From Podium to Power: New Leadership Reshapes Canadian Para Sport Governance

OTTAWA, ON – July 24, 2026

A significant shift in the architecture of Canadian Para sport governance is underway. The Canadian Paralympic Athletes' Council has selected decorated Paralympians Heidi Peters as its new chair and Christina Picton as vice-chair. More than a standard leadership transition, this move plants two of the nation's most accomplished active athletes directly onto the Canadian Paralympic Committee's (CPC) Board of Directors, signaling a decisive step toward embedding the athlete voice at the very core of strategic decision-making.

Peters, a three-time Paralympian in sitting volleyball, and Picton, a dual-sport athlete in Para nordic skiing and Para ice hockey, bring a wealth of contemporary, on-the-ground experience to the highest levels of the organization. Their appointments are not just symbolic; they represent the culmination of a global movement toward athlete-centric governance, where lived experience is treated as a critical strategic asset. As the CPC navigates its ambitious 10-year plan and prepares for upcoming Games in Milano Cortina and Los Angeles, the influence of these new leaders will be pivotal in shaping the future for Canada's Para athletes.

A New Guard with a Clear Vision

Heidi Peters and Christina Picton are not just administrators; they are champions forged in the heat of international competition. Peters, who captained Canada's women's sitting volleyball team to a historic first-ever Paralympic bronze medal at Paris 2024, steps into the chair role after serving as vice-chair and interim chair. Her leadership is tested and proven, both on the court and within governance structures, having also been elected chair of the World ParaVolley Athletes' Commission in 2024.

Her immediate goals are clear and tactical. "My current goals for the council are for us to increase two-way feedback with NSO Para athlete reps and the larger Para athlete population, ensure NSO Para athlete reps are valued and effective in their organizations, and gather Paralympic athlete data," Peters stated. This focus on communication infrastructure and data-driven advocacy points to a sophisticated understanding of modern governance.

Christina Picton brings a uniquely diverse perspective. As a two-time Paralympian in Para nordic skiing and the captain of Canada's women's Para ice hockey team—which secured silver at the inaugural women's world championships in 2025—she embodies the dedication required to excel across different sporting disciplines and seasons. Her election ensures that both summer and winter athletes have a powerful advocate in the room.

"I'm excited to bring my energy, passion, and commitment to this role as we continue to empower the voices of Para athletes and help strengthen the Paralympic Movement as a whole," said Picton. "A huge congratulations to Heidi on being elected chair – an incredibly well-deserved appointment. I'm looking forward to collaborating with her and the rest of the council on the many initiatives ahead."

From Advocacy to Authority: The Boardroom Seat

The most strategically significant aspect of these appointments is the dual role Peters and Picton will play. As chair and vice-chair of the Athletes' Council, they represent the collective voice of their peers. As members of the CPC Board of Directors, they now have a direct hand in wielding organizational power, influencing policy, and overseeing resource allocation.

This structure is a direct fulfillment of a key tenet in the CPC's own 2023-2033 Strategic Plan, which explicitly commits to "establishing Para athlete representation and direct voice in decision-making at all levels." While the CPC has a history of including athlete representatives, placing the active, newly-elected leaders of the Athletes' Council on the Board solidifies this commitment. It transforms the council's role from a purely advisory body making recommendations to an integrated component of the governing authority.

This shift is critical. In sports governance, proximity to power determines influence. By having a seat at the table, Peters and Picton can ensure that discussions about funding, high-performance strategy, safe sport, and athlete wellness are grounded in the reality of the athlete experience. Their ability to provide firsthand insights can help preempt policy missteps and ensure that resources are directed where they are most effective, moving beyond theory and into practical, impactful application.

Addressing the Gaps: A Data-Driven Approach

Peters’ explicit goal to "gather Paralympic athlete data" is perhaps the most telling indicator of the new leadership's strategic direction. It signals a move away from relying solely on anecdotal evidence and toward building a case for change with hard numbers. In the modern economy, data is a currency of power, and the same is true within the complex ecosystem of sport.

By systematically collecting information on athlete needs, challenges, and experiences, the Athletes' Council can build a powerful evidence base to advocate for targeted improvements. This data could illuminate systemic gaps in support, identify trends in athlete well-being, and provide a quantifiable rationale for investment in specific programs. It addresses a known challenge in athlete advocacy: the difficulty of translating individual concerns into systemic policy change.

Furthermore, the focus on empowering National Sport Organization (NSO) Para athlete representatives speaks to a desire to build a more resilient and effective advocacy network. Ensuring these reps are "valued and effective" means equipping them with the tools, support, and standing to create change within their own sports. It is a strategy of distributed leadership, creating a stronger and more responsive system from the ground up rather than relying on a top-down approach.

Strategic Timing for a New Era

These leadership changes are not happening in a vacuum. They are perfectly timed with the rollout of the CPC's ambitious 10-year vision, which is built on two pillars: creating "Best Prepared Teams" for Games excellence and unleashing the "Power of Para Sport" to foster a more inclusive Canada. The success of both pillars is intrinsically linked to authentic athlete engagement.

To field the "Best Prepared Teams" for the Milano Cortina 2026 and LA28 Paralympic Games, the CPC must have an unfiltered understanding of what athletes need to succeed. The robust, two-way feedback loop that Peters aims to build is the essential mechanism for gathering that intelligence. To harness the "Power of Para Sport" and amplify athlete voices to drive societal change, the organization needs credible, empowered, and visible leaders like Peters and Picton at the forefront.

The new seven-member Athletes' Council, which also includes Nathan Clement, Brianna Hennessy, Collinda Joseph, Melanie Labelle, and Marissa Papaconstantinou, represents a formidable group with diverse experiences. With terms extending through the LA28 and LA30 Games cycles, this council is positioned not just to advocate for the present but to strategically shape the long-term trajectory of the Paralympic Movement in Canada.