Accessible sports with Paralympian Brianna Hennessy

Brianna Hennessy’s journey from a life-changing injury to Paralympic silver shows the power of resilience and community support. Born and raised in Ottawa, Brianna Hennessy is a two-time Paralympian for Canada in para canoe and para kayak. After a catastrophic accident left her paralyzed from the neck down, she found a renewed connection to sport — becoming a silver medalist and a proud flag bearer for Canada. 

With support from the Ottawa River Canoe Club and her local paddle and rugby communities, Brianna continues to push boundaries in sport while advocating for greater visibility and inclusion for athletes with disabilities.

Accessible sport environments enable adaptive and para sport success.

Adaptive sport focuses on modifying sport to meet athletes’ physical and cognitive needs at all levels of participation, while para sport primarily focuses on athletes with physical disabilities and is often linked to elite competition, such as the Paralympic Games.

Ottawa’s hosting history demonstrates its readiness to deliver adaptive and para sport events, supported by accessible infrastructure, operational expertise, inclusive accommodations, accessible transportation and trained staff.

Ottawa looks ahead to welcoming the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships and 2026 Wheelchair Rugby National Championships, showcasing the city’s ability to deliver high-performance para sport events.

Discover Ottawa's city-wide commitments to accessibility including key initiatives, accessible events and other resources for planning an inclusive trip.

Ottawa is committed to creating a sport environment where athletes and visitors of all abilities can participate fully.

Through Ottawa Tourism’s Accessibility Capacity Building Program, local businesses are strengthening their accessibility knowledge, improving infrastructure and preparing to welcome major inclusive sporting events like the 2026 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships.