Birthdate: April 15, 1991
Hometown: Markham, ON
Canoe Club: Balmy Beach Canoe Club
Sport: Paracanoe
Coach: Ryan Blair

Andrea started paddling at the beginning of 2018 after meeting Ryan Blair at the Paralympian Search event in Toronto. Her first year she focused on learning proper technique and worked her way up to a competition level. After a successful Nationals event in 2018, she went on to the 2018 PanAm ParaCanoe Championships in Dartmouth, NS.

She is excited to see where the next year will take her!

RECENT RESULTS:

Nationals 2018 – Silver in Open Para K1 Women
Nationals 2018 – Silver in Para KL2 K1 Women

FOLLOW THIS ATHLETE:

Instagram: @andreanels

Birthdate:February 8, 1988

Hometown: Shawinigan

Canoe Club: Shawinigan Canoe Club

Sport:Paracanoe

Coach: Marc Creamer / Hélène Gervais

Mathieu’s first year on the paracanoe national team was in 2017 and he is coached by Marc Creamer and Hélène Gervais. Mathieu is from Shawinigan and trains at the Shawinigan Canoe Club in Québec.

FUN FACTS:

Why canoe kayak? I love being on the water and seeing the beauty of nature

What is the best thing about canoe kayak? It allows me to forget my handicap

Describe the sport in one word: Freedom

Role model: Serge Corbin

Superhero: Rocky

Birthdate: August 16 1996

Hometown: Toronto, ON

Canoe Club: Balmy Beach Canoe Club

Sport: Paracanoë

Coach: Peter Martinek

Erica Scarff starting paddling in 2013 when it was suggested to her by her coach at the time, Mari Ellery at a prothestic clinc. Scarff, a gymnast before her amputation, was already into sports as a teenager despite her disability dabbling in swimming, cycling and alpine skiing. She actually had to chose between racing on slopes or on flatwater!

Scarff burst on the national scene in 2013 earning a gold medal in the K1 200m at the Canadian Championships. She has since represented Canada at many international events, including World Championships and the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio where she placed 7th in the KL3 200m event.

At age 12, Scarff was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that Terry Fox had. She says she is inspired by how Fox fought the cancer and was able to launch his Marathon of Hope.