Glasgow: Kady Dandeneau and Ryan Bester to carry Canadian flag at Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

By Liam Tremblay — 21 July 2026 — 3 min read

Canadian Athletes Lead the Way in Glasgow

Kady Dandeneau, a wheelchair basketball player, and lawn bowler Ryan Bester have been selected to lead Team Canada at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Dandeneau will serve as the flag-bearer, while Bester will carry the baton into OVO Hydro. The Games are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2.

Dandeneau, from Pender Island, B.C., is a two-time Paralympian. She previously won a gold medal with Canada‘s 3×3 wheelchair basketball team at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Expressing her sentiments, Dandeneau stated that carrying the Canadian flag is an honour that is difficult to articulate. She hopes her role will inspire young athletes, particularly those in adaptive sports, to believe in their potential.

Bester, who hails from Hanover, Ont., is set to make his seventh appearance at the event. He has accumulated 18 medals across the Commonwealth Games, world championships, and Asia Pacific Championships. Bester described being named Team Canada‘s Baton Bearer as a humbling experience, noting the significant role the Commonwealth Games have played in his career.

Team Canada’s Diverse Roster

Team Canada‘s contingent for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow comprises 149 athletes. The team includes a mix of Olympians and Olympic medallists across various sports. Erica Wiebe, an Olympic gold medallist in wrestling, will serve as the Chef de Mission for the Canadian delegation.

Wiebe has a personal connection to the Commonwealth Games, having won gold at two previous editions: in 2014, also held in Glasgow, and in 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. She noted that returning in a Chef de Mission role to where her journey began feels like a full-circle moment in her career. Wiebe’s 2014 victory in Glasgow provided her with significant confidence, which she believes was instrumental in her subsequent Olympic success.

The Commonwealth Games are recognized for bringing together athletes from 74 nations and territories, featuring both able-bodied and para sports in an integrated program. This year’s event in Glasgow is expected to be smaller than recent editions, as the city assumed hosting responsibilities in 2024 after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to rising costs.

Athletes to Watch and Community Impact

The track and field team for Canada includes several notable athletes. Among them are Andre De Grasse, a seven-time Olympic medallist, and hammer throw champions Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers. Other Olympic medallists such as Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, Jerome Blake, Evan Dunfee, Damian Warner, and Mohammed Ahmed are also part of the team. World indoor champions Sarah Mitton and Christopher Morales Williams will also compete.

The swimming team will be led by Olympic and World Aquatics Championships medallists Kylie Masse and Josh Liendo. In artistic gymnastics, four-time Olympian Ellie Black will participate in her third Commonwealth Games, joined by world silver medallist on vault, Lia-Monica Fontaine. The men’s team includes Olympians Félix Dolci, René Cournoyer, and William Émard.

Two-time Olympic medallist Maude Charron will headline the weightlifting team, while the track cycling team features Olympians Maggie Coles-Lyster, Sarah Orban, James Hedgcock, and Tyler Rorke. Canada will also have teams competing in 3×3 wheelchair basketball, para athletics, bowls and para bowls, boxing, judo, and para swimming.

For the first time, Commonwealth Sport has allowed teams to partner with a charitable organization. Commonwealth Sport Canada has partnered with Right to Play, a global organization dedicated to protecting, educating, and empowering children, including those in Indigenous communities across Canada. Right to Play‘s logo will be displayed on Canada‘s non-competition uniforms, highlighting sport’s role in fostering inclusive, equitable, and resilient communities. Erica Wiebe, who has been an ambassador for Right to Play for over 15 years, views this partnership as a significant step towards social transformation through sport. Fans can follow Team Canada‘s progress on CBC TV, CBC Gem, and ICI TOU.TV, with live daily coverage beginning with the Opening Ceremony on July 23.

Source: olympic.ca