The Canadian Paralympic Committee (“the CPC”) is a non-profit, private organisation with 43 member sports organisations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement. The CPC is responsible for creating an optimal high-performance environment for Canadian Paralympic athletes to win at Paralympic and ParaPanAmerican Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the CPC inspires all Canadians with a physical disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organisations.
Organisation History
1968
Canada competes in its first Paralympic Games in Tel Aviv, Israel. Twenty-two Canadian wheelchair athletes compete against 750 athletes from 29 countries. Canada’s participation is largely made possible through the efforts of Toronto Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Robert Jackson, who later becomes the first President of the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association and the founder of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
1976
As a result of the efforts of Dr. Robert Jackson, Toronto hosts the Torontolympiad, which later becomes known as the 5th Paralympic Games. These games are the first to include athletes with an amputation or visual impairment. Following these Games, the Canadian government grants funds to be spent in developing sport opportunities for people with a disability.
1981
The Canadian Federation of Sport Organizations for the Disabled (CFSOD) is established and comprised of four national sport organizations: the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing, the Canadian Amputee Sports Association, the Canadian Blind Sports Association, and the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association. The mandate of the Federation is to coordinate activities common to member organizations for the promotion, rule integration, coaching, and administration of sports and competition involving athletes of more than one disability group.
1982
The growth of the Paralympic Games into an important international multi-sport event leads to the formation of the International Co-ordination Committee of World Sports Organizations for the Disabled (ICC). The ICC recognizes CFSOD as the organization in Canada responsible for Paralympic sport.
1985 - 1990
CFSOD plays a major role in international Games for athletes with a disability throughout the 1980s, including sending a Canadian team to the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Paralympic Games. In 1987, CFSOD begins coordinating multi-sport competitions for athletes with a disability in Canada. The first Games are held in Brantford, Ontario and generate a financial legacy that significantly boosts the development of sport for athletes with a disability.
1988
Canada competes in the 1988 Paralympic Games, finishing 4th overall with 149 medals. Held in Seoul, South Korea, they are the first Paralympic Games held concurrently with the Olympic Games.
1993
Canadian Federation of Sport Organizations for the Disabled changes its name to the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), and, for the first time, athletes with a disability are included in the Canada Games held in Kamloops, BC.
2001
Having grown to include a membership of 22 national sport organizations, the CPC adopts a mandate to become a "Movement" based organization in order to act on behalf of all athletes with a disability by offering a series of programs in addition to supporting Games.
2002
The CPC sends a Canadian team to the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, USA, with a best winter finish ever of 6th overall with 15 medals. The CPC creates the Canadian Paralympic Foundation (CPF), a separate entity governed by an independent Board of Directors. Senator Joyce Fairbairn is chosen as the Chair of the CPF Board of Directors.
2003
Vancouver is chosen to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is created. This is the first time a host Organizing Committee includes “Paralympic” in its official name.
2004
The CPC sends a Canadian team to the 2004 Paralympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece, resulting in Canada’s best-ever finish of 3rd overall with 72 medals. The CPC signs a trademark agreement with VANOC.
2005
The CPC unveils a new logo. The CPC Board of Directors approves the 2006-2011 Business Plan that will lead the organization up to and beyond the Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games in 2010.
2006
The CPC sends a Canadian Team to the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy, resulting in a best-ever winter finish of 6th overall with 13 medals.
2008
Canada finishes in 7th place at the Beijing Paralympic Games with 50 medals (19 gold, 10 silver and 21 bronze). Canadian women win 31 medals, including 14 gold.
2010
On home soil, Canada enjoyed its most successful Paralympic Winter Games in history. The Canadian team achieved its goal of being ranked among the Top 3 medal-winning nations. Canada earned 10 gold medals and finished with 19 medals overall. Amongst the best performances, para-nordic star Brian McKeever and guide/brother, Robin, won 3 gold medals during the Games. McKeever was the first person in the world to qualify for both the winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in the same year. Lauren Woolstencroft (Alpine skiing - Standing) became the first Canadian Paralympic winter athlete to win five gold medals in the same Games and Viviane Forest (Alpine skiing - Visually Impaired) and guide Lindsay Debou also earned five medals in Whistler.
What’s ahead?
The Canadian Summer Team is now preparing for the 2011 Para-Panamerican Games, which will be held from November 19-27, 2011, in Guadalajara, Mexico. The next Paralympic Games will be held in London, England from August 29 to September 9, 2012.
