With the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games approaching in Italy, Muskoka’s own Collin Cameron is once again ready to represent Canada on the world stage.
Cameron, who competes in sit-ski cross-country and biathlon events, departed on February 21 for the Games, which officially begin on March 6. The upcoming competition will mark his third Paralympic appearance.
Raised in Bracebridge, Cameron also spent time living in Port Sydney and Huntsville. Much of his family still resides in Muskoka, a community he credits with shaping both his athletic career and outlook on life.
“It was awesome, I had a great childhood,” he said. “Growing up in Muskoka is pretty special. You don’t have to go far to swim in the summer, everyone’s playing hockey on some sort of ice pad somewhere. It’s a really supportive community.”
In 2021, Cameron relocated to Canmore, Alberta, a central hub in Canada for cross-country skiing, to fully immerse himself in the Para Nordic skiing world and train alongside his coaching staff and teammates. While skiing is more prominent in Canmore, Cameron said the strong sense of community there reminds him of home.
“You still get to know a lot of people and everywhere you go, people recognize you and there’s just that feeling of belonging and community. That’s pretty much the same between both places.”
Cameron’s introduction to para sport began with sledge hockey and looking to branch out, he discovered a sit-skiing group online in 2015. Within a month, he flew to Canmore to attend an identification camp and by 2016, he was racing competitively.
Cameron captured three bronze medals at both the 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympic Games. In Beijing, he made history as the first Canadian male sit-skier to reach the podium in a cross-country distance race.
Despite battling illness and injury over the past two seasons, Cameron was determined to get back on his skiis. He earned two silver medals at the Para Cross-Country World Cup and followed that with gold and silver at the Para Biathlon World Cup, both held in Canmore in December 2025.
When he’s not training, Cameron enjoys spending time outdoors with his fiancé and fellow teammate, Christina Picton, who will also be competing in the Paralympic Winter Games. In the warmer months, they roller ski, and in winter they are often on the ice or snow, playing sledge hockey or cross-country skiing.
“We just have so much joy in getting to do what we do, so even if it’s not a training session, we’re still going out because we love doing it,” Cameron said.
Throughout his career, Cameron said the strong and unwavering support of family, friends, and teammates has been critical to his success.
“I consider myself very lucky to have the people I have around me,” he said. “It helps keep me grounded and reminds me why I’m doing this. It would have been so much harder if I didn’t have these connections. It truly takes a community.”
Cameron credits Picton as one of his main supporters, noting that as his teammate and partner, she understands what he goes through both physically and mentally. Cameron also gave a special mention to his nephew, whom aside from his mother, he considers his biggest fan.
“Just having those check-ins and little phone calls, and hearing about how his day was and him always reminding me that he can’t wait to watch us at the Paralympics – it’s just so motivating.”
Following the Games, Cameron and Picton plan to spend the spring in Canmore before moving back to Ontario to be closer to family.
As for retirement, Cameron said that’s not on his radar any time soon.
“I’m still very much driven and motivated to compete… and if I qualify for another Paralympics, then that’s great,” he said. “That’s what I’m still inspired to do and that’s what I’m still finding joy in doing.”
