Dragon Boat Canada is committed to encouraging inclusion, equity and access in its administration, policies, programs and activities.
Dragon boat Canada is an inclusive community and has opportunities to participate anywhere from the recreation level to representing Canada in international competitions.
Para Dragon Boat racing is included in the Canadian Dragon Boat Championships.
Canadian Para National Dragon Boat Team – 2025 World Championships Recap
The momentum that began in 2023, when Canada’s first National Para Dragon Boat Team competed in Thailand, carried forward into 2025. With greater awareness and recognition, more athletes than ever set their sights on earning a place on the team. The result was a roster of disciplined, driven, and committed paddlers who proudly represented Canada on the world stage in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany.
The Canadian Para National Team competed in every race division, demonstrating the strength and discipline built from countless hours of training—qualities that define Canada’s national athletes.
Throughout the championships, the team navigated a number of logistical and procedural challenges, from equipment requirements to podium access. They worked collaboratively with organizers, helping to communicate necessary accommodations and offering guidance on how the sport could be made more inclusive for all participants. It was a learning process for everyone involved, and the team’s professionalism, patience, and focus ensured that they could perform at their best while helping the sport continue to evolve.
Their hard work and relentless commitment were reflected in the results, bringing home a combined 7 medals.
PD1
2k – Gold
200m – Gold
500m – Gold
PD2
2k – Gold
1k – Silver
200m – Gold
500m – Gold
The 2025 World Championships were a milestone for Canada’s Para National Dragon Boat Team—one that showcased the skill, dedication, and professionalism of athletes who continue to push the sport forward.
Looking for how to make your Club more accessible and supportive to Diverse Ability Paddlers?
Check out this informative webinar from the DBC Para Committee!
Check out the SIX A's of Inclusive and Accessible Dragon Boating
FEATURED PARTICIPANT
Kim Kuipers
From the moment you meet her, there’s little about Kim Kuipers that isn’t delightful. Kim is a chipper, easygoing 67-year old with a mop of silvery hair and an infectious laugh, her cheerfulness paired with an enduring passion to do good things for the world and to do them well. A veteran of the sport, she’s been dragon boating since 2013, starting with Hamilton’s Lively Dragons and culminating in the Para Dragon category at the Canadian Club Crew Championships. Last year (2024) she founded the Extra Special Livelys: a dragon boating team for paddlers with special needs.
Read More about Kim's story here.
PAST FEATURED PARTICIPANTS
- Ioana Gandrabur - From Bach to Boats
- Ron Pelletier - Eyes in the Boat (Montreal QC) Reflections of a Blind Athlete
- Sandro François - From Stroke-Survivor to Dragon Boater
- Sydney Spraggs - Off-Balance But Community-Grounded: Canada’s First Dragon Boat Team for Paddlers with MS
Para Athletes are represented in DBC through the Para Athlete Committee. The Chairperson is Shannon Dales. For more information contact the Para Athlete Committee at director@dragonboat.ca