Help get local athlete and the rest of Team Canada to Norway

Taylor Clark

Without corporate backing, $40,000 stands in the way of a local athlete and her team donning the maple leaf on a global stage.

Born and raised in Gatineau, Émilie Charron-Pilotte always dreamed of representing Canada.

“My inspiration comes from a Paralympian from Aylmer, Jean Labonté,” said Charron-Pilotte. “He is the one who inspired me a lot to follow my dream of pushing myself to one day make the national team.”

Charron-Pilotte began her journey in Para hockey in 2017 and has played defence on the national team since 2022. If the team can raise the necessary funds, it will be Charron-Pilotte’s third time competing at the Women’s World Challenge hosted by World Para Ice Hockey.

From October 25 to 28, teams will face off for the first time outside of North America in Skien, Norway. Team Canada Women’s Para Ice Hockey is not funded under Sports Canada for its High Performance program, leaving athletes to pay expenses out of their own pockets.

A fundraiser was launched to cover costs and even with sponsors like Canadian Tire and Bauer Hockey, the team is faced with high travelling expenses.

“(Women’s Para hockey is) in a phase where we want to go to the Paralympics. And for that, we must develop the sport,” said Charron-Pilotte. “If we can raise awareness of the sport and develop it, that is our biggest goal for Team Canada.”

The competition will set the course for the first-ever Women’s World Champions in 2025 and a step toward including women’s Para hockey in the Paralympics Winter Games.

While Para hockey was changed from a men’s event to a mixed tournament in 2010, only three female athletes in history have ever competed at the Paralympic level, none of whom were Canadian.

“Once you actually have the flag and you’re on the ice representing your country, it’s very emotional. I remember the first time I heard the national anthem when I was in my jersey on the ice. I was very moved. But it’s also true that it brings a lot of responsibility.”

Now living in Luskville, Charron-Pilotte is constantly training and striving for her best. “When I am unmotivated for my training, things like that, I remind myself of this responsibility that I have to wear the maple leaf.”

Along with the Women’s Para Hockey of Canada’s main fundraiser, each player has a separate donation page which can be found at www.wphcanada.com. The community can support the main fundraising campaign and Charron-Pilotte’s donation page until October 19.