(OTTAWA, Ont.) – – Canada’s top wheelchair basketball athletes are travelling to Durham Region to represent their province in a best-on-best competition at the 2025 Wheelchair Basketball Canada (WBC) National Championships, from May 23-25, 2025.
Presented by ONPARA and Sport Durham, the event will feature Men’s, Women’s and 3×3 divisions, showcasing the speed, skill and determination that define one of the world’s most popular and competitive adaptive sports.
“We are thrilled to have ONPARA and Durham Region host the 2025 Wheelchair Basketball National Championship,” said WBC CEO Wendy Gittens. “This event will highlight the exceptional talent of our athletes and the power of sport to unite and inspire communities across Canada.”
Athletes will compete for national titles in front of fans, media and community supporters at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre at Durham College and Ontario Tech. The 2025 Nationals tips off Friday, May 23, at 8 a.m. and concludes with the gold medal games beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 25.
“We’re proud to bring this national event to Durham Region and highlight the high performance, inclusivity and excellence of wheelchair basketball,” said Steffan Lemon, Sport Tourism Specialist with the Regional Municipality of Durham. “Hosting this incredible event in Durham Region builds on the legacy of the 2019 and 2023 Ontario Parasport Games and gives fans the opportunity to witness the elite level of competition and talent Canada has to offer.”
As part of the three-day tournament, attendees will have several opportunities to engage with the sport, including a research session which is open to all on Saturday, May 24, from 12:45-1:45 p.m. WBC has partnered with uOttawa and Western University to understand awareness and participation in wheelchair basketball better. This working session will allow each participant to contribute to developing strategies and tools that will impact recruitment and retention in wheelchair basketball.
Additionally, women and girls of all ages are invited to participate in the Girls Enabled And Ready (G.E.A.R.) to Play event on May 24 from 12:30-2 p.m. G.E.A.R. is a women-only wheelchair basketball program that invites women and girls of all ages, physical abilities and experience to play in an inclusive and social environment. The event is free and will occur at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre. Register for the G.E.A.R. event here.
Spectators will have the opportunity to try wheelchair basketball and meet some competitors. Admission to the championships and parking are both free.
“We’re encouraging our community to Be the Roar and fill the stands with fans,” said Anthony Lue, Championships Co-Chair. “It’s a great opportunity for families and for team building. As a dual parasport athlete, I can attest to how much spectators elevate the experience for the athletes.”
Event at a Glance
- What: 2025 Wheelchair Basketball Canada National Championships
- Who: Canada’s top men’s and women’s provincial teams
- When: May 23–25, 2025
- Where: Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, 21 Avenue of Champions
Durham College & Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Ont., L1G 8G3
Games will be live streamed on WBC’s YouTube channel. Full schedule, results, and event updates can be found here.
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