Ontario Para Network

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Ontario Para Network

Our mission is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports.

We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities.

03/13/2026

Daniel, representing the Vipers, shares what League Day means to him — the excitement of competing, being competitive, and getting some good laughs in with his teammates. 🏀♿

03/13/2026

🎾 Give Wheelchair Tennis a Go in London! ♿

The City of London is hosting a FREE “Have a Go” session on Monday, April 6 — a fun and welcoming introduction to the sport. No experience needed!

If you enjoy the session, you can continue playing in their 5-week Spring programs:

Spring Block 1
📅 Apr 13 – May 11
⏰ 7:35–8:35 PM
📍 North London Optimist Community Centre
💲 $41.50 + tax
🔗 in bio to register
🗓 Register by Apr 8

Spring Block 2
📅 May 25 – Jun 22
⏰ 7:35–8:35 PM
📍 North London Optimist Community Centre
💲 $41.50 + tax
🔗 in bio to register
🗓 Register by May 18

Come try the sport and see what wheelchair tennis is all about! 🎾

Link in bio to register for the Have a Go and either Spring Block!

03/10/2026

Webinar Series – Part 5

Join us for the next session in our Women in Para Sport webinar series:

Nutrition Considerations for Female Para Athletes with Holly Pitters, Registered Dietitian & Sport Nutritionist.

This session will explore key sport nutrition strategies for female para athletes, including considerations for athletes with SCI, CP, or limb amputation.

Topics include:
🥗 Energy, protein, fluid & fiber needs
⚡ Fueling day-to-day training
🏅 Fueling for performance
⚠️ Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)
💊 Nutrients of concern

📅 March 11, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM EST

Learn how proper nutrition can support health, recovery, and performance in para sport.

03/04/2026

🕊️ In Loving Memory of Paul Bowes

Ontario Para Network extends our deepest condolences to Paul’s family, friends, and the entire wheelchair basketball community.

Paul was a trailblazing coach, mentor, and leader whose impact on wheelchair basketball spanned more than three decades.

Known affectionately as “Bowesy,” he revitalized and shaped programs at every level from grassroots clubs and provincial teams to national and international stages.

He began coaching in 1988 with the London Forest City Flyers, a team he helped grow and lead throughout his life. Paul brought heart, culture, humour, and deep respect for athletes to every team he coached.

Paul also served as Provincial Coach for Ontario’s Senior Women’s wheelchair basketball team, where his leadership fostered a positive and inclusive environment. His contributions earned him the True Sport Award for his commitment to sportsmanship, mentorship, and athlete development.

Internationally, Paul made his mark with Wheelchair Basketball Canada assisting and leading teams to multiple Paralympic and World Championship medals and coaching at events such as the Invictus Games and Parapan American Games.

In 2025, Paul was honoured with induction into the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame, a testament to his profound influence on Para sport and the lives of athletes across the country.
His legacy built on passion, dedication, and unwavering belief in his athletes — will continue to inspire us all.

Rest in peace, Paul. Your spirit lives on in every player, coach, and community you helped shape. ❤️ 🕊️

📸:

— Ontario Para Network

02/28/2026

🎾🇨🇦 Good Luck Team Canada! 🇨🇦🎾

We’re sending all our support to Shawn Courchesne as he heads to Lima, Peru to compete at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup Americas Qualification — the Americas Qualifier running March 2–6, 2026 on clay courts at the Club Lawn Tennis de la Exposición! 🇵🇪🔥

This event is the regional qualifying competition for the World Team Cup Finals in September often called the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup of wheelchair tennis where teams from across the Americas battle for a spot at the global stage.

Teams in the quad division will face opponents from Argentina, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, Japan, Peru, and the Republic of Korea.

We’re especially cheering on Shawn Courchesne — competing for Canada in the quad division — and wishing him every success as he takes on fierce international competition. 💪🔥

Huge shoutout to Coach Joel Cruz for guiding the squad and to the full support team with them in Lima — your dedication makes all the difference. 👏🇨🇦

Vamos Canada! 🍁🇨🇦 Play strong, represent proudly, and make us all proud! 🎾💙

02/28/2026

🚨 Women’s Multi-Sport Have a Go Session 🚨

Join us for an exciting Women’s Multi-Sport Have a Go Session on Sunday, March 15 from 5:00pm–7:00pm at the Balmoral Recreation Centre (Brampton)!

Participants will have the chance to try:
🏀 Wheelchair Basketball
🎾 Wheelchair Tennis
🏐Wheelchair Rugby

Connect with female coaches and peer athletes in each sport in a fun, welcoming, and supportive environment.

✨ Free event
✨ No experience required
✨ All equipment provided
✨ Recommended age 8+

We will prioritize individuals with a physical disability, but friends and family are welcome to join (equipment permitting).

📍Balmoral Recreation Centre: 225 Balmoral Drive, Brampton, ON
🔗 in bio to register
📧 Questions? Contact Lisa Myers at wheelchairdev@tenniscanada.com

This initiative is made possible through the financial contributions of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Paralympic Foundation of Canada, and the Government of Canada.

02/24/2026

Join us for Part 4 of the Women’s Disability Sport Webinar Series!

Title: Mental Performance & Mental Health in Women’s Disability Sport

📅 March 4, 2026
⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM EST

We’re bringing together leading experts and lived experience to explore the critical connection between mental performance and mental health in women’s disability sport.

