Joel Ewert is a Prince George resident and Team Canada wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby athlete, who has a passion for education as he pursues his goal of becoming a cardiologist.

Joel, who already completed his first degree in biomedical studies at the University of Northern British Columbia, is currently working on his second degree in First Nations studies as he tries to get into medical school.

Born with cerebral palsy, Ewert was first introduced to wheelchair basketball by the Harris family in Prince George as a 5-year-old. Ewert met Pat, Avril and Nancy Harris at an event, and the family encouraged him to give wheelchair basketball a try.

After nearly two years without meaningful competition due to the pandemic, Ewert had plenty of meaningful competition on the schedule this year. In addition to the U23 Worlds in Thailand, Ewert also represented Canada at the U23 Americas Zone qualifier and was part of Team BC’s gold medal victory at the Junior National Championship in Charlottetown, P.E.I.