Para nordic star Wilkie, hockey captain McGregor named Canada's flag-bearers for Paralympics opening ceremony

Hockey captain Tyler McGregor and Para nordic skier Natalie Wilkie will be Canada’s Paralympic flag-bearers for the Milano-Cortina opening ceremony on March 6, the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced Friday morning.

McGregor, 31, will make his fourth Games appearance looking to add to silver medals in 2018 and 2022, and 2014 bronze.

The 25-year-old Wilkie from Salmon Arm, B.C., is a triple Paralympic champion with seven medals heading to her third Winter Games.

“I almost leapt out of my chair,” Wilkie told Anastasia Bucsis of CBC Sports about being told she was co-flag-bearer. “I wasn’t thinking of the role of flag-bearer heading into the Games, but it’s obviously been a dream of mine. It’s cool to get that honour, and to do it with Tyler as well.”

Natalie Wilkie and Tyler McGregor named as Canada's Paralympic flag-bearers

McGregor and Wilkie will not lead a parade of Canadian athletes at Verona Arena for the opening ceremony but will be filmed at separate Paralympic villages as they will open competition the following day in Italy.

No Canadian athletes will attend the opening ceremony, as the arena is located at least two hours away from where athletes are staying (Milano, Val di Fiemme, or Cortina). Like the flag-bearers, most are scheduled to compete the following day.

“What a tremendous honour,” said McGregor. “I’m so excited to share it with Natalie and represent Canada at the Paralympic Games. For both of us, and all athletes, we’re so proud to be Canadian and can’t wait to [compete].”

In May 2025, McGregor captained Canada’s silver-winning squad at the World Para Hockey Championship in Buffalo, N.Y. A year earlier, the native of Forest, Ont., helped the Canadians to their first World Para Ice Hockey