Northern Lights Women's Development Program

I am beyond excited and honoured to be part of the Northern Lights team. Our team will be representing Canada at the first-ever Women's Wheelchair Rugby Championship in Paris this December 2026. This is a huge step toward getting the Women's game into the Paralympics — giving girls and women a shot to showcase their talent on the world stage.

Wheelchair rugby is built for athletes with both upper and lower extremity impairments, a group that already has limited access to high performance opportunities at the Paralympic level. For women in this sport, that gap is even wider. A dedicated women's division fixes that. It means a level playing field, a real benchmark for what women in this sport can do, and a legitimate path to the Paralympics. 

Wheelchair rugby  is also a uniquely Canadian Sport, it was actually invented in Winnipeg back in 1976, by a group of athletes who were driven to create equitable opportunities to showcase their athleticism and commitment to high performance sport.  That same drive is what's fueling this next chapter — Canadian women pushing a Canadian sport toward its biggest stage yet.

Supporting our team helps us pave the way for the next generation, and get us one step closer to a Paralympic berth. Anything you can offer - time, money, sharing our stories helps support the growth of this program and the push for the Paralympics. 

Thank you!!!

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The Northern Lights Women’s Development Program is a volunteer-led initiative, delivered in collaboration with Wheelchair Rugby Canada, dedicated to growing participation and elevating the visibility of women in wheelchair rugby.

Women remain underrepresented in the sport, despite growing interest and momentum worldwide. World Wheelchair Rugby has publicly called for the creation of a women’s division at the Paralympic Games, making this a pivotal moment to invest in the future of the sport and gender equity at the international level.

The Northern Lights are helping lead that change. By creating training and competition opportunities across the country, the program brings women together to train, compete, and develop at a high level.

In 2025, the Northern Lights made history at the Rugbymania tournament in Prague, becoming the first all-female team to compete in an international mixed-gender wheelchair rugby competition. Building on that momentum, the program has continued to advocate for greater opportunities, contributing to the creation of the first-ever Women’s Wheelchair Rugby National Championships.

This progress has led to another historic milestone: the first Women’s Wheelchair Rugby World Championships, taking place in Paris this December. The Northern Lights are now fundraising to support athletes and staff as they prepare for and compete on the world stage.

Your support helps make all of this possible. Donations directly fund athlete development, training camps, travel, and competition opportunities, ensuring more women have the chance to participate and excel in wheelchair rugby.

Be part of this movement. Help us continue to break barriers, create opportunities, and represent Canada at this landmark moment for women’s wheelchair rugby.