What is the History of the Foundation?
After representing the Canadian Government at the 1998 Nagano Paralympic Games, Senator Joyce Fairbairn committed to help the Canadian Paralympic Committee to raise awareness of the Paralympic Movement and to secure funding for athletes with a disability. Her passion and determination led to the formation of the "Friends of the Paralympics," a group of influential Canadians from all parts of the country.
The Friends successfully secured philanthropic and government funding and helped enhance public awareness. Their accomplishments included
- securing needed funding from the Federal Heritage Department through Sports Canada, in order to send a strong and vigorous team to Australia in 2000;
- attracting major corporate sponsors;
- organizing a joint venture with the RCMP to produce a limited edition "Team Canada" print, painted by a serving Mountie.
The Canadian Paralympic Foundation is the culmination of the efforts by the Senator, friends and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. On June 24, 2003, the Foundation was incorporated and accredited as a registered Canadian charity.
What is Paralympic Sport?
Paralympic sport includes one of the twenty five official sports on the Paralympic Games Program. Athletes who compete in these sports have developed their skills and abilities to compete at the International level in their chosen sport. The sports that are on the Games Program are:
Winter
| Alpine Skiing | Cross-Country Skiing | Wheelchair Curling | |
| Biathlon | Sledge Hockey |
Summer
| Archery | Football 5-a-side | Rowing | Table Tennis |
| Athletics | Football 7-a-side | Sailing | Wheelchair Basketball |
| Boccia | Goalball | Shooting | Wheelchair Fencing |
| Cycling | Judo | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Rugby |
| Equestrian | Powerlifting | Swimming | Wheelchair Tennis |
What is Parasport?
Parasport includes those sports on the Paralympic program and those sports with adaptations to allow fair competition regardless of disability.
What are the Paralympic Games?
The Paralympic Games are held every four years (Winter or Summer), following the Olympic Games, and are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
Similar to the Olympics, the Paralympics are a multi-sport event for athletes with physical and visual disabilities. Currently there are 25 sports (20 summer and 5 winter) that are Canadians participate in at the Games.
Participants are elite athletes that compete in Paralympic sports based on their impairment. The six major impairments groups are:
Amputee Cerebral Palsy Intellectual
Les Autres Spinal Injury Visually Impaired
