Where It Begins

For Canada’s Paralympic athletes, it starts on frozen ponds at dawn. On local trails after school. In basements where dreams echo off concrete walls. It starts in places like Campbell River, St. John’s, Kahnawàke, and Gatineau.

“Where It Begins” is a new campaign that celebrates the journey of Canadian para athletes from their hometowns to the world stage at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games – and the communities, coaches, teammates, and families who made that journey possible.

As one of the voices of #WhereItBegins, multi-medalist and long-time leader of Canada’s para ice hockey team Tyler McGregor (@tylermcgregor8), an above-knee amputee, shines a light on the roots of every Paralympic journey where hard work becomes hardware.

Renowned wheelchair track athlete and now Senator Chantal Petitclerc (@chantalpetitclerc) is another voice for the campaign. One of Canada’s most decorated Paralympians, Petitclerc explains how the campaign echoes her own journey, a path that started on a small track in a small town long before the podium. Her words pay tribute to resilience, community, and the belief that no one does it alone.