OSHAWA, Ont. - Durham College Director of Athletics & Recreation Scott Dennis has been recognized by Parasport Ontario with the Community Impact Award, honouring Durham College and Ontario Tech University for their leadership and commitment to building inclusive, welcoming communities through parasport as part of the 2025 community parasport development initiative.
The award celebrates institutions that go beyond participation, creating meaningful opportunities for education, engagement and access to adaptive sport across their campuses and surrounding communities. For Durham College and Ontario Tech, that commitment has shown up through a wide range of initiatives designed to introduce parasport to new audiences while supporting athletes at every level.
One of the most visible examples came this spring, when Durham College sent a sitting volleyball team to compete at the 2025 Ontario Parasport Games in St. Catharines. The experience provided student-athletes with the opportunity to train, compete, and represent the Lords in a high-performance parasport environment, while also raising awareness of adaptive sport across the college community.
Durham College also secured funding through the Durham Region Para Sport & Recreation Opportunities Fund to support the organization of a sitting volleyball tournament at the 2025 CCAA Women's Volleyball National Championship. The initiative helped integrate adaptive sport into a national championship setting, introducing the sport to athletes, coaches, and fans from across the country.
The college's support of parasport extends beyond competition. In 2023, Durham College was a major supporter of the Parasport Games, serving as a gold sponsor and host venue for wheelchair basketball. Eight games were played on campus, bringing elite parasport competition to the Durham Region and creating opportunities for students, staff, and community members to engage with adaptive sport firsthand.
At the recreational level, Campus Recreation has played a key role in expanding access and awareness. Activity & Adaptive Sport Day events, launched in collaboration with staff and academic groups, offered students hands-on opportunities to try adaptive sports in an inclusive, educational environment. Due to strong interest, the initiative expanded into weekly programming and was opened to all students. Each session featured a variety of adaptive games designed for participants of all abilities, paired with learning components that highlighted the importance of accessibility and inclusion.
Dennis said the recognition reflects a shared commitment across both institutions to ensure sport is accessible to everyone.
"At Durham College and Ontario Tech, we see parasport as an opportunity to educate, to build community and to challenge the idea of who sport is for. Whether it's hosting major events, supporting our student-athletes, or creating recreational programming where anyone can participate and learn, our goal is to make inclusion the standard, not the exception," said Dennis.
Both institutions remain focused on expanding opportunities for adaptive sport through continued investment, education and collaboration, ensuring inclusive programming and competitive pathways remain a lasting part of campus life and the broader community.
