National AccessAbility (NAAW) Week
National AccessAbility Week (NAAW), which takes place from May 31st to June 6th, is a week dedicated to celebrating the contributions of Canadians with disabilities, highlighting the efforts of accessibility allies and organizations, and promoting ongoing work to remove physical, systemic, and societal barriers.
For more information about NAAW, please click HERE.
In support of NAAW, Ontario Cycling is proud to share the Paracycling initiatives that we are currently executing.
HCC/OC Parafestival
The HCC/OC Parafestival took place in Petawawa from Thursday May 28 to Sunday May 31 and brought together 14 dedicated athletes from across Ontario and Quebec for a dynamic and inclusive event celebrating adaptive sport. Supported by a team of skilled coaches, mechanics, committed volunteers, and essential support staff, the festival created an encouraging environment for participants to develop their skills, build confidence, and connect with others in the para-sport community. The collaborative effort behind the scenes ensured the athletes could comfortably focus on training and development, making the event a meaningful and memorable experience for everyone involved.
An experienced handcyclist shared their thoughts about the camp:
“This was the most incredible camp. The level of inclusion, planning, safety, professionalism. It was amazing. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it.”
A first-time handcyclist attended the festival with no prior experience and shared their feelings:
“This camp was honestly unforgettable and even better than what I had imagined. It was so nice meeting you all, riding together, and getting to know such amazing athletes, coaches and volunteers. Huge thanks to Mike (Trauner), all our coaches, the team, and everyone who made the weekend feel like a family!”
Ontario Cycling would like to extend our sincere thanks to Roger Koert (HCC) along with Mike Trauner and Leah Cuffe, for their leadership and dedication in organizing the Parafestival. Your hard work and commitment helped make the event a truly memorable and impactful experience for everyone involved. We also gratefully acknowledge the support from the Government of Canada’s Canadian Sport for All Initiative, which provides funding to help remove barriers to participation in sport. Additionally, thank you to the Town of Petawawa, including Mayor Gary Serviss and the Council Members, whose ongoing commitment to inclusive sport and community initiatives made this festival possible. Your collective efforts created a welcoming and inspiring environment for all athletes, coaches, support staff and volunteers. Lastly, a special thank you to the Quality Inn (Petawawa) for your gracious hospitality.
Try It Opportunities
Try-Its are opportunities for participants to experience handcycling (road) or tandem cycling (track and road – for athletes with visual impairment) in a supportive, low-pressure environment, with expert level guidance from trained coaches, staff and volunteers. Handcycling allows individuals with limited or no lower-body mobility to propel a bike using their arms. Tandem cycling, where a sighted pilot rides in the front and a visually impaired or blind rider (stoker) sits behind, creates a safe and collaborative way to enjoy cycling while developing trust and communication. These programs not only promote physical activity and well-being, but also foster community connection, helping participants discover new recreational opportunities and, for some, pathways into high performance para sport. Individuals who express an interest in continuing on in the sport will be provided with access to Play-It opportunities where they deepen their understanding of the sport to begin their journey and start training and developing. Some examples of Try-It success stories include athletes transferring from other sports to compete in the Canada Summer Games within one season!
Team Ontario (Para) @ Road Nationals
Ontario will be selecting athletes to represent Team Ontario at the 2026 Canadian Para-Road Championships which will take place in Saint-Georges, Quebec on June 25-28. The Para-Cycling events will include a Time Trial on Thursday June 25 and a Road Race on Saturday June 27. The team will be supported by Coaches David Jack and Mike Trauner, Mechanic Andrew Doble and Team Manager Michael Selliah.
