John Edwards
About
John Edwards is the Founding Chair of the International Canoe Federation Paracanoe Committee.
He joined the ICF Board of Directors when he was elected as head of the ICF Canoeing for All Committee at the Congress in Rome, Italy in 2008, before becoming Chair of the first-ever Chair of the ICF Paracanoe Committee.
During his time at the helm, Mr Edwards has played a key role in propelling Paracanoe to the Paralympic stage and ensuring the discipline’s place at the Games.
Mr Edwards was in charge of the ICF’s first-ever Paralympic Games programme at Rio 2016 (six events) before leading successful bids for inclusion at Tokyo 2020 (nine events), Paris 2024 (10 events) and LA28.
The two-time Olympian has also been an important figure at Canoe Kayak Canada, working as Domestic Development Director from 1999 until 2015.
He founded Canada’s Aboriginal Paddling initiative and launched the CKC’s PaddleALL programme to provide access to the sport for paddlers with physical and/or intellectual disabilities.
Career in sports administration
1999-2015 – Domestic Development Director of Canoe Kayak Canada
2008 – Organised the first internatinal conference for Paddlers with a Disability in Montreal
2008-2012 – Chair of the ICF Canoeing for All Committee
2008-present – Member of the ICF Board of Directors
2012-present – Chair of the ICF Paracanoe Committee
2013 – co-leader and facilitor of the ICF Canoe Summit in Lausanne to promote female participation in canoeing
2021-present – Member of the ICF Executive Committee
Sports practised
Mr Edwards was a member of Canada’s Canoe Sprint national team, participating at Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976 Olympics in the men’s C1 and C2 1000m.
Honours
Mr Edwards was the recipient of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal and picked up the Lifetime Achievement award at the World Paddling Awards in 2017. He also received the World Olympians Association’s Certificate of Recognition in 2024 from IOC President Thomas Bach.
Contact
John Edwards – Chair of the ICF Paracanoe Commitee
* All ICF elected officials are required to sign the ICF Board of Directors Code of Conduct to ensure highest ethical principles are kept.
