The Canadian Paralympic Committee has announced the athletes and coaches who will make up Team Canada at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games ©CPC

The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) has released the full list of athletes and coaches who will represent the country at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, to be held from September 7 to 18.

Canada will take a total of 162 athletes to compete in 19 sports, including the two new Paralympic sports of Para-triathlon and Para-canoe.

Team Canada is led by Chef de Mission Chantal Petitclerc and assistant Chef de Mission Norm O'Reilly.

"Congratulations to this entire group of dedicated, world-class athletes and coaches who have worked relentlessly to earn the honour of representing Canada in Rio," said Petitclerc, a 14-time Paralympic champion wheelchair racer.

"I know that our Canadian contingent is prepared, focused and ready to take on the challenge of Team Canada's performance goal of placing in the top 16 nations in the total medal count."

Canada will be aiming to improve on their medal tally at London 2012.

They won a total of 31 medals, including seven golds, with four of those coming in the swimming pool.

The most accomplished athlete on Team Canada heading to Rio is swimmer Benoit Huot, with 19 Paralympic medals including nine golds ©Getty Images
The most accomplished athlete on Team Canada heading to Rio is swimmer Benoit Huot, with 19 Paralympic medals including nine golds ©Getty Images

Canada's team includes seven athletes recently added as a result of additional quota spots due to Russia not participating in Rio.

This is because of the suspension handed out by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) after the doping scandals in the country.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected Russia's appeal against the sanction.

The new additions include swimmers Camille Bérubé, Zack McAllister, Jean-Michel Lavallière and Danial Murphy, wheelchair fencer Mathieu Hébert and road cycling tandem duo Shawna Ryan and pilot Joanie Caron.

Canada's oldest athlete in the squad is 59-year-old table tennis player Stephanie Chan, while the youngest athlete is 13-year-old swimmer Danielle Doris.

The most accomplished athlete on the team heading to Rio is swimmer Benoit Huot, who boasts 19 Paralympic medals including nine golds.

The Rio-bound athlete who has competed at the most Paralympic Games is wheelchair basketball player Tracey Ferguson, for whom Rio will be her seventh Paralympics.

The full Canadian squad can be viewed here.