Canadian Competitors Stand Out at the 2017 Invictus Games

The Games Leave a Lasting Legacy for Ontario

Ontario is celebrating the outstanding performance of Team Canada competitors at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, and the lasting legacy that the Games will leave for people across the province.

Some 75,000 people attended events during the eight days of competition and the Games were covered worldwide. Many events including wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball and the closing ceremony were sold out – demonstrating how spectators rallied to cheer on the competitors. Team Canada competed in all 12 sports across the Greater Toronto Area with strong performances by its competitors.

Building on the success of the Games, Ontario is making a legacy investment in parasport in Ontario. This funding will encourage long-term athlete development, enhance coaches’ training and provide better opportunities to those living with disabilities to participate in sport.

The sport equipment used during the Games will also be distributed to Indigenous Communities, ParaSport Ontario and other sport organizations. The surplus medical supplies and equipment will be donated to Sunnybrook Veterans’ Hospital, veterans’ community housing, and the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Games represented the power of sport to challenge, inspire and overcome limitations, and offered a unique opportunity for service men and women to foster camaraderie, promote recovery and rediscover a sense of belonging.

Hosting international athletic competitions is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

Quick Facts

  • The Games are an international adaptive sporting event for active and veteran service men and women who are wounded, injured and sick.
  • Team Canada was represented by 90 competitors, with more than 35 from Ontario.
  • Ontario’s support for the Games was provided through the Ontario150 Program, to celebrate Ontario’s 150th anniversary across the province.
  • Through Ontario 150 legacy funding, Ontario is committing $820,000 to develop parasport in Ontario.
  • Hosting international sporting events is part of Game ON – The Ontario Government’s Sport Plan to help more Ontarians participate and excel in sport. Game ON recognizes the many ways organized sport can be good for people and communities, including the health and economic benefits of hosting major sport events.
  • A complete list of results is available here.

Additional Resources

Quotes

Eleanor McMahon

“Ontario is proud to have hosted the 2017 Invictus Games for the first time and witness the healing power of sport. Congratulations to the competitors on Team Canada who turned in inspirational performances at the Games! You are the embodiment of dedication, perseverance and once more represented your country with pride. We are excited to build on this momentum to create a world class parasport system in Ontario.”

Eleanor McMahon

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

“This has now been my second In‎victus Games. The competition and camaraderie never grows old and the magic of these Games continues to benefit everyone involved from athletes, to coaches, to those who cheer on and witness the amazing stories and successes. The Invictus Games continue to be a support in my own recovery and help enable me to keep Soldiering On.”

Master Warrant Officer Michael Fuentespina

Team Canada Competitor

“Competing in the Invictus Games is about so much more than just winning medals. It is about recognizing how far we have all come in conquering the obstacles fate has put in our way. Competing in Canada has been the icing on the cake. The support of Canadians throughout the course of the past week has been amazing. It’s helped push me past my own personal bests. Thank you Canada.”

Corporal (retired) Katherine Heath

Team Canada Competitor

“This tremendous ongoing support from the province to continue the legacy of the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games and now, the Invictus Games, will truly advance parasport at every level in Ontario. This investment will have a lasting impact for all athletes with a disability and provide increased opportunities for participation. Together, with our partners, we will all focus on initiatives to increase awareness, participation and leadership development for parasport in Ontario.”

Karen O’Neill, CEO

Canadian Paralympic Committee

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