Wheelchair basketball player Kady Dandeneau named Canadian flag-bearer for Commonwealth Games
Canada’s Flag Bearers Announced for Commonwealth Games
Kady Dandeneau, a wheelchair basketball player from Pender Island, B.C., has been named Canada’s flag-bearer for the upcoming Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. She will lead the Canadian team into the event alongside lawn bowler Ryan Bester, who will carry the baton. The ceremony is scheduled to take place in Glasgow.
Commonwealth Sport Canada made the announcement on Tuesday. Dandeneau, a two-time Paralympian, previously secured a gold medal with Canada’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball team at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Bester, from Hanover, Ont., is set to make his seventh appearance at the Games and has earned 18 medals across the Commonwealth Games, world championships, and Asia Pacific Championships.
Dandeneau expressed her honour, stating that representing Team Canada and the broader Canadian sport community in this capacity is incredibly special. She hopes her role will motivate young athletes, particularly those involved in adaptive sports, to believe in their potential.
Significance for Canadian Athletes
The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as “The Friendly Games,” bring together athletes from 74 nations and territories. They feature a fully integrated program that includes both able-bodied and para sports. This year’s Games will run from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow, Scotland.
The event is considered an important stepping stone for many Canadian athletes preparing for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. It offers a chance to compete in a multi-sport environment that is demanding yet potentially less stressful than the Olympics.
Erica Wiebe, an Olympic gold medallist in wrestling, will serve as the Chef de Mission for Canada’s contingent of 149 athletes. Wiebe, who previously won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 (also in Glasgow) and 2018, noted the personal significance of returning to Glasgow in this leadership role, describing it as a “full circle moment” in her career. She highlighted how her victory at the 2014 Commonwealth Games provided crucial confidence for her subsequent Olympic success.
Team Canada’s Diverse Roster
The Canadian team includes a diverse group of athletes across various disciplines. The track and field team features several prominent names, such as seven-time Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse, hammer throw champions Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, Jerome Blake, Evan Dunfee, Damian Warner, and Mohammed Ahmed. Additionally, world indoor champions Sarah Mitton and Christopher Morales Williams are part of the team.
The swimming team is led by Olympic and World Aquatics Championships medallists Kylie Masse and Josh Liendo. In artistic gymnastics, four-time Olympian Ellie Black will compete in her third Commonwealth Games, joined by reigning world silver medallist Lia-Monica Fontaine on vault. The men’s team includes Olympians Félix Dolci, René Cournoyer, and William Émard.
Other notable athletes include two-time Olympic medallist Maude Charron in weightlifting, and Olympians Maggie Coles-Lyster, Sarah Orban, James Hedgcock, and Tyler Rorke on the track cycling team. Canada will also field teams in 3×3 wheelchair basketball, para athletics, bowls and para bowls, boxing, judo, and para swimming.
The Glasgow 2026 Games will be smaller in scale compared to recent editions, as Glasgow assumed hosting duties after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to rising costs. Despite the reduced sports schedule, the Games are expected to be held in “world-class venues” with experienced sports operations staff. Fans can follow Team Canada‘s progress with live daily broadcast and streaming coverage starting with the opening ceremony on July 23.
Source: olympic.ca
