Please log in to join our 2021 PowerHockey Canada Summit live sessions.
We’ll start with the basics of powerhockey where attendees will learn about this distinctly inclusive parasport and how you can get involved. This will be followed up by an opportunity to learn about other powerchair sports including boccia, powersoccer and VOLT Hockey from program organizers and para-athletes.
Live closed captioning can be accessed through Google Chrome.
Find more information about closed captioning here.
As a para-athlete for over 20 years, Meghan has a wealth of experience to draw on. She has participated in Track3 skiing, horseback riding, figure skating, and powerhockey, both recreationally and competitively. Her involvement with parasports has positively impacted her at a personal level as well as in her career as a Human Resources professional. Meghan’s leadership qualities and passion for powerhockey ultimately led her to competing internationally, representing Canada at the 2019 Australian Powerchair Hockey Club Championships and 2018 IWAS World Championship, as well as becoming a co-founder and Vice President of PowerHockey Canada.
As a para-athlete for over 20 years, Meghan has a wealth of experience to draw on. She has participated in Track3 skiing, horseback riding, figure skating, and powerhockey, both recreationally and competitively. Her involvement with parasports has positively impacted her at a personal level as well as in her career as a Human Resources professional. Meghan’s leadership qualities and passion for powerhockey ultimately led her to competing internationally, representing Canada at the 2019 Australian Powerchair Hockey Club Championships and 2018 IWAS World Championship, as well as becoming a co-founder and Vice President of PowerHockey Canada.
Jennifer has over twenty years of experience in leading programs in parasport. She has worked with a variety of non-profit organizations in leadership roles, including the Canadian Paralympic Committee, the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association, Parks and Recreation Ontario, the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability, and the Ontario Special Olympics. She has served as Mission Staff at three Paralympic Games and two Parapan Games and has extensive experience throughout the Paralympic sport continuum, ranging from starting a club to developing national high-performance plans. She has also been an international boccia referee since 1994.
Jennifer has over twenty years of experience in leading programs in parasport. She has worked with a variety of non-profit organizations in leadership roles, including the Canadian Paralympic Committee, the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association, Parks and Recreation Ontario, the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability, and the Ontario Special Olympics. She has served as Mission Staff at three Paralympic Games and two Parapan Games and has extensive experience throughout the Paralympic sport continuum, ranging from starting a club to developing national high-performance plans. She has also been an international boccia referee since 1994.
Stephen has had an extensive career in empowering individuals with disabilities to lead an active lifestyle. He was the Program Director and Coaching Director at Variety Village from 1985-2009 and a founding member of the Variety Village Athletic Club which includes 8 inclusive sports and over 240 athletes. Stephen is currently the Supervisor of Outreach Promotion in Ontario with a focus on creating partnerships in the development of inclusive programming for children of all abilities. He continues his passion for coaching as the Head Coach of the Rolling Rebels wheelchair basketball team as well as the Variety VOLT Hockey team. Stephen was the Head Coach of Team Canada, Senior Men’s wheelchair basketball team at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.
Stephen has had an extensive career in empowering individuals with disabilities to lead an active lifestyle. He was the Program Director and Coaching Director at Variety Village from 1985-2009 and a founding member of the Variety Village Athletic Club which includes 8 inclusive sports and over 240 athletes. Stephen is currently the Supervisor of Outreach Promotion in Ontario with a focus on creating partnerships in the development of inclusive programming for children of all abilities. He continues his passion for coaching as the Head Coach of the Rolling Rebels wheelchair basketball team as well as the Variety VOLT Hockey team. Stephen was the Head Coach of Team Canada, Senior Men’s wheelchair basketball team at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.
Jade joined the SportAbility team in February 2017 as the Sport Development Coordinator. She graduated from Castleton University in 2013 with a B.A. in Health Psychology and a minor in Fitness and Sport Science. While attending Castleton, Jade was a member of the Women’s Varsity Hockey Team. Jade holds a Master’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia, where her thesis focused on hockey official penalty decision making. Jade has experience coaching in hockey as well. Aside from hockey, Jade enjoys playing a variety of sports such as golf, skiing, ultimate frisbee, slow pitch, and tennis.
Jade joined the SportAbility team in February 2017 as the Sport Development Coordinator. She graduated from Castleton University in 2013 with a B.A. in Health Psychology and a minor in Fitness and Sport Science. While attending Castleton, Jade was a member of the Women’s Varsity Hockey Team. Jade holds a Master’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia, where her thesis focused on hockey official penalty decision making. Jade has experience coaching in hockey as well. Aside from hockey, Jade enjoys playing a variety of sports such as golf, skiing, ultimate frisbee, slow pitch, and tennis.
Natalija is a parent of Neema Nafisvand, a player on the Vancouver Lightning (Powerchair Soccer). She joined the team in 2017 with her son, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Around the same time, she joined the team as a volunteer on the Board of Directors. After the Lightning’s manager of over 20 years stepped down in 2019, Natalija accepted the responsibility and today, with the help of another parent and many incredible volunteers, she keeps the team going strong.
Natalija is a parent of Neema Nafisvand, a player on the Vancouver Lightning (Powerchair Soccer). She joined the team in 2017 with her son, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Around the same time, she joined the team as a volunteer on the Board of Directors. After the Lightning’s manager of over 20 years stepped down in 2019, Natalija accepted the responsibility and today, with the help of another parent and many incredible volunteers, she keeps the team going strong.
Shayne De Wildt is 29 years old and has lived with Cerebral Palsy (Spastic Quadriplegia) all his life. When he was six, he and his family moved to Canada from South Africa in search of a country better designed to accommodate people with disabilities.Amid the challenges at times of life with a disability, Shayne feels that being in a power wheelchair and playing power soccer gives him a different outlook on what life has to offer.
Shayne De Wildt is 29 years old and has lived with Cerebral Palsy (Spastic Quadriplegia) all his life. When he was six, he and his family moved to Canada from South Africa in search of a country better designed to accommodate people with disabilities.Amid the challenges at times of life with a disability, Shayne feels that being in a power wheelchair and playing power soccer gives him a different outlook on what life has to offer.
The Driven To Play Fund fosters and fuels the ongoing growth and development of PowerHockey Canada initiatives. It draws on Canadians’ overwhelming passion for hockey and their unwavering commitment to their communities in order to build a bright, strong, resilient, and sustainable future for powerhockey in Canada.
Providing opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate, excel and achieve personal successes is the catalyst to the creation of the Driven To Play Fund. Fostering a community where everyone has a role and a purpose is the essence of PowerHockey Canada. As one, together we can achieve a greater understanding of each other and become a stronger country because of it. Please consider donating:
