Breaking Barriers: Canada Running Series Adds Wheelchair Division to Major Races

Breaking Barriers: Canada Running Series Adds Wheelchair Division to Major Races 

Canada Running Series (CRS) has taken a major step forward in championing inclusivity and accessibility in road racing by introducing a wheelchair division to three of its marquee events: the Vancouver Half Marathon, the Under Armour Toronto 10K, and the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. This expansion underscores CRS’s commitment to ensuring that athletes of all abilities have equal opportunity to participate and compete. By making these races more accessible, CRS is helping to create a more inclusive environment where adaptive athletes can thrive alongside their able-bodied peers.

The addition of the wheelchair division is not just a change in format—it’s a meaningful opportunity for connection, achievement, and growth within the running community. Longtime CRS wheelchair racer and adaptive racing consultant Mike Greer shared, “Being part of an Adaptive Racing community, I love to welcome athletes who are new to the sport or are transitioning from being an able-bodied runner to one of the many adaptive racing disciplines and help them on their journey. The running community as a whole is very supportive of athletes with disabilities, and makes it one of the main reasons I love road racing.” Greer’s experience highlights the welcoming nature of the organization to adaptive athletes and the essential role it plays in fostering a strong, united community.  

Beyond the wheelchair division, these races also offer an Athletes with a Disability (AWD) program to support the participation of athletes with varying needs. The program offers a dedicated space at the race venue for AWD participants, a free GUIDE bib program, and volunteers to support athletes’ journey to the start line and post-race experience. The AWD program allows further participation and collaboration with organizations like Achilles Canada, a non-profit that provides people with various disabilities an opportunity to benefit from the physical, psychological, and community benefits of running. “We are thrilled to see Canada Running Series doing what they can to make all their races accessible and inclusive to all athletes with disability including the new wheelchair division for this year’s Under Armour Toronto 10K” noted Brian McLean, president of Achilles Canada.  

Paralympian Josh Cassidy has raced with the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon for the past three years, supporting the event as it grows its adaptive racing program. Josh reflected on the significance of this development: “For years I lived in Toronto, and watched the runners go by my condo every year during the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. It has been so great to finally have a wheelchair division. It has been such a fun and special experience these last few years to race on the streets of the city I love, seeing familiar faces… an experience that is accessible to everyone!” As CRS continues to break down barriers in the sport, stories like Greer’s and Cassidy’s demonstrate the transformative power of inclusive racing—where every athlete, regardless of ability, has the chance to feel the joy of the finish line.