Meet Collinda Joseph: Paralympic Gold medalist & PR alum

Posted on Thursday, March 26th, 2026

Team Canada competes in wheelchair curling at the 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympic Games.

Team Canada competes in wheelchair curling at the 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympic Games.

On Saturday, March 14, the Canadian Paralympic Wheelchair Curling team, nicknamed the ‘cardiac Canadians’ for keeping their edge-of-your-seat performances, faced China in the gold medal match and emerged victorious. 

Ottawa’s Collinda Joseph was the lead on Team Canada’s Wheelchair Curling Team at the recent 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympic Games. Joseph has an impressive record in the sport, competing in four previous world championships and bringing home a bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics.

Collinda Joseph competes with the Canadian Paralympic Wheelchair Curling Team competes against China at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Cortina, Italy on March 10, 2026.

Collinda Joseph competes with the Canadian Paralympic Wheelchair Curling Team against China at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Cortina, Italy, on March 10, 2026.

“Sport can be an equalizer. When you share with other players in the game, you’re talking about the sport, not my disability,” Joseph said.

“There can be a lack of connection when sports are not available to everyone. Sports can create a great community for people to connect to,” she continued.

Joseph noted that the broadcasting coverage on CBC has really helped to highlight the games, with more airings in 2026 than in previous years.

Wheelchair curling is generally a quiet spectator sport. At the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games, in the tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic, spectators were not allowed in the facility. This time, Joseph described the atmosphere as “electric, spectacular and wonderful”. In the stands, between friends and family of the team and other Canadian fans, there was a group of about 60 people cheering for Canada.

Joseph is an alumna of Algonquin College’s Public Relations program, working as a Manager of Accessibility & Education at Accessibility Standards Canada by day, supporting and advocating for accessibility in seven priority areas from an equitable lens.

“The media training we received in the Public Relations program, both on-camera and off-camera, was invaluable. It really helped me prepare for these moments now when I am being interviewed,” she said of becoming a public figure in parasport.

For aspiring athletes, Joseph shared, “it’s not always a straight line to the Paralympics. The process can take time; there are times when it doesn’t go well, and when it’s going really well. Both can be difficult to manage, so it’s important to surround yourself with people who can assist and support you.” Joseph works with a mental performance coach to help navigate the highs and lows of her career, like returning to the day-to-day after an exhilarating gold-medal experience.

“I’m so grateful for the support from my husband, kids, and many people in my family. Community in my family, curling and work are all important and at times they crossover. I’m lucky to have such great support and cheerleaders with me.”


Comments

Comments are closed.