Northern Lights Women’s Development Program

Wheelchair Rugby Canada is proud to support the Women’s Development Program, and the trailblazing women who are paving the way for gender equity in the sport.  The program is led by an incredible group of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about advancing opportunities for women in wheelchair rugby.

Northern Lights Women’s Development Program

Making History: The Road to the First Women’s World Championships

Canada continues to be a world leader in the advancement of women’s wheelchair rugby. From earning a bronze medal at the 2023 Women’s Cup to the ongoing dedication of athletes, coaches, and volunteers who have helped expand opportunities for women in the sport, the momentum continues to grow.

Now, attention turns to the next historic moment: the inaugural Women’s Wheelchair Rugby World Championships in Paris in December 2026. Team Canada is ready to compete on the world stage and showcase the strength, skill, and determination that have fueled the growth of the women’s game.

The Vision

Lifting Women into the Spotlight.
The Northern Lights Women’s Development Program exists to grow the game, build community, and pave the path to a women’s division at the Paralympic Games.


Program Highlights


Before 2023

  • Women registered individually for the Paris Women’s Cup

  • Fundraising initiatives begun to support Canada’s participation in the World Cup

2023-2024 Season

  • International Debut: Canada’s first fully funded women’s team competed at the Paris Women’s Cup

  • Program Launch: The Women’s Development Program officially formed

2024–2025 Season

  • Women’s Symposium hosted in Vancouver, BC
  • Gender Equity Playbook developed
  • 2 Training Camps held
  • 2 Competitions attended: Gold Medal – Vancouver Invitational (Division 2)
  • 3 Coaches supporting program growth
  • 1 Program Grant secured

2025–2026 Season

  •  The women’s development program competed at RugbyMania in Prague, Czechia under their newly instituted name ‘Northern Lights’. Historic Milestone: First national women’s team to compete in a coed international division

  • The Northern Lights women’s development program competed in the inaugaral Maddog Memorial tournament in Fredericton, NB, followed by a women’s training camp.

  • The first Women’s National Championships were hosted in Montreal, Quebec, in collaboration with Défi Sportif AlterGo

2026–2027 Season: Looking ahead to the Women’s World Championships

  • In September 2026, the Northern Lights hosted a training camp in Edmonton, Alberta. A total of 20 women from across Canada participated.
  • The Women’s Development Program continues to work toward the 2026 Women’s World Championships, taking place in December 1-5 in Paris, France. Canada will be represented in both Division 1 and Division 2, competing for the Women’s World Championship and World Cup titles. 
  • The program is actively crowdfunding to cover travel and competition expenses.  Donations of any size are appreciated and help fuel this groundbreaking moment in women’s wheelchair rugby. 


RugbyMania 2025


In November 2025, the women’s development program entered an all women’s team in the Rugbymania tournament. This reflected a historic milestone in the sport: the first time an all-female team competed in a mixed-gender international tournament. 

Ahead of the event, the women’s development program unveiled their official team name: “Northern Lights”, along with their own branding. Along with the launch of the branding, the program announced a donation campaign to help fund their journey to Prague, raising over $20,000.



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Get Involved

This movement is growing — and you can be part of it.
Whether you’re an athlete, coach, volunteer, donor, or fan, your support makes a difference. Help us empower the next generation of women in wheelchair rugby.

Interested in supporting the program or learning more?
changethegame@wheelchairrugby.ca or donate.