This commemorations culminated in Elisabeth Walker-Young, the four-time Paralympic swimmer now Canadian Chef de Mission for Toronto 2015, acting as Master of Ceremonies for the Parliament Hill Christmas Lights Across Canada Illumination Ceremony in Ottawa.

This was billed as an attempt to raise the profile of team members in the North American nation's quest to become the "world's leading Paralympic nation", with "enhancing the visibility and awareness" of athletes a key priority.

Attention has also been drawn towards the Canadian Paralympic Committee's (CPC) "From Playground to Podium" fundraising campaign, launched yesterday, which has already raised CAD $24,000 (£13,000/$21,000/€17,000).

Funds raised will help the CPC deliver its world-class programmes, with the campaign running until December 31 and more information on how to contribute available here. 

"Today is an exciting milestone, a day that reminds us to continue to advance the important work of improving opportunities, accessibility and investment in parasport," said CPC President Gaétan Tardif.

"Looking ahead to 2015, the Year of Sport in Canada, we are optimistic and energised by a strong 2014 and look forward with great anticipation to the upcoming home Games in Toronto, as well as future Paralympic Games and the next generation of champions."

Toronto 2014 Chef de Mission, Elisabeth Walker Young, switched on the Christmas Lights to mark the high-point of the celebrations ©CPC



Preparations are already well established for the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games, it was claimed, with the Games, due to take place from August 7 to 15 next year, with a team of approximately 200 Canadian athletes aiming to finish in the top three on the medals table.

Rio 2016 and Pyeongchang 2018 are also on the horizon, with "planning, consultations and visits well under way in order to help provide Team Canada's athletes and coaches with optimal environments for excellence".

Canada will be hoping to improve upon a disappointing 20th place finish on the London 2012 medals table, where they won just 31 medals, seven of them gold, as well as their third place at Sochi 2014, where they also secured seven golds.

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