Paralympic gold medallist Lisa Franks announced as first keynote for Canadian Trail Summit

Winnipeg — From setting world records on the track to breaking barriers for accessibility in the outdoors, Lisa Franks will share her remarkable experience with Canada’s trail sector in Winnipeg next June. 

Franks — a six-time Paralympic gold medallist, mechanical engineer and nationally recognized accessibility advocate — is the first keynote presenter to be announced for the Canadian Trail Summit, a unique national gathering of trail experts and enthusiasts from across the country. The Summit, which takes place June 16 to 19, 2026 at the Delta Hotels Winnipeg, is hosted by Trans Canada Trail, the national charitable organization that advocates for, stewards and champions Canada’s nationwide trail system.  

“After my spinal cord injury, I genuinely believed my days of exploring the outdoors were over,” says Franks. “It took years of trial, error and a lot of problem-solving to realize how much was still possible when thoughtful accessibility meets an adventurous spirit. I’m excited to share the stories that shaped me and to show how inclusive trails can open up a whole new world for so many of us.” 

When she was 14 years old, Franks was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, a rare condition that required emergency surgery and paralyzed her from the neck down. After months of recovery and rehabilitation, she regained the use of her upper body and less than a year after her surgery began participating in wheelchair sports.  

Just a few years later, an 18-year-old Franks won four gold medals and a silver medal competing for Canada in wheelchair racing at the 2000 Summer Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. She won two more gold medals at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece, before switching sports to join the Canadian wheelchair basketball team, which finished fifth at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China.  

In the midst of her athletic triumphs, Franks graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2006.  

After retiring from competitive racing, she took up handcycling and adaptive mountain biking, becoming an avid trail user. This led to working with Trans Canada Trail and AccessNow on accessibility mapping, a process where trail users of a variety of abilities collect and share information about their experience on the Trail. Accessibility mapping helps people of all ages and abilities confidently use trails, while also identifying areas where barriers can be removed to improve accessibility. 

“Lisa embodies what the Canadian Trail Summit is all about: innovation, inclusion and inspiration,” said Trisha Kaplan, director of Trans Canada Trail’s Centre for Trail Excellence. “Her experience as an elite athlete, a passionate advocate and avid trail user makes her the perfect choice to inspire our attendees. We’re thrilled to welcome Lisa as our first keynote and I can’t wait for her to share her powerful message.” 

The inaugural Canadian Trail Summit will bring together trail managers, advocates, professionals, researchers and innovators from across the country to explore emerging trends, share best practices and build lasting connections that will shape the future of trails in Canada. 

The Summit will offer keynote presentations, breakout sessions, hands-on workshops and field trips over the course of four days. Delegates will also have opportunities to explore some of Manitoba’s most celebrated trails and natural spaces. Additional keynote presenters will be announced soon with the full schedule available early in 2026.  

Registration is currently open. Early-bird rates are available until Dec. 15.  

Media Contact

Justin Fauteux
Manager, Communications
jfauteux@tctrail.ca

About Trans Canada Trail

The Canadian Trail Summit is hosted by Trans Canada Trail, the organization that advocates, stewards and champions Canada’s nationwide trail system.

The Trans Canada Trail is the longest multi-use trail system in the world and it is always growing. It reaches every province and territory, and connects all three of Canada’s coastlines. Each section of the Trans Canada Trail is managed locally and supports different activities and community needs.