When Rémi Ouellette transferred to Brock University, he wasn't just changing schools, he was reshaping his future.
 
A dual-sport para athlete competing in both track and field and para hockey, Ouellette has quickly made his mark, winning Brock's first-ever Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and U SPORTS para gold medals in the F41 ambulatory shot put.
 
However, his journey to this moment has been anything but easy.
 
His path to para athletics began in an unexpected place, the Jeux de l'Acadie, a cultural and athletic competition for Acadian youth. As a young athlete growing up in Haute-Aboujagane, New Brunswick, Ouellette wanted to follow his friends and earn a spot on the team.
 

That drive led him to discover para athletics, setting him on a trajectory toward national records and championship podiums.
 
Ouellette's decision to transfer to Brock was rooted in more than athletics. After spending a year at another university, he realized his passion for sport extended beyond competition.
 
The Sport Management program at Brock was the right fit, but it meant leaving behind a familiar environment, a trusted coach and teammates he had grown close to.
 
"It was hard leaving my team in Moncton," Ouellette said. "My coach had been by my side at every competition since I took up the sport. But after talking it over, we all agreed this was the best move for my future."
 
The transition wasn't without its difficulties.

"Brock has a great support program for parasport, which made my transition easier than most," Ouellette said. "From academic accommodations to accessible training spaces, I've had the support I needed to compete at a high level. But I'd love to see more promotion of para athletics at the university level. Adding more parasports to varsity programs would open doors for more athletes and make sport truly inclusive."
 
Academically, he had to adjust from learning in French to English. Athletically, he had to integrate into a new team and adapt to a different training environment. He quickly found support in Brock track and field head coach Jonathan Younker and his professors, who accommodated his demanding travel schedule as a member of Hockey Canada's NextGen para hockey program.
 
"Rémi's a competitor, and always looking to improve his personal bests," Younker said. "Shot put is a highly technical event, and he's great at listening to feedback and making adjustments. We're super proud of what he's accomplished this season."
 
Ouellette's success has come at a time when para athletics is still fighting for visibility at the university level. Despite being a two-sport national athlete, he has encountered barriers: from access to proper equipment to the need for greater inclusion in varsity sports Canada-wide.
 
"Sport is for everyone, but sometimes it doesn't feel that way," he said. "I'd love to see more para sports at the university level. Some schools in the United States are doing it, and it's time for Canada to step up."
 
His performance at the 2025 U SPORTS Track & Field Championships was another step toward raising that profile. Competing at the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse in Windsor from March 6-8, Ouellette recorded a throw of 7.69 metres to claim gold in the men's F41 ambulatory shot put.
 
The victory capped off a historic season which also featured him winning gold at the OUA Championships in February.
 
"Winning Brock's first para gold at OUAs was an amazing moment," he said. "Then to do it again at nationals…it shows what's possible when athletes are given the opportunity."

Ouellette's season isn't slowing down anytime soon.
 
After his historic gold medal wins, he has been invited to Athletics Canada's para development camp, taking place at the Toronto Track and Field Centre (TTFC) from March 24-26. The camp brings together top para athletes from across the country, providing high-performance training and development opportunities.
 
Ouellette's ambitions extend beyond the university circuit. With dreams of competing at the Paralympics in both para athletics and para hockey, he knows the road ahead will be demanding.
 
"Whether it's through an NSO (National Sport Organization) or in hockey operations, I'll always advocate for parasport," he said. "I owe so much to it, and I want to make sure the next generation has even more opportunities than I did."