Wheelchair Rugby Canada, in collaboration with the Northern Lights Women’s Development Program, is proud to announce the athletes who will represent Canada at the 2026 Women’s Wheelchair Rugby World Championships and World Cup in Paris, France, from December 1^st to 5^th.

The event marks a significant milestone for women’s wheelchair rugby, culminating years of advocacy and development to expand opportunities for women in the sport. Following the first Women’s Cup in 2015 and subsequent editions in 2017, 2023 and 2024, the inaugural Women’s World Championships will see six nations compete for the first world title in the new division.

Hosted at Halle Carpentier, the event will feature two divisions competing concurrently: the World Championship division, and the World Cup division. The introduction of a dedicated World Championship division represents another important advancement in the ongoing push for women’s wheelchair rugby to be included in the Paralympic Games.

Team Canada Roster: World Championship Division

The following athletes will represent Canada in the World Championship division:

• Brianna Hennessy – Ottawa, ON
• Cory Harrower – Regina, SK
• Natasha Smids – Chatham, ON
• Brooke Perepeluk – Prince George, BC
• Julia Hanes – LaSalle, ON
• Jessica Kruger – Port Moody, BC
• Kimberly Payzant – Lacombe, AB
• Erika Schmutz – Belleville, ON
• Tiana Hesmert – Richmond, BC
• Mélanie Labelle – St-Hubert, QC
• Kristen Cameron – Charlottetown, PEI
• Marta Pawlik – North Vancouver, BC

Northern Lights Roster: World Cup Division

Competing under the team name ‘Northern Lights’ in the World Cup division, the following eight athletes will take the court:

• Ellen Doria – Fredericton, NB
• Paige Reekie – Kelowna, BC
• Brianna Seewald – Mitchell, MB
• Ruby Stevens – Scarborough, ON
• Kasey Aiello – Calgary, AB
• Ashlie Drake – Alliston, ON
• Sophie Forest – Montréal, QC
• Paige MacDonald – Saint John, NB

Staff List

• Patrice Dagenais – Head Coach
• Travis Murao – Assistant Coach
• Jaimie Randall – Support Staff
• Tanya Crowe – Support Staff
• Ania Pawlik – Support Staff
• Sally Chamberlain – Support Staff
• Bernie Hesmert – Equipment Manager
• Georgia Rudolph – Communications

The Northern Lights program continues to create opportunities for women to develop their skills, build connections and compete at the national and international levels. Competing at the World Cup in Paris will provide another important opportunity to showcase the depth and potential of women’s wheelchair rugby in Canada.

As the countdown to Paris continues, both Canadian teams will look to build on the momentum behind the sport’s continued growth and contribute to an important chapter in its history.

For more information about the 2026 Women’s Wheelchair Rugby World Championships and World Cup, visit the official event website.

Supporting The Journey to Paris

Competing on the international stage comes with significant travel and competition costs.

To help offset these costs, the Northern Lights Women’s Development Program is actively fundraising to support the World Cup athletes heading to Paris. Every contribution helps reduce the financial burden on athletes and creates more opportunities for women to compete at the international level.

Support the team’s journey to Paris by donating or sharing with your network!