Canada Sends Record 35 Para Athletes to Glasgow Games

Canada's Paralympic stars are heading to Glasgow in record numbers, and wheelchair basketball champion Kady Dandeneau gets to lead the way.

The Pender Island, B.C. athlete was just named Team Canada's flag bearer for the July 23 Opening Ceremony. She'll be carrying the maple leaf for a team of 35 Para athletes, the largest contingent Canada has ever sent to the Commonwealth Games.

Dandeneau knows what winning feels like at these Games. In 2022, she helped Canada capture gold in the first ever women's 3x3 wheelchair basketball competition at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. Last year, she took home MVP honors at the World Championships.

"Winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 was a special moment for our team, and we're excited for the opportunity to compete on that stage again," Dandeneau said.

The Glasgow Games run through August 4 and feature six Para sports. Every medal counts toward each nation's overall total, putting Para athletes on equal footing with their Olympic teammates.

Canada's swimming team brings serious firepower. Danielle Dorris is a two-time defending Paralympic champion in the butterfly. Katie Cosgriffe made her Paralympic debut memorable with a bronze medal in Paris 2024. Nicolas-Guy Turbide returns as defending Commonwealth champion in the 50-meter freestyle.

The men's 3x3 wheelchair basketball team features gold medalists Garrett Ostepchuk and Lee Melymick, who dominated at the 2025 World Championships. They're joined by two players making their 3x3 debuts in Glasgow.

"Any time you have the opportunity to represent Canada, it's an incredible honour," Melymick said. "We have a great mix of experience and young talent on this team."

Para sports joined the Commonwealth Games program officially in 2002, though they appeared as demonstrations back in 1994 when Victoria, B.C. hosted. Canadian legend Chantal Petitclerc became the first ever Commonwealth Games Para champion in Manchester, winning the women's 800-meter wheelchair race.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

This record team size shows how far Para sport has come in Canada. Twenty-four years after joining the official program, Para athletes now compete across six sports at the Commonwealth Games with their medals counting equally alongside Olympic events. The integrated approach lets both sides of Team Canada see what unites them: dedication, excellence, and pride in representing their country on the world stage.

Canada's 35 Para athletes will compete alongside their Olympic teammates under one flag, one team, one goal.

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