City honours Paralympic, Olympic volleyball athletes at nationals

Several members of the Canadian Paralympic women's sitting volleyball team and the Olympic women's beach volleyball team signed autographs at volleyball nationals at the Edmonton Expo Centre on May 18, 2025. (Connor Hogg/CTV News Edmonton)

Volleyball Canada held its nationals competition in Edmonton over the long weekend, and members of Canada’s Olympic medal-winning teams were here for it.

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Several members of Canada’s bronze-winning Paralympic sitting volleyball squad, including Edmonton’s Heidi Peters, were in attendance at the Edmonton Expo Centre, as well as Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson, who won silver in beach volleyball in Paