Paralympian Dandeneau, Lawn Bowler Bester Named Canada’s Commonwealth Games Bearers
Sport Canada chose the pair for their leadership and achievement, with Dandeneau a two-time Paralympian and Bester a decorated lawn bowler.
- On Tuesday, Commonwealth Sport Canada announced wheelchair basketball player Kady Dandeneau and lawn bowler Ryan Bester will lead Team Canada into Thursday's opening ceremony, with Dandeneau carrying the flag and Bester carrying the baton into OVO Hydro.
- Participating national sport organizations nominated candidates evaluated on athletic achievement, leadership qualities, and community service, seeking athletes embodying the Commonwealth values of humanity, equality, and destiny.
- Dandeneau, a 36-year-old from Pender Island, B.C., won gold with Canada's 3x3 wheelchair basketball team at Birmingham 2022 and was named Wheelchair Basketball Canada's Female Athlete of the Year in 2020, while Bester, a 41-year-old from Hanover, Ont., has earned 18 medals including four gold and was inducted into the 2025 World Bowls Hall of Fame.
- Dandeneau said carrying the flag is "an honour that is difficult to put into words" and hopes to inspire young athletes in adaptive sport, while Bester called the selection "truly humbling" and stated representing Canada at a seventh Commonwealth Games alongside Dandeneau is "something I will never forget."
- The Games span July 23 to August 2 with 74 nations competing across 10 sports and six para sports, featuring Team Canada's 148 athletes and 91 officials projected to finish in the top three for total medals, with CBC broadcasting the opening ceremony Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
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Commonwealth Games: Wheelchair basketball player Kady Dandeneau and bolter player Ryan Bester will be Canada's drawers.
The Toronto Star
Paralympian Dandeneau, lawn bowler Bester named Canada’s Commonwealth Games bearers
GLASGOW - Wheelchair basketball player Kady Dandeneau and lawn bowler Ryan Bester will lead Canada's team into Thursday's opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games.
Winnipeg Free Press
Paralympian Dandeneau, lawn bowler Bester named Canada's Commonwealth Games bearers
GLASGOW - Wheelchair basketball player Kady Dandeneau and lawn bowler Ryan Bester will lead Canada's team into Thursday's opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games.
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