By Nick Butler

Elisabeth Walker-Young has been appointed Chef de Mission for Toronto 2015 ©Robbie GallaugherElisabeth Walker-Young has been appointed Chef de Mission of the Canadian team for the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games, it was announced today. 


It continues a recent trend by the Canadian Paralympic Committee of appointing former athletes to the role.

The position will be particularly significant next year because the Games take place on Canadian soil for the first-time ever and it is hoped a 200 strong home team will finish in the top three places on the medals table. 

The 37-year-old Walker-Young, who was born in Toronto, was formerly a member of the Canadian Paralympic swimming team for 13 years, and won three gold, one silver and two bronze medals across Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

She also broke numerous Canadian and world records and was team captain for more than half of her career, before announcing her retirement after Athens.

Since then she has worked for regional curling governing body Curl BC as educational programmes manager, along with a variety of other roles promoting sport and healthy lifestyles.

But it is in an administrative capacity she has been most successful and, as well as working for the Organising Committee ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, she was appointed Canada's assistant Chef de Mission at London 2012.

There she served under another top athlete in the 14 time Paralympic gold medal winning wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc. 

Former swimmer Elisabeth Walker-Young in action before retiring from the sport to take up administrative roles ©Benoit Pelosse/CPCFormer swimmer Elisabeth Walker-Young in action before retiring from the sport to take up administrative roles ©CPC









"I'm honoured and thrilled to be named the Chef de Mission for the Canadian 2015 Parapan Am Team," said Walker-Young.

"This is the culmination of years of focus and hard work as an athlete, of contributions as a volunteer and experiences working in the sport sector.

"It is these experiences, memories and skills from my participation in sport and the values I learned along the way that I hope to share with the athletes and coaches of Team Canada, to help them reach their goals.

"I'm excited to be leading the Canadian Team on home soil in what promises to be our best Parapan American Games yet.

"These Games will be integral preparation and provide a marker for our athletes with their eyes set on Rio 2016."

Elisabeth Walker-Young had been Deputy Chef de Mission for Team Canada at London 2012 ©Getty ImagesElisabeth Walker-Young had been Deputy Chef de Mission for Team Canada at London 2012 ©Getty Images

The reasoning behind the appointment of Walker-Young was explained further by Canadian Paralympic Committee President Gaétan Tardif.

"Elisabeth's contribution to the London Paralympic Games as assistant Chef de Mission was spectacular," he said.

"I couldn't be happier to have her leading the largest Parapan American Canadian Team ever in her native Ontario.

"There is great value in Canada hosting international events and I know Elisabeth will help Team Canada's athletes and coaches make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of competing at a home Games.

"Just being around Elisabeth is motivating and she has a natural rapport-building ability that I know the team will appreciate and benefit greatly from."

"Elisabeth is now a respected sports administrator and is uniquely suited to this leadership role, she brings an important athlete perspective to her work."

The Toronto 2015 Para-Pan American Games is due take place from August 7 until 15, 2015 and will feature 1,608 athletes from 28 countries competing in 15 sports.

At the last Parapan American Games, in Guadalajara in Mexico in November 2011, Canada finished eighth on the medals table with 63 medals, including 13 gold.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2014: Canada launches search for Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games Chef de Mission