JESSICA TUOMELA APPOINTED TO COMMONWEALTH SPORT CANADA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OTTAWA (April 9, 2026) - Recognizing the integrated and growing role of parasport in Commonwealth sport, Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Tuomela to the Board of Directors as the interim Para-Athlete Representative until the next election in Fall 2026.
Jessica Tuomela is a highly accomplished Paralympian and respected leader within Canada’s sport system. A multi-sport athlete, she has represented Canada in para-swimming and para-triathlon over more than two decades, earning international medals, including a bronze at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Canada’s first medal in para-triathlon. Blind as a result of retinoblastoma, she competed at the Sydney (2000), Athens (2004), Beijing (2008) Paralympic Games in swimming highlighted by a silver medal (Sydney) and setting multiple Canadian records. After transitioning to para-triathlon, she competed in para-triathlon at the 2021 Tokyo Games earning a fifth-place finish. Tuomela became the first fully blind athlete to win gold on the World Para Triathlon Series circuit.
Beyond competition, Tuomela brings a strong commitment to athlete well-being, inclusion, and leadership. She holds a Master of Social Work and has pursued advanced studies in performance psychology, with experience spanning athlete development, mental performance, and community contribution, bringing a valuable, lived perspective to advancing a more inclusive, athlete-centered sport system.
Her appointment supports CSC’s commitment to athlete-centered governance and ensures that para-athlete perspectives are meaningfully represented at the Board table.
“Jessica brings an important and valued perspective to our Board,” said Claire Carver-Dias, President, Commonwealth Sport Canada. “Her experience as a high-performance para-athlete, combined with her leadership and insight, will strengthen our ability to make informed, inclusive decisions that support athletes across the Commonwealth Team Canada sport system.”
CSC’s Governance Committee has also been tasked with developing a proposed bylaw amendment to formalize a Board-level Para-athlete Representative position for consideration by the membership, further strengthening the organization’s commitment to inclusive and modern governance.
Tuomela serves in this interim role until the next election of CSC Directors.
“I’m proud to join the CSC Board and contribute to strengthening the athlete experience in Canada and globally,” said Tuomela. “Drawing on my experience as a para-athlete, I look forward to helping ensure athlete voices are heard and supporting a sport system that is inclusive, athlete-centered, and built to help athletes thrive in competition, in preparation, and in the moments that shape their journeys beyond sport.”
CSC continues to advance its vision of a sport system that reflects the diversity, strength, and unity of Canadians, and is committed to ensuring governance structures evolve to support that goal.
For more detailed information on Jessica, please visit: Jessica Tuomela | Paralympian & Coach
ABOUT COMMONWEALTH SPORT CANADA
Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC) is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth sport movement in Canada. CSC supports Canada’s athletes to achieve excellence at Olympic and Paralympic Games and world championships and enriches the lives of youth across the Commonwealth and hosts international Commonwealth sport events. For additional information go to: www.commonwealthsport.ca .
For more information, please contact:
Patrick Kenny
Chief Communications Officer – Team Canada 2026
Email: [email protected]
613 724 7160
