International para athletes flocking to cutting-edge accessible program in Cochrane
It's only a few months old, but a para snow program in Cochrane is already gaining international attention.
The Canadian Para Snow Sport Training Centre officially launched in September. Based out of the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, it offers wheelchair and visually-impaired athletes training in multiple disciplines, both on and off the slopes.
"For me, it means a lot," para alpine skier Hanna Chilson said. "Every day we are out training and learning new things and improving our abilities. Everything we need is in this building."
The centre offers an accessible gym, swimming pool, arena and physio facility.
"I didn't realize what privilege I had before I had to use facilities that are accessible," sit skier Bailley Unahi added. "So coming to the facilities here is pretty awesome."
The program is hosted by Canadian Adaptive Snowsports (CADS) Alberta. It provides opportunities for those with all abilities to learn to alpine ski or snowboard, and offers its top athletes entrance into competitive international events.
It currently boasts participants from across Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland and Australia.
"This venue is central to our on-snow training venues of Naskiska, Mount Norquay and Canada Olympic Park," program director Ozzie Sawicki said. "There are limited resources like this for athletes at a performance level, (but) here we can put them into a safe environment where they can really excel, learn, and get involved in an activity that is as much a social opportunity as it is a physical opportunity."
Both Unahi and Chilson agree the physicality of the program isn't all that's on offer.
"Knowing that we have the community and support backing us in our dreams and passion is super helpful," Chilson told CTV News.
"We are seeing some up-and-coming people with disabilities that in the past may not have had the nerve or wherewithal to say I can come and train here," Sawicki said. "They're seeing these athletes train here daily and they are going 'hey, I can come to the gym and I can become a part of that.'"
CADS is a national organization with over 1,000 disabled members and 2,000 abled-bodied volunteers.
To learn more, visit CADSAlberta.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Have you been removed from your family doctor’s patient list for visiting an Ontario walk-in clinic?
Some Ontarians are expressing frustration after they said that they were removed from their family doctor’s patient list for visiting a walk-in clinic in a process being called “de-rostering.”
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.