(MONTREAL, Que.) – Wheelchair Basketball Canada (WBC) was thrilled to announce its major award winners and Hall of Fame inductees during the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League (CWBL) Final in Montreal, Que., on April 12, 2025.
Following standout performances qualifying for and in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Patrick Anderson and Kady Dandeneau won the titles of Male and Female Athlete of the Year. Meanwhile, up-and-coming star Ibrahim Odza was recognized as Junior Athlete of the Year. Chantal L’Écuyer (Leadership Excellence) and Sam Graham (True Sport Award) were recognized for their incredible contributions to the sport at the community level.
The Hall of Fame welcomed three new members: Paul Bowes (Coach), Joey Johnson (Athlete) and Anne Lachance (Classifier).
“On behalf of Wheelchair Basketball Canada, I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients for their exceptional achievements and unwavering commitment to the growth of wheelchair basketball,” said WBC CEO Wendy Gittens. “I would also like to recognize Paul, Joey, and Anne for their well-deserved induction into the WBC Hall of Fame. Each of them has made remarkable contributions to the sport, both on and off the court, and their distinguished legacies truly embody the spirit of this honour.”
Keep reading to learn more about the 2024 Awards and Hall of Fame class.
Male Athlete of the Year – Patrick Anderson
A key member of the Senior Men’s National Team, Anderson played a pivotal role in securing Canada’s spot at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. He delivered 23 points and 12 rebounds in a thrilling 72-60 win over Italy at the Men’s IWBF Repechage Tournament to cement a spot in Paris.
Competing in his sixth and final Paralympic Games, the 45-year-old—who had the honour of serving as Canada’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony—led the team with a double-double in the bronze medal match, helping Canada to a fourth-place finish, its best result in over a decade.
Anderson also spent the 2024 season playing professionally in Bilbao, Spain.
Female Athlete of the Year – Kady Dandeneau
Dandeneau was instrumental in helping the Senior Women’s National Team secure a spot at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, leading Canada with 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a dominant 88-30 win over Algeria at the IWBF Repechage Tournament in Osaka, Japan.
She then delivered a standout performance at her second Paralympics, averaging 23 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game as Canada achieved a fourth-place finish—its best result in two decades. Her run in Paris included impressive triple-doubles against both the Netherlands and Spain.
A native of Pender Island, B.C., Dandeneau also spent the 2024 season playing professionally in Spain with ADM Econy Gran Canaria.
Junior Athlete of the Year – Ibrahim Odza
Odza has emerged as one of Canada’s premier young athletes, driven by an unwavering commitment to personal growth and team success.
At the 2024 Junior East Championship, he led Team Ontario 2 with a seven-point performance, guiding his squad to a regional title and earning Division 1 MVP honours in the process.
Hailing from Toronto, Ont., Odza continued to elevate his game on the international stage, representing Canada’s NextGen squad at the 2024 Kitakyushu Champions Cup—a key showcase for top talent eyeing spots on the Under-23 National Team.
Leadership Excellence – Chantal L’Écuyer
A tireless volunteer and champion of inclusion, L’Écuyer is a founding member of her local club, Les Aigles de Valleyfield in Valleyfield, Que. There, she leads with passion and humility, ensuring her athletes have every opportunity to thrive. Her impact is felt beyond the court through the initiatives L’Écuyer spearheads to advocate for accessibility within her community.
True Sport Award – Sam Graham
In 2013, Graham was awarded the True Sport Award as a player with the Ottawa Royals. Over a decade later, he received the honour a second time as he has remained “a beacon of positive energy” throughout his transition into leadership roles with the Ottawa Carleton Wheelchair Sports Association.
Graham’s love for the game has been instrumental in growing the club, leading to a 150% increase in participation and opening new doors for community interaction. By creating an environment where athletes feel seen, supported and inspired, he builds more than programs—he builds community.
Hall of Fame : Paul Bowes (Coach)
Bowes originally joined WBC in 1993 as an assistant coach with the Senior Men’s National Team and served in that role till 2005, helping Canada win gold at the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games. He was named the head coach in 2005 and led Team Canada to a gold medal victory at the 2006 World Championships. Most recently, Bowes served as head coach of Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team at the 2023 Parapan American Games.
Hall of Fame : Joey Johnson (Athlete)
Johnson was a force with the Canadian Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team, competing in five Paralympic Games, winning three Gold Medals and a Silver Medal. The Lorette, Man., native also won a World Championship title in 2006. Off the court, Johonson is helping Canada’s next generation of wheelchair basketball players achieve their dreams. He is currently the Executive Director of the Manitoba Wheelchair Sports Association.
Hall of Fame : Anne Lachance (Classifier)
Lachance was introduced to wheelchair basketball in 1991 and took up the sport as an athlete, first with the Gladiators and then with the Zodiaks. An injury turned her attention to classifying in 1995. Anne, an occupational therapist by trade, has been a classifier or chief classifier for WBC-sanctioned events since 1998. She has been a member of the IWBF Classification Commission since 2002 and the Classification Chairperson of the Americas Zone chapter of the IWBF since 2015.
For a complete list of previous Awards and Hall of Fame winners, visit the Wheelchair Basketball Canada website.
About Wheelchair Basketball Canada
Wheelchair Basketball Canada (WBC) is the national sports governing body responsible for the organization of the sport in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to excellence in developing, supporting, and promoting wheelchair basketball programs and services from grassroots to high performance for all Canadians. Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport in which Canada is held in high esteem worldwide for winning six gold, one silver, and one bronze medal over the last nine Paralympic Games. WBC will host the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships from September 9-19, 2026.
For more information on WBC, please visit Wheelchairbasketball.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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For more information, please contact:
Dhiren Mahiban
Communications & Digital Media Manager
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
C: 416-574-6682
dmahiban@wheelchairbasketball.ca