What a day – Canada Day! The Canadian Paralympic Committee had an active and exciting July 1 this year, hosting simultaneous events in both Canada and the UK. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were in Ottawa and Canadians were in London – and that’s not all!
From Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa to Trafalgar Square in London, Canadian athletes and volunteers showed their true colours in promoting the Paralympic Movement and inspiring passers-by to get involved.
In Ottawa, Canada, members of the public participated in wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey and sitting volleyball; checked out adapted sports equipment and met athletes training for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. In London, England, the women’s national wheelchair basketball team shot hoops in Trafalgar Square as part of the Canada Day in London festivities and also chummed around with Mandeville, the mascot for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
On June 30, several lucky athletes were guests of the Royal couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at a youth barbeque at Rideau Hall in Ottawa: David Eng (wheelchair basketball), Pierre Mainville (fencing), Noella Klawitter (athletics), Jason Dunkerley (athletics) and Cody Boast (athletics – guide). In addition, David Eng and Pierre Mainville were part of the Canada Day Noon Show on Parliament Hill broadcast live across the country. These were true honours for some very deserving athletes.
The CPC thanks all those who helped make Canada Day events in Ottawa and London a success, including the National Capital Commission, Rainmaker Global Business Development, Wheelchair Basketball Canada, Athletics Canada, Canadian Fencing Federation, Volleyball Canada, ParaSport Ontario, CADS-National Capital Division, SkiAbility Ottawa, Sledge Hockey of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa Carleton Wheelchair Basketball Association, Ottawa Lions Athletic Club, Maverick Volleyball, Ottawa Fusion Volleyball Club, volunteers, coaches, and athletes!
Check out our Canada Day photo galleries!
