'Finally': Canadian Para athletes to be financially rewarded for medals won at Paralympics

In what's being called a game-changing moment in the sporting landscape of the country, Canadian Paralympians are now going to be financially rewarded for medals they win at the Paralympic Games beginning this summer at Paris 2024 and each edition of the Games thereafter.

The new Paralympic Performance Recognition program was announced Wednesday morning at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., with dignitaries, politicians and many athletes on hand.

Canadian Paralympians will now receive $20,000 for winning gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze. This is equal to the amount Canadian Olympians receive.

Aurélie Rivard is a 10-time Paralympic medallist – including five gold medals – and she says this is a seismic shift that will have a long-lasting impact.

«The first word that came out of my mouth was 'finally.' We've been pushing for this for a long time. I was so relieved and happy and also proud of my country, of my federation, of everybody that contributed to it,» she told CBC Sports.

«And I'm just excited also for the future generations that for them it's just going to be normal. So it's pretty exciting.»

An initial $8-million endowment created by the Canadian Paralympic Committee's philanthropic partner, the Paralympic Foundation of Canada, is creating this program to ensure a sustainable funding model.

Half the money is coming from lead donor Sanjay Malaviya, who is matching a $2-million investment from the federal government.

An additional $2-million is still yet to be raised and Malaviya will also be matching that. The Malaviya Foundation's total contribution of $4-million is one of the most significant donations in Canadian Paralympic sport history.

«We should have been doing this from the start. I'm a