Merrickville Paralympian Brian Rowland races toward Paralympic dream after life-changing accident

Community rallies behind Brian Rowland’s Paralympic journey

Merrickville Paralympian Brian Rowland is pushing toward his dream of competing for Canada at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Paralympic Winter Games.

Ten years ago, Rowland’s life changed after a devastating accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. 

Despite unimaginable challenges, his passion for sport never faded.

He spoke about how mentally challenging it was to recover after the accident.

He said his background in snowboarding and motocross helped him develop the strength and skill needed for para alpine skiing.

Rowland will soon head to British Columbia for intensive training that includes hours on the slopes, workouts, and performance analysis.

He said he’s more than grateful for the strong support from the community.

Rowland also shared a message of encouragement for young people pursuing their dreams.

He reflected on the pride of representing Canada at the Games.

So far, Rowland’s GoFundMe campaign has raised over $8,000 of his $9,000 goal to help cover training, travel, and equipment costs.

Donate to Brian's GoFundMe through this link: Fundraiser by Brian Rowland : Help Paralympian Brian Rowland Reach the 2026 Winter Games

Story by: Evan Gibb

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