Boccia Blast is the oldest annual boccia tournament in Canada, beginning in 1991. The 2024 Boccia Blast hosted by the London Cannonballs begins tomorrow, June 14 until Sunday, June 16 at the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

The National Open will bring some of the best boccia athletes from across Canada with representation from British Columbia, Ontario, Québec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia. The competition will include individual play only.

What

2024 Boccia Blast, hosted by the London Cannonballs Boccia Club

When

Friday, June 14
9:00 EST: Opening Ceremonies
10:30 EST onwards: Individual Competition

Saturday, June 15
8:00 – 9:30 EST: Practice
10:00 – 19:00 EST: Individual Competition

Sunday, June 16
8:00 – 9:00 EST: Practice
9:30 – 15:00 EST: Individual Competition
16:00 EST: Medals Ceremony

Where

Burnhamthorpe Community Centre
1500 Gulleden Drive
Mississauga, ON L4X 2T7

Who

Thirty-five athletes are participating in the National Boccia Open as part of the 2024 Boccia Blast hosted by the London Cannonballs, including three juniors who will partake in a side tournament.

BC1

• Andrew Hill (Mississauga, ON)
• Chris Halpen (Victoria, BC)
• Kyle Scott (Hamilton, ON)
• *Lance Cryderman (Val Caron, ON)
• Liza Puri (London, ON)
• Stephen Westcott (Conception Bay South, NL)

BC2

• Dominic Gomez (Whitby, ON)
• James Davis (Thorold, ON)
• Jamie McKee (London, ON)
• Julie Merrigan (Toronto, ON)
• Maggie Julien (Sudbury, ON)
• Nathan Bragg (Vancouver, BC)
• Thomas Mahoney (London, ON)

BC3

• Alexandre Raymond (Sorel-Tracy, QC); Ass’t: Isabelle Blette
• Bryce Desrochers (Ottawa, ON); Ass’t: Rolly Desrochers
• Carter Plumb (Brampton, ON); Ass’t: Jennifer Knight
• Clarence Merrigan (Toronto, ON); Ass’t:
• Everett Nichol (Simcoe County, ON); Ass’t: Sarah Nichol
• Jennifer Goulet (Oshawa, ON); Ass’t: Terry Goulet
• Joey Spittal (London, ON); Ass’t: N/A
• Joshua Gautier (Niagara Falls, ON); Ass’t: Joyce Gautier
• Lloyd Davis (Mississauga, ON); Ass’t:
• Michael Smith (Halifax, NS); Ass’t:
• Samuel Lafleur (Saint Dominic, QC); Ass’t: Nathalie Laflamme
• Sandra Regalo (London, ON); Ass’t: Tracey Carvell

BC4

• Giovanni De Sero (Guelph, ON)
• Martha Gustafson (Mississauga, ON)

OPEN

• Alison McKee (London, ON)
• Daniel Hutchison (Victoria, BC)
• Gordon Letke (Oshawa, ON)
• Gus Sacrey (Belleville, ON)
• Hunter Cross (Oshawa, ON)

JUNIOR DIVISION

• Addi Sharma-Bistonath (Brampton, ON)
• Aurora Whalen (Belleville, ON)
• Jaxson Girard (Shannonville ON)

NOTE: * indicates the athlete is a member of the current National Boccia Team

Interview Availability

• Shauna Simoes, Tournament Administrative Manager, London Cannonballs
• Participating athlete from your region (contact Holly Janna, Communications Lead and National Team Coordinator, Boccia Canada)

How

Follow all the action in Mississauga by consulting the results and schedule throughout the competition here. There will be live streaming available here.  

About Boccia Canada

Boccia Canada is the boccia delivery arm of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA), the National Sport Organization for the Paralympic sport of boccia. Boccia Canada is focused on providing athletes and individuals of all ages and skill with the chance to play a unique Paralympic sport. CCPSA leads, develops and grows boccia from grassroots to producing World Champions, and we collaborate with partners to increase participation of Canadians with physical disabilities in sport.

About boccia

Boccia is a Paralympic sport of precision and strategy similar to lawn bowling or curling, played by athletes with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and related disabilities. It is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart. Athletes compete in one of six sport classes based on their level and type of disability: BC1, BC2, BC3, BC4, BC5, and Open. For more information on boccia, visit www.bocciacanada.ca.

Media Contact:

Holly Janna
Email: hjanna@bocciacanada.ca
Phone Number: (514) 944-5193