New granting programs – Future Paralympians and Paralympic Sport Discovery Days – make inaugural distribution

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 2, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) has distributed a total of $280,000 across 22 sport organizations through the first iteration of the new Future Paralympians and Paralympic Sport Discovery Day grants – programs aimed at strengthening the Para sport system in Canada.

Grants for 2026-27 were awarded in either $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 amounts, with funding provided by the Paralympic Foundation of Canada (PFC). The grants are supporting programs running in seven provinces and featuring 11 Para sports.

"We are so pleased to be providing these essential grants to organizations who are doing instrumental work building quality Para sport opportunities along the Paralympic development pathway," said Catherine Gosselin-Despres, Chief Sport Officer, Canadian Paralympic Committee. "We saw a high demand for these new grants, which shows the vital need within the Paralympic sport system for funding like this to advance Para sport across Canada and provide the best system for athletes to be supported throughout their entire sport journey."

"The programs being run with the support of these grants will make a real difference to the growth and development of Para sport across the country."  

2026-27 Future Paralympians grant recipients: 2026-27 Future Paralympians Grant Recipients - Canadian Paralympic Committee

2026-27 Paralympic Sport Discovery Day grant recipients: 2026-27 Paralympic Sport Discovery Day Grant Recipients - Canadian Paralympic Committee

Recipients include national sport organizations (NSOs), provincial sport organizations (PSOs), and other local groups dedicated to advancing Para sport programming and supporting Para athletes. 

"Every person with a disability deserves the opportunity to participate in sport and discover what they're capable of achieving," said Scott Sandison, Executive Director, Paralympic Foundation of Canada. "These grants help create that opportunity by expanding access to Para sport programs, reducing barriers to participation, and supporting organizations that are helping more Canadians with disabilities begin and progress along their sport journey."

Future Paralympians Grant

A total of $200,000 has been awarded across 16 organizations from five provinces – New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia – through the Future Paralympians Grant. The grants will support 10 sports through single-sport projects in addition to one multi-sport initiative.

Programs that received grants are on the Paralympic pathway, helping athletes who are on the development pathway to reach their goals while ensuring long-term, sustainable success in Paralympic sport. Funding may go towards high-performance skill development, enhanced training environments, national development camps, or coaching learning and development programs.

Paralympic Sport Discovery Days

The Paralympic Sport Discovery Days program has provided $80,000 across six projects – three multi-sport and three single sport initiatives in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Nova Scotia.

The grants will support organizations in hosting high quality athlete identification events where individuals with a disability can explore Para sport opportunities and receive the support needed to take the next steps.

This will help strengthen a critical gap in Canada's Para sport system: athlete identification, recruitment, and athlete transfer, increasing the depth and sustainability of Canada's Para athlete pool.

The new Future Paralympians and Paralympic Sport Discovery Day grants are an evolution of the Paralympic Sport Development Fund, which awarded more than $1.68 million over the past 10 years.

For more information on the grants, please visit: Paralympic.ca/sports/funding-opportunities.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: Paralympic.ca

About the Paralympic Foundation of Canada: Paralympic.ca/Foundation

SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (Sponsorships)