Ottawa, ON – Wheelchair Rugby Canada is thrilled to announce the appointment of Emily MacKeigan as High Performance Director, effective November 10th, 2025.

Emily brings more than a decade of progressive leadership experience in high performance sport management, most recently serving as Senior Manager, High Performance Operations at Canoe Kayak Canada. In that role, she led team operations and logistics for major international events including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Lima 2019 Pan American Games, and Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Her leadership encompassed the coordination of international competitions and training camps, advancement of sport science integration, and enhancement of team operations and athlete services. She was instrumental in fostering collaboration among coaches, integrated support teams, and partner organizations to strengthen performance pathways and overall program efficiency.

Prior to joining Canoe Kayak Canada, Emily held key roles with Equestrian Canada and Gymnastics Canada, where she contributed to major event delivery and national team support for programs leading into the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In her new role, Emily will oversee Wheelchair Rugby Canada’s High Performance Program, which includes the National and Next Generation teams. She will lead the development of strategic and operational plans, strengthen partnerships across the Canadian sport system, and foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and safe sport.

“I’m incredibly honoured to join the team at Wheelchair Rugby Canada. I’m eager to collaborate with our athletes, coaches, and sport community to cultivate a high-performance program and environment that fosters growth, drives excellence,  and empowers our team to compete at the highest level” said MacKeigan. “Together, we will rise to push the limits of what’s possible and proudly represent Canada on the road to the LA 2028 Paralympic Games and beyond.”

A graduate of the University of Ottawa, Emily holds both a Master of Human Kinetics (Sport Management) and an Honours Bachelor of Human Kinetics. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a graduate of the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Women Emerging Leaders Development Program.

“Emily’s leadership experience and deep understanding of Canada’s high performance system will be a tremendous asset to Wheelchair Rugby Canada,” said Paul Hunter, CEO of Wheelchair Rugby Canada. “Her strategic mindset, attention to detail, and collaborative approach align perfectly with our vision to deliver world-class programs on the road to Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.”

Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Emily joins Wheelchair Rugby Canada as the organization continues to advance its high performance pathway and strengthen Canada’s position on the international wheelchair rugby stage.

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Media Contact:
Georgia Rudolph
Communications and Digital Content Coordinator
 Wheelchair Rugby Canada
 grudolph@wheelchairrugby.ca