SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2026

Honourable senators, I am honoured to rise alongside my friend and colleague Senator Petitclerc to celebrate the Paralympics.

Today, as we went about our day in Ottawa, Paralympians from around the world competed in wheelchair curling, para ice hockey and para alpine skiing, to name a few. Wasn’t that double-rock takeout by Jon Thurston incredible?

I love watching Canadians compete on the world stage. I love the pomp of the opening ceremonies, the intensity of competition, the joy and the heartbreak. It’s the highs and the lows that keep me coming back — the tearful celebrations after years of hard work, grit and overcoming obstacles.

My pop, a Trinidadian immigrant with three children living in Montreal, never learned to love, or even like, winter. He told me he was amazed he could produce children who would strap wood sticks on their feet and happily hurl themselves down a hill of snow.

Pop may not have thought so, but he did conquer winter. He drove through storms to take my brother to cold hockey rinks for years so Joe could play Canada’s sport. I’m grateful my pop stood at the bottom of ski hills, watching us with a smile. He opened a door for his kids, a door to skill, fun and a love of winter.

We were among the very few Black kids at those Laurentians ski hills.

Representation matters, and at these Paralympics it is very clear that we have work to do to ensure that Black Canadians with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in sport. Believe it or not, there are no Black Canadians at these Paralympics.

Last month, I was so proud to watch, for the very first time, three Black women on the ice during the Olympic hockey game — yes, American Laila Edwards and Canadians Sophie Jaques and Sarah Nurse. Watching them made me feel connected to Canada’s game in a way that I have never experienced before. It made me feel like the game also belonged to me.

I do want to acknowledge and celebrate Canadian Paralympian Leo Sammarelli, a para nordic skier of Filipino heritage. I hope that, in four years, during the next Paralympics, I will be able to tell you about many more racialized and Black Canadian athletes at the games.

So how do we get there?

Shauna Bookal, president of the Inclusion in Canadian Sports Network, told me that equipment is expensive, trials and training often take place far from home, leadership isn’t sufficiently diverse and there’s a lack of exposure for families needing access and information. We have a lot of work to do.

Honourable senators, the lack of representation at these Paralympics feels like a missed opportunity to connect more kids with something exciting and competitive: activities that build skill and offer fun and love of winter.

I am very much looking forward to cheering on many other Black Canadians at the next Paralympic Games. In the meantime, I will support all of our athletes until March 15.

Thank you. Nia:wen.