OTTAWA, Ont. — Braden Pettinger of Regina, Saskatchewan has been named the recipient of the 2026 Hal Merrill Community Impact Award, presented at the 2026 Wheelchair Rugby National Championships.

Named in honour of the late Hal Merrill — a beloved figure in the Canadian wheelchair rugby community — the award recognizes individuals who embody the values Merrill lived every day: connection, humility, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to building community through sport.

The award celebrates those who go beyond performance on the court to create welcoming and supportive spaces within wheelchair rugby, particularly for newcomers to the sport. Recipients are recognized for uplifting others, fostering belonging, and leading with kindness both on and off the court.

Merrill was instrumental in the growth and development of wheelchair rugby in New Brunswick, helping build opportunities for athletes in a smaller province. Known for his humility and quiet leadership, he became a cornerstone of the East Coast wheelchair rugby community through his mentorship, advocacy, and commitment to making everyone feel welcome in the sport.

Pettinger’s impact in Saskatchewan reflects that same spirit.

“I was pretty surprised,” Pettinger said, reflecting on hearing he was chosen as this year’s recipient for the award. “I had really no idea it was coming. I felt pretty honoured to win it.”

Although he never had the opportunity to meet Merrill personally, Pettinger understands the impact he had on the wheelchair rugby community across Canada.

“I first heard about him when the award was initially presented for the first time in Montréal,” he said. “He must have been a really special person and touched a lot of people’s lives in a really great way.”

Pettinger has been involved with Saskatchewan Wheelchair Rugby since 2022, when the province’s program was being rebuilt following the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially attending a “try it” day organized by Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports staff member Jen Wood, he expected rugby to simply be a recreational outlet.

“I wasn’t really planning on diving headfirst into rugby by any means at that time,” Pettinger said. “It was just something to do, to go out and have fun and continue to support the community.”

That quickly changed after attending his first tournament later that season.

“I was an athlete before my injury,” he said. “Getting back to doing something competitive and having that opportunity to compete was definitely something that drew me in.”

As the Saskatchewan program continued to grow, Pettinger gradually took on more responsibilities behind the scenes. What began as helping sign paperwork and assist with logistics evolved into a leadership role; including organizing practices, helping manage the team, mentoring athletes, and supporting the continued growth of wheelchair rugby in the province.

“We have pretty low numbers in Saskatchewan,” he said. “So, I’ve just taken what I’ve learned at different camps and tournaments and used that to help organize the team.”

Like New Brunswick, Saskatchewan faces many of the challenges that come with growing wheelchair rugby in a smaller province; limited athlete pools, fewer resources, and the need for athletes and volunteers to take on multiple roles to keep programs moving forward. For Pettinger, helping build stability and community within the sport became just as important as playing itself.

Pettinger credits much of the program’s early development to collaboration and mentorship from others in the wheelchair rugby community, including Jared Funk and teams in Manitoba who helped Saskatchewan athletes learn the sport in its early stages.

Now wrapping up its fourth year since relaunching, Saskatchewan Wheelchair Rugby continues to grow, hosting larger tournaments, attracting more spectators, and expanding into new communities.

“We’ve started to see more teams. It’s been a little bit more competitive, and a lot more people out to watch the sport,” Pettinger said.

A developing program in Saskatoon is also helping create new opportunities for athletes in the province, something Pettinger hopes will continue to strengthen wheelchair rugby across the Prairies.

While Pettinger has become a key organizer and leader within the Saskatchewan program, those around him say his greatest impact comes through the relationships he builds with others.

“Over the last few years, I’ve realized how important it is to have a sense of community, especially in the disability and wheelchair community,” Pettinger said. “If you don’t have people that make a point of organizing things or checking in with people, it can make a big difference.”

Through his role in peer mentorship with Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports, Pettinger has supported individuals navigating rehabilitation and adapting to life after injury, often introducing them to wheelchair rugby and the opportunities sport can provide.

“I learned early on with different mentors how important that (having a mentor) can be and how it can go a really long way,” he said.

Despite his growing leadership role, Pettinger remains focused on supporting the development of those around him rather than his own accomplishments — a quality that closely reflects the spirit of the award itself.

Asked what he is most proud of since becoming involved in wheelchair rugby, Pettinger points not to personal achievements, but to the growth of his teammates and program.

“I’m most proud of how our athletes have grown so much since we started,” he said. “Wheelchair rugby is a sport that relies a lot on game IQ and knowledge, and that only improves with time. I’m proud of how much everyone has continued to learn and improve.”

Like Merrill, Pettinger’s leadership is felt most strongly not through accolades, but through the community he helps create around him. In provinces where adaptive sport programs often rely on the dedication of a small group of athletes and volunteers, that kind of leadership can make all the difference.

The Hal Merrill Community Impact Award is presented annually at the Wheelchair Rugby National Championships to individuals who exemplify inclusion, mentorship, leadership, and community-building within the sport. Through recipients like Pettinger, Merrill’s legacy continues to live on across the Canadian wheelchair rugby community.