The wheelchair racer, who is Canada's Chef de Mission for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, visited capital Ottawa and Gatineau to spread her message on leg one of her trip.

"Canadians of all abilities have the right to take part in sport and live an active lifestyle," she said.

"Less than three per cent of Canadians with a disability are active in organised sports.

"That's a statistic we are working hard to improve."

Petitclerc, who has won 21 Paralympic medals including 14 golds, will be joined by Paralympians from all the areas she visits, with visually impaired runner Jason Dunkerley and his guide Josh Karanja present in Ottawa, where they watched Rio swimming hopeful Camille Bérubé take part in training while promoting their cause.

''We encourage all Canadians to get to know our athletes,'' said Petitclerc, who was inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame this year.

''Community support is crucial to every athlete's success.

"The Paralympic movement continues to grow and that is because more Canadians are getting behind our athletes.

"Sport not only builds great athletes, it builds great people."

Petitclerc is also backing the Paralympic Foundation of Canada's "Champion's Journey" fundraising campaign, which supports programs and initiatives for Canadians to be active in Para-sport.

The next stop on her tour will be Calgary on January 19, with ten cities on the schedule in all, including Montreal, Vancouver and Halifax.

Canada plans to send a team of between 170 and 200 athletes to Rio.



Related stories
October 2015: Wheelchair racing legend Petitclerc headlines Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame's 2015 inductees
September 2015: National tour of Canada will promote Paralympic sport ahead of Rio 2016