Wheelchair Rugby Canada is honoured to be the recipient of $820,000 from Sport Canada through Community Sport for All. The Community Sport for All Initiative seeks to remove barriers and increase sport participation for underrepresented groups. 

This significant investment will enable Wheelchair Rugby Canada to spearhead a transformative initiative, “Community Sport for All –Bridging the Gap,” aimed at promoting inclusivity and accessibility in wheelchair rugby across the nation. 

Key components of the initiative include: 

1. Bilingual Instructional Wheelchair Rugby Videos: 

A bilingual instructional Wheelchair Rugby Video that will cover the history of wheelchair rugby, the rules of the sport and the equipment needed to play. The video would be shared quarterly through Wheelchair Rugby Canada’s social media channels including the YouTube Channel. The video would be used during national events. Provinces would be encouraged to share through their social media and websites.  

2. Peer-to-Peer Engagement 

Wheelchair rugby athletes will visit patients with disability in rehabilitation centres to provide peer-to-peer support and encourage them to play the sport. 

3. Have-a-Go Sessions: 

Host 2 have-a-go sessions at each site (rehabilitation centre and/or local wheelchair rugby clubs) in identified provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Québec, Saskatchewan.  

4. Specialized Wheelchair Rugby Chairs: 

 Wheelchair Rugby Canada will be investing $400,000 into new chairs. The chairs will remain the property of Wheelchair Rugby Canada but can be stored by the province/club. 

 

Covered Costs for the initiative include the development of instructional videos, procurement of wheelchair rugby chairs, equipment for have-a-go sessions, peer-to-peer contracts, transportation, facility rentals for have-a-go sessions, and promotional resources. 

Wheelchair Rugby Canada looks forward to the successful implementation of this initiative, breaking barriers and fostering inclusivity in wheelchair rugby nationwide. 

 

About Wheelchair Rugby Canada  

Wheelchair Rugby Canada is the national governing body for the Canadian Heritage Sport of wheelchair rugby. Wheelchair Rugby Canada strives to be a world leader in wheelchair rugby, a respected advocate for wheelchair athletes and a visionary organization committed to excellence in programs from recruitment to retirement.  

Media Contact  

Kevin Caswell  

Communications and Digital Media Intern  

613-371-5167  

communications@wheelchairrugby.ca