Joel Ewert (middle) is flying to Paris tomorrow to compete in the 2024 Summer Paralympics

By Tommy Osborne

Local Paralympian

Prince George Paralympian receives huge sendoff party

Aug 16, 2024 | 4:55 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Canada Games Plaza was packed today, as many community members attended the sendoff party for Paralympian Joel Ewert.

“The Paralympics is a dream come true for me, something I’ve been working towards for a long time. Sometimes you’re putting in work, not really knowing where it’ll lead, but for it to end up with the Paralympics is really special, and I’m really excited to get things started,” Ewert said.

Ewert is one of 12 members of Team Canada’s wheelchair rugby team, and while the Paralympics begins on August 28 Ewert is flying to Paris tomorrow. Ewert’s sendoff party saw a huge turnout, which Ewert was incredibly great for.

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“To see people come out, whether it was family members, friends, teachers or coaches or just members of the public, to come out and send me off… it put into perspective just how much people really had to support me to get to this moment,” Ewert said.

“It takes a village with a child, and the village has come out to support him,” said Bonita Ewert, Joel’s father.

“We really appreciate everybody taking time out of their day to come and support him for this day,” added Joel’s father Jim Ewert.

Joel explained he’s been part of the National Team program since 2019, and has been working within that framework to be selected

“I’ve kind of gone from being on the long list to being in the top 12. If you were to ask me last June, what I thought the odds that I would be heading off to my first Paralympics, I would have probably told you 3%. And, now, here we are,” Joel said.

“You’re always just waiting for that opportunity. I was waiting for the opportunity for a long time to crack the top 12 on the roster,” he continued.

Among the many in attendance was Joel’s first coach: Pat Harris. Harris says seeing Joel make it to Team Canada and compete in the biggest para-athlete competition in the world has been incredibly special.

“I remember meeting him for the first time, and he was just a little guy, six years old, perhaps. But even then, you could see that he had a competitive spirit in him, and he wanted to play,” Harris said.

MLA for Prince George – Valemount Shirley Bond helped organize the event, and having known Joel for many years she is incredibly proud to see him go to his first ever Paralympics. Beyond the obvious excitement of having someone from Prince George compete on the world stage, Bond added Joel is a fantastic person to represent our community.

“He has integrity. He is absolutely determined and hard working. He’s a great public speaker. He cares about his community. And here’s what’s impressive: not only is he a Paralympian, he is going to be a student at the Northern Medical Program right after he gets back from the Paralympics,” she said.

While rugby will of course be the main focus for Joel, he added he’s excited to go to Paris and spend time with his teammates and meet other fellow Paralympians.

“It’s those times in the airports, those times hanging out with your team in the village and playing card games and things like that. Those are the memories that you really hold on to,” Joel said.

Wheelchair rugby will begin on August 29, and the Paralympics as a whole will begin on August 28.

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