Team Canada celebrated in Ottawa, inspire next generation of athletes

Prime Minister Mark Carney, centre, wife of Prime Minister Mark Carney Diana Fox Carney, centre-left, and their daughter Cleo Carney, pose for a picture with Canadian Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Paralympian and Olympian athletes during a commemorative ceremony in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

OTTAWA — Nearly 150 Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes who competed in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games were celebrated in Ottawa, Wednesday.

The members of Team Canada started their day at Rideau Hall, where dozens of local school children were waiting to get autographs and take pictures with their idols.

Ten-year-old Ignacio Corpeno could barely contain his excitement as he got to hold freestyle skier, Megan Oldham’s gold medal.

“I have been very excited this whole time,” he said. “I am now excited to do any sport whatsoever, I don’t think it really matters as long as I have fun.”

Corpeno, who snowboards, plays soccer and hockey, says he wants to stand on a podium one day.

Asked what it takes to succeed, he said “a lot.”

“A very strong capability to not just say I quit,” Corpeno said.

Figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist, Piper Gilles said days like today are all about inspiring the next generation.

“Sport brings people together… And to be here, and to be celebrated feels great,” she said. “We are inspiring the next people to be like ‘hey, maybe that could be us one day.’ So, I think these are really important moments, and we are just really embracing it all.”

That message is shared by Paralympic bronze and gold medalist, Tyler Turner.

“What a cool opportunity to come out here, to the nation’s capital and be standing here on these grounds, with the students,” he said. “It’s pretty exciting and a lot (of) fun.”

Turner, who won a bronze medal in the men’s snowboard cross SH-LL1 final at the Milano-Cortina Games, brought his medal to pass around to the students.

“What was really cool was handing a medal around and having kids say, ‘I want one of these,’” he said. “I think there is so much from sport… And maybe we don’t all get to stand on top of a podium at the Olympics or Paralympics. However, that pursuit of a goal like that comes with community, it comes with growth and I think that’s what we can all get from sport.”

Turner says he was lucky enough to find his sport at a young age and that his passion turned into a lifelong career with a strong community of friends and colleagues. His message to kids: try a multitude of sports and have fun.

“You have to go out there and play and have fun,” he said. “Sometimes you can’t find your sport… You are looking for what you love. Do them all, try them all. Especially when you are young.”

The athletes ended their day in Ottawa at the Sir John A. MacDonald Building for a private reception with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Carney started his speech to the athletes by saying he was in the presence of greatness.

“On behalf of all Canadians, congratulations and thank you,” he told the room full of 110 Olympians and 33 Paralympians.

“At Milano-Cortina, you showed the world the very best of Canada,” he said. “You made us all so, very proud.”

Canada brought home 36 medals at the Games, including 8 golds. The athletes, Carney said, united Canada during what he called “a time of great division.”

“You reminded us as Canadians though, that we are part of something bigger,” he said. “It’s a tough world out there. It’s a more divided world. Your success, your drive, your example, your sports, your sense of sporting values united this country.”