, PFC’s signature fundraising series, brings together companies and individuals across four cities each season to raise funds in support of Para athletes at every level. This season the series raised a record $725,000, its largest total to date, bringing the series to more than $3.2 million raised since its debut in 2017.
That community investment flows directly into the programs, grants, and development pathways that open doors for athletes across the country.
From development to the world stage
Established in 2017, the Next Generation (NextGen) Program was created to bridge a long-standing gap in Canada’s Para sport system, helping athletes transition from potential to the podium.
Canada’s women’s sitting volleyball team is a clear example. A decade ago, the program had limited reach and resources. Sustained NextGen investment helped grow its athlete base, strengthen coaching, and build the infrastructure needed to compete internationally – culminating in a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
This is not an isolated case. Development timelines vary across Para sport, and NextGen funding supports athletes, coaches, and staff as they grow together. Increasingly, Canadian athletes arrive at the Paralympic Games as contenders – a direct result of this long-term investment.
At the highest level
At the Paralympic Games, preparation and recognition matter as much as the journey to get there. PFC invests in the full picture of what it takes to compete at the world’s biggest stage.
The Enhanced Excellence funding and the Games Performance Planning fund together support high-performance athletes and National Sport Organization’s in lead up to Games. This investment, partially funded by PFC, cover coaching and technical leadership, sport science, medial support, pre-Games site visits and more. Classification funding works behind the scenes to support athlete participation in classification events and training classifiers.
Furthermore, through the Performance Recognition Program, Canadian Paralympians now receive the same financial recognition for medal performances as their Olympic counterparts. It is a milestone that was a long time coming and one that speaks to the growth of the Paralympic Movement.
The work continues
The journey from a first Discovery Day to the Paralympic podium is long and rarely linear. It spans community programs, development camps, equipment support, and years of unseen effort. What makes it possible is a system that supports athletes at every stage.
That is the work of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada – not just during National AccessAbility Week, but every day, ensuring all Canadians with a disability have access to sport.
"*" indicates required fields
"*" indicates required fields
