Paralympic Experience

2024 Paralympic Co-Chef de Mission | 2020 Paralympic Assistant Chef de Mission

Josh Vander Vies stood at the pinnacle of international boccia in Canada for over a decade. His career includes a debut at the Paralympics in 2004, a bronze medal in the individual event at the 2011 Parapan American Games, and a bronze medal in pairs at the 2012 Paralympics.

Paralympic Experience

2021 – 2025 Canadian Paralympic Committee Board of Directors

Robert swam for team Canada in the Stoke Mandeville & New York 1984 Paralympic Games. He currently is the Director and Chair of CPC’s Governance Committee. He competed in goalball at the national level and participated in various athletics competitions both nationally and internationally. He has also served as Vice President of the Calgary Speed Skating Association, President of the Canadian Blind Sports Association, and Vice President of the International Blind Sports Federation.

Paralympic Experience

2000 and 2004 Paralympic Swimmer, butterfly and freestyle

The six-time Paralympic swimming medallist broke 2 world records in the 2000 games in Sydney where she won 2 gold and 1 silver medal. In 2001, she became a member of the Order of Ontario, and in 2010, and inductee of the Windsor/Essex Sports Hall of Fame. Danielle was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 1992, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. 

▶️Watch Danielle share her story with VSA

Paralympic Experience

1988 and 1992 Paralympic Trike Athlete

Two-time medalist at the 1988 Paralympic Games in Seoul: gold in the 1500 m and silver in the 3000 m trike events (setting a world record during qualification). Halldor also participated in the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona. He was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements in Seoul and served on the CPISRA Athletes’ Commission for four years.

Paralympic Experience

1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 Paralympic athlete, javelin, shot put and discus

Ten time Paralympic medallist broke the world records for shot put and discus in 1992 in the cerebral palsy sport classification and still holds world records today in the shot put, discus and javelin for athletes with cerebral palsy. Joanne was Inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame and Canadian Disability Hall of Fame in 2003. 

Paralympic Experience

Paralympic Swimmer, butterfly and freestyle

At the 1988 Paralympics in Seoul, Joanne won 3 medals and set a world record. During the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Joanne won 5 gold medals. In 2001, Joanne was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2006.

▶️ Listen to an interview with Joanne

Paralympic Experience

Paralympic wheelchair sport athlete

Diane, Canadian Class 4 wheelchair racer, wheelchair basketball player and wheelchair tennis player took hime a gold medal in women’s wheelchair basketball during the 1992 Paralympics. The Vancouver City Council presented the Vancouver Civic Merit Award “for outstanding achievement in a particular field of endeavour in sports, science, arts, or culture within the city and the province, or in recognition of a specific service” to Diane in 1984. 

Paralympic Experience

Paralympic Goalball Player

1992 Paralympic bronzemedal goalball player has devoted her life to teaching others. She worked as a trainer for Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) for 10 years before returning to the University of Montreal to obtain her Specialized Graduate Diploma and then teach.

Olympic Postions

Olympic track and field athlete

Christine competed in the 800 metres at the 1984 Games and in the 400 metres hurdles at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Even today, more than 30 years later, some of her times remain among the best in Canadian track and field history. In 2018, Slythe was indicted in the Sherbrooke Sports Hall of Fame.