Merrickville’s Brian Rowland Training for Chance to Represent Canada at 2026 Paralympics Milano/Cortina Paralympic Winter Games

Merrickville — A local para-alpine skier, Brian Rowland from Merrickville, is training to represent Canada at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milano-Cortina, Italy.

In the 2021-22 season, Rowland gained international experience heading into his first Paralympic Games in Beijing, competing at two World Cups and the World Para Snow Sports Championships.

He competes in the sitting category and joined the national team in 2019 after winning the silver medal at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.

Rowland sustained a spinal cord injury after a motocross accident in 2015, but he continues to surf, mountain bike, and Jet Ski when he is off the slopes.

In Calabogie, he joined the adaptive ski program and started competing for Team Ontario in the winter of 2018. Then he joined Alpine Canada’s NextGen program the following season.

Rowland looked up to Terry Fox before his injury, the Canadian runner who ran across Canada to raise awareness for cancer research, and this admiration continues to inspire Rowland to mentor young athletes.

“Getting to the Paralympic Games comes with significant costs. From travel, airfare, accommodations, and meals to highly specialized sporting equipment—like custom seating, leg covers, shocks, outriggers, and skis —all add up quickly,” stated Rowland on his GoFundMe page.

There is a GoFundMe to help Rowland get to the 2026 Paralympic Games. It can be found here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-paralympian-brian-rowland-reach-the-2026-winter-games

Rowland stated that every dollar raised brings him one step closer to the start gate in Italy and allows him to perform at his best.

“Your support isn’t just financial — it’s fuel for my dream. It’s a reminder that I’m not racing alone. That behind every turn, every challenge and every finish line, there’s a community cheering me on,” said Rowland.