Canadian Athletes Lead the Way in Glasgow
Kady Dandeneau, a wheelchair basketball player, and lawn bowler Ryan Bester have been selected to lead Team Canada during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Dandeneau will serve as the flag-bearer, while Bester will carry the baton into OVO Hydro. The Games are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2.
Dandeneau, who is from Pender Island, B.C., is a two-time Paralympian. She previously secured a gold medal with Canada‘s 3×3 wheelchair basketball team at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. In a statement, Dandeneau expressed her honour at being chosen, highlighting the significance of representing Team Canada and the broader Canadian sport community. She hopes her role will inspire young athletes, particularly those in adaptive sports, to believe in their potential.
Bester, from Hanover, Ont., is set to make his seventh appearance at the event. He has accumulated 18 medals across the Commonwealth Games, world championships, and Asia Pacific Championships. Bester described his selection as Team Canada‘s Baton Bearer as a humbling experience, noting the important role the Commonwealth Games have played in his career. He stated that representing Canada for a seventh time is already meaningful, and leading the team alongside Dandeneau is an unforgettable honour.
Team Canada’s Diverse Contingent
The Canadian contingent for the Commonwealth Games comprises 149 athletes. Erica Wiebe, an Olympic gold medallist in wrestling, will serve as the Chef de Mission. Wiebe previously won gold at two editions of the Commonwealth Games, in 2014, also held in Glasgow, and in 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. She noted that returning to Glasgow in a Chef de Mission role feels like a full-circle moment in her career, having achieved a significant breakthrough at the 2014 Games.
Wiebe recalled her 2014 victory, where she competed in a large stadium with 10,000 fans, describing it as a pivotal moment that built her confidence and helped set the stage for her Olympic success two years later. She emphasized that the Commonwealth Games provided a key developmental pathway for her.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are also seen as an important step for many Canadian athletes on their journey towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. It offers an opportunity to compete in a multi-sport environment that is demanding but potentially less stressful than the Olympics.
Key Athletes and Sports Represented
The track and field team includes several notable athletes, such as seven-time Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse, hammer throw champions Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers, as well as Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, Jerome Blake, Evan Dunfee, Damian Warner, and Mohammed Ahmed. World indoor champions Sarah Mitton and Christopher Morales Williams are also part of the team.
The swimming team will be led by Olympic and World Aquatics Championships medallists Kylie Masse and Josh Liendo. In artistic gymnastics, four-time Olympian Ellie Black is participating in her third Commonwealth Games, joined by world silver medallist on vault, Lia-Monica Fontaine. The men’s team features Olympians Félix Dolci, René Cournoyer, and William Émard.
Two-time Olympic medallist Maude Charron is a prominent figure in the weightlifting team. The track cycling team includes Olympians Maggie Coles-Lyster, Sarah Orban, James Hedgcock, and Tyler Rorke. Canada will also compete in 3×3 wheelchair basketball, para athletics, bowls and para bowls, boxing, judo, and para swimming.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will be smaller than previous editions, as the city assumed hosting duties in 2024 after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to rising costs. Despite a reduced sports schedule, the Games are expected to be held in world-class venues with experienced sport operations staff.
For the first time, Commonwealth Sport has allowed teams to partner with a charitable organization. Commonwealth Sport Canada has partnered with Right to Play, a global organization dedicated to protecting, educating, and empowering children, including Indigenous communities in Canada, through play. Right to Play’s logo will be displayed on Canada‘s non-competition uniforms to highlight sport’s role in fostering inclusive, equitable, and resilient communities. Erica Wiebe, an ambassador for Right to Play for over 15 years, views this partnership as a significant step towards using sport for social transformation. Fans can follow Team Canada‘s progress on CBC TV, CBC Gem, and ICI TOU.TV, with live daily coverage starting with the Opening Ceremony on July 23.
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Source: olympic.ca
As CasinoNews's Sports News Writer, Mason Leclair reports on the CFL, golf and combat sports for readers across the country. He moved from regional papers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Carleton University. Mason lives in Ottawa, where he follows the PGA Tour and mixed martial arts. “Get the facts down first, then add the context.”
