When Catherine Gosselin-Després saw the call for new members to join the Sport Committee, she contacted her Commonwealth Games Association without hesitation. “One of the areas they were interested in was Paralympic knowledge, and I thought I could help if they wanted me to apply,” she says. “I never expect too much; if it happens, it happens. But I was very surprised and happy to get the call in the end.”

After more than two decades at the heart of high-performance sport, it is easy to see why she was selected. Gosselin-Després has guided Team Canada through every major Paralympic and Parapan Am Games since Sochi 2014 and now serves as Chief Sport Officer at the Canadian Paralympic Committee. She brings wide experience from both Olympic and Paralympic sport, along with a practical understanding of Games operations and Athlete support systems.

“I have worked in Olympic and Paralympic sport, and I feel I understand Games,” she says. “I wanted to contribute to something different and to something that I am passionate about.”

For Gosselin-Després, joining the Committee represents both continuity and a new challenge. “I have been sitting on different sports committees domestically, like the Canada Games Sport Committee, which I have chaired for eight years,” she explains. “This felt similar, but for a different Games. I wanted to bring that knowledge and my Paralympic lens to the Commonwealth Sport Movement.”

The Sport Committee advises the  Executive Board on strategic and policy matters related to sport and partnerships with International Federations. It helps shape the programme for the Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth Youth Games and the wider Commonwealth Sport Movement, aligning its work with the vision set out in Commonwealth United, the ten-year strategic plan.

“I just want my contribution to have value,” she says. “The last thing I want as a volunteer is to create more problems for the rest of the committee and the staff.”

I wanted to contribute to something different and to something that I am passionate about.

She approaches the role with the humility and discipline of someone who has led at the highest levels. “As a new member, I like to observe first and understand the dynamics of the group,” she says. “Our first meeting was a lighter one, which is always a good way to start.”

When it comes to her contribution, she sees her strength in asking the right questions. “Our role is to ask questions around the recommendations, to discuss different ideas and see if we can come up with a better one. I think my role is asking the right questions to get to that goal, the questions that challenge and support.”

That balance of challenge and collaboration has defined her career. Having overseen Canada’s preparations for multiple Paralympic and Parapan Am Games, she knows what it takes to unite diverse voices behind a shared mission. “It is about bringing my knowledge and understanding from my own experiences to the table and seeing how they can contribute to bigger decisions for the Movement.”

A close observer of all things Paralympic Games and Para Sport, Gosselin-Després is particularly interested in how the Commonwealth Games continues to evolve as an integrated event. “Having the Commonwealth Games include Para events together is brilliant and very positive. We know the Athletes love it,” she says. “But it is also challenging. Some sports are easier to integrate than others, and it is about looking at how we do that across all sports.”

She believes the next iteration of the Games must reflect both inclusion and excitement. “We have to keep looking at the evolution of the Games, what sports should be on the programme and how we make it exciting. Having an integrated Games has huge value, but it also needs to be thrilling to watch. We need events that align with the growth of the Commonwealth Games and that attract new audiences.”

For Gosselin-Després, that means staying ahead of the curve. “It is about trying to keep ahead of the trend. What is the next sport people are going to be excited about? It is up to us to do our due diligence. Look at Rugby Sevens or 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball; those were forward-thinking additions. The challenge for the Committee is to keep that momentum.”

Beyond sport selection, she is focused on sustainability and future hosting models. “Times are changing and Commonwealth Sport’s vision for the Games Reset is really exciting,” she says. “We need to make sure our Games are sustainable. Gone are the days when governments would just hand out huge budgets to host.

Her vision is pragmatic and people-focused. “Hosting Athletes in hotels or university residences may become more common. That brings new challenges in preparation and logistics. Not having an Athletes’ Village may not be optimal for everyone, but it is up to us to create the best possible environment for all involved.”

Asked what legacy means to her, Gosselin-Després does not hesitate. “There is always the physical legacy, but for me, it is about behaviour and social impact,” she says. “The Commonwealth Games has a unique opportunity to influence that, not only from an able-bodied perspective but through Para Sport. In some countries, disability may not yet be seen as important as it should be. So how do we change those behaviours and use the power of Para Sport to improve society?”

She is mindful of sustainability in practical terms. “There is a plan to use more temporary facilities, but what happens to them after? Can they be donated to local communities? What is the impact of that? That is part of legacy too.”

Looking ahead, she defines success in both competitive and collaborative terms. “Success for the next four years is having a sports programme that attracts the best athletes and the best teams, to make it extremely competitive,” she says. “It is also about collaboration between all the CGAs so we can create great programmes together.”

There is one more goal that feels personal. “I would like to inspire more young women to apply for opportunities like this. I hope they see me getting into roles like this and think that they can do it too.”

Her voice, calm yet purposeful, reflects a leader who has built her career on preparation, inclusion and steady progress. “Our biggest challenge now is keeping the Games at the forefront of International Federations’ minds, getting them on board to see that we have a fantastic event that can help their athletes grow. We need to make the Games so relevant that they cannot imagine not being part of them.”

After a career devoted to advancing Paralympic and inclusive sport, Gosselin-Després brings what the Sport Committee needs most: experience, perspective and the determination to keep the Games evolving.