Durham College receives 2026 CCAA Community Service Award
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The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) is proud to announce that Durham College is the recipient of the 2026 CCAA Community Service Award. Presented annually, the award recognizes a member institution that has developed and implemented an outstanding community relations initiative or demonstrated continued growth and impact through an existing program. This year’s competition featured an exceptionally strong field of nominations from across the country, highlighting the meaningful work being done by CCAA member institutions within their communities. Durham College stood out for its innovative and growing parasport initiative, “Sport is for everyBODY!”, which has created inclusive and accessible opportunities for students, athletes, and community members alike. Launched in conjunction with hosting the 2025 CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship, the initiative has quickly evolved into a multi-faceted program focused on expanding awareness, participation, and access to parasport both on campus and throughout the broader community. As part of the championship, Durham College partnered with Parasport Ontario to host the inaugural college and university sitting volleyball tournament, helping showcase the importance of inclusivity and accessibility within collegiate sport. The institution also secured funding through the Durham Region Para Sport & Recreation Opportunities Fund to support the purchase of parasport equipment and future programming initiatives. Building on that momentum, Durham College introduced several new initiatives throughout the 2025-26 season, including Parasport Try-It Week, which gave students the opportunity to experience wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and sledge hockey through interactive sessions led by Parasport Ontario and elite parasport athletes. Paralympian Shayne Smith and Team Canada sledge hockey player Aubree Clements also participated, sharing their experiences and helping inspire students through conversations around inclusion, resilience, and high-performance sport. Durham College also established a weekly sitting volleyball program that led to the formation of two competitive club teams competing across Ontario, while integrating parasport experiences directly into academic programming for students in Kinesiology, Recreation Therapy, and Fitness and Health Promotion. The institution’s commitment to accessible sport has continued through hosting major parasport events, including the 2025 Wheelchair Basketball National Championships and national team training camps, while future plans include the launch of ParaRecFest and a Parasport Summer Camp designed to further expand inclusive sport opportunities for youth and community participants. For its efforts, Durham College was also recognized by Parasport Ontario with the Community Impact Award, celebrating the institution’s leadership in creating welcoming and inclusive sport environments. Through collaboration, education, and community engagement, Durham College’s “Sport is for everyBODY!” initiative has helped foster a more inclusive campus culture while demonstrating how collegiate athletics can create meaningful and lasting community impact. The 2026 CCAA Community Service Award was presented during the CCAA Annual General Meeting and Hall of Fame Gala on June 16 at Collège Montmorency. The national award recognizes outstanding community engagement initiatives among CCAA member institutions and celebrates programs that create meaningful impact both on campus and within the broader community. |
