VANCOUVER – As Canadian Paralympians prepare to march in the opening ceremonies at the Sochi Games, 24% of the team (13 of 54 athletes) will be representing the Province of BC. Canadian Sport Institute Pacific will be continuing to support the team through our #WE CAN campaign, which backs Own the Podium’s goal of placing in the top three in the gold medal count at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

Of the 13 athletes, 12 are registered with Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and consider BC their home province. All of these athletes have benefitted from the support of the Province’s sport sector, including Vernon B.C.’s Sonja Gaudet, who will proudly carry the flag for Canada in the opening ceremony tomorrow.

Below is a list of B.C.’s Paralympic athletes competing in Sochi:

Sport Athlete Hometown Event Training Location
Para-Alpine Caleb Brousseau # Terrace Men’s Sitting Whistler
Josh Dueck # Kimberley Men’s Sitting Whistler
Matt Hallat # Coquitlam Men’s Standing Whistler
Kimberly Joines # Rossland Women’s Sitting Whistler
Braydon Luscombe # Duncan Men’sStanding Whistler
Nick Brush Kelowna Men’s Standing – Guide Whistler
Para-Nordic Skiing & Biathlon Andrea Bundon # Regina, SK Guide Gorbounova (B3) Vancouver
Para-Snowboard Tyler Mosher # Whistler Men’s Snowboard Cross Whistler
Ian Lockey # Rossland Men’s Snowboard Cross Kelowna
Sledge Hockey James Gemmell # Quesnel Surrey
Wheelchair Curling Jim Armstrong Victoria Mixed Team Cambridge, ON
Ian Forrest # Armstrong Mixed Team Vernon/Armstrong
Sonja Gaudet # Vernon Mixed Team Vernon

# Registered with Canadian Sport Institute Pacific

The B.C. contingent of the national Paralympic team also includes five coaches and six technical staff, with the Mission Team boasting five professionals from B.C.

“On behalf of Premier Christy Clark and the government of British Columbia, I wish all of Canada’s Paralympians the best of luck in Sochi,” said the Hon. Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. “B.C. athletes have historically done very well at the Paralympics, and we are proud to send such a strong contingent. Congratulations to all and in particular, to Vernon’s Sonja Gaudet who will lead Team Canada as flag bearer.”

“Together with our partners, our team of sport scientists and professionals is committed to enhancing the current parasport system to help win more medals for Canada. B.C.-based athletes brought home 74 per cent of Canada’s Paralympic medals in 2010, which shows you our potential as we head into Sochi,” noted Wendy Pattenden, CEO of the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific. ‘”For a province that represents only 13 per cent of our national population, we are proud of the fact that 24 per cent of the 2014 Canadian Paralympic team will be comprised of athletes with a B.C. connection,”

Quick Facts:

  • 54 athletes make up the Canadian Paralympic Team.
  • 24 per cent of the athletes representing Canada in Sochi are either born and/or train in B.C.
  • 6 additional athletes from outside BC take advantage of the 2010 legacy facilities that make Whistler an excellent place for training camp.
  • 23 coaches and technical staff lead the Canadian Paralympic Team in Sochi.
  • 26 per cent of Canadian Paralympic coaches and technical staff are from B.C.
  • In 2010, Canadian athletes won 19 medals at the Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games: 10 gold, five silver, four bronze, finishing third in the medal count.
  • In 2010, BC-affiliated athletes won 74 percent of Team Canada’s Medals at the Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games: 7 gold, four silver, and three bronze for a total of 14 medals.