Presenters:
• Dr. Sommer Christie, PhD, CMPC
• Dr. Heather Wheeler, Ph.D., C.Psych.
• Guest Speaker: Melanie Labelle – National Team Member, Wheelchair Rugby Canada

This session will:
✔️ Explore common psychological challenges across all levels of participation
✔️ Clarify the distinction — and overlap — between mental performance and mental health
✔️ Highlight stressors unique to disability sport
✔️ Share practical tools, strategies, and referral pathways to support athlete well-being
Whether you're an athlete, coach, practitioner, or supporter, this conversation is essential to building stronger, healthier sport environments.

🔗 in bio to register

Let’s continue advancing women’s disability sport — together. 💜

02/19/2026

Looking for an unforgettable event experience this season? Join the Festival Team and volunteer with Spartan Canada while supporting the Ontario Para Network! 💪

Be part of the action, meet amazing people, and help create an inclusive race experience for all athletes.

Volunteer Perks:
✔️ Free Spartan Race entry
✔️ Volunteer t-shirt + meal
✔️ Hoodie & backpack (full-day volunteers)
✔️ Community service hours
✔️ Behind-the-scenes event experience
✔️ Support ONPARA’s mission

2026 Volunteer Opportunities:
📍 May 23–24 — Toronto Spartan Event Weekend | Brimacombe (Orono, ON)
📍 Aug 22–23 — Ottawa Spartan Event Weekend | Calabogie Peaks, ON
📍 Sep 13 — London Spartan Event | Gopher Dunes (London-area, ON)
📍 Oct 17–18 — Blue Mountain Spartan Trifecta Weekend | Blue Mountain, ON

Be part of the team, support inclusive sport, and experience Spartan like never before 🔥

📧 To sign up or learn more, contact: doug@onpara.ca

02/17/2026

Big news… meet Flex! 🔥

We’re excited to introduce the official Spartan & Tough Mudder Flex mascot bringing energy, fun, and unstoppable spirit to our events and the Para Spartan journey ahead.

Flex was custom designed by the talented Nina Hepplewhite and represents strength, resilience, and the power of inclusive sport. You’ll be seeing Flex out in the community, at events, and cheering athletes on all season long.

More information on how to register for Para Spartan this September is coming soon — stay tuned! 💪🏻

02/13/2026

🎙️ Webinar Series – Part 3: Athlete Panel
Balancing Disability, Sport & Motherhood: Tips, Tricks & Lessons Learned

Join us for an inspiring and honest conversation with two Paralympic medalists as they share their journeys of navigating motherhood while competing in para sport at the highest level.

👟 Featuring:
✨ Leanne Taylor – Para Triathlon, 2024 Paralympic Bronze Medalist
Learn more: https://paralympic.ca/news/leanne-taylor-wins-para-triathlon-bronze-in-her-paralympic-debut/
✨ Ilana Dupont – Wheelchair Racing, 2008 Paralympic Bronze Medalist
Learn more: https://paralympic.ca/athlete/ilana-dupont/

**Links in bio to learn more about Leanne & Ilana

From deciding to start a family while training and competing, to navigating pregnancy, adapting baby gear for accessibility, and balancing sport and motherhood postpartum — Leanne and Ilana will share their lived experiences, challenges, successes, and practical lessons learned along the way.

📅 Date: February 18, 2026
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM EST
🔗 in bio to register

Don’t miss this powerful and relatable conversation for athletes, coaches, parents, and anyone interested in women in para sport.

02/12/2026

🖤February is Black History Month 🖤

This month, we celebrate and uplift Black para athletes across Canada who continue to break barriers, build community, and inspire the next generation in sport and beyond.

✨ Deion Green (Wheelchair Basketball) – A leader on and off the court, represented Canada with pride and excellence.
✨ Jamoi Anderson (Sitting Volleyball) – Elevating the game through dedication, teamwork, and high-performance sport.
✨ Blaise Mutware (Wheelchair Basketball) – A passionate competitor helping grow and strengthen the sport in Canada.
✨ Faye Blackwood – A longtime contributor to Canadian sport as an athlete, coach, and administrator, shaping pathways for future para athletes.
✨ Abdi Dini Fatah – Born in Somalia and raised in Scarborough, Abdi discovered wheelchair basketball at Variety Village and has since turned passion into performance and leadership.
✨ Mercy Nyakundi – Introduced to wheelchair basketball at 14, Mercy’s drive and determination led her to the U25 Canadian Women’s National Team in 2023.

This Black History Month, we honour the achievements, resilience, and impact of Black athletes in the para sport community — past, present, and future.

Let’s continue to celebrate, amplify, and create space in sport for everyone. 🖤🍁

02/11/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome Junaid Siddiqui to the Ontario Para Network team as our new Lead of Branding and Partnership!

Junaid has represented Canadian cricket for the past 14 years and is a dedicated servant of the game. Known in the cricket world as “X-Man,” he competed in the 2024 T20 World Cup, helping Canada make history by securing its first-ever World Cup win against Ireland.

Beyond being a professional athlete, Junaid is a Business Economics graduate and a successful entrepreneur who brings a wealth of experience, creativity, and leadership to ONPARA.

Please join us in giving Junaid a warm welcome to the team!

📧 Connect with Junaid: junaid@onpara.ca

Address

PO Box 26047
Toronto, ON
M4P0A8

Telephone

416-426-7131

Website

http://www.onpara.ca/

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Pablo Munoz
3080 Yonge Street Suite 5034

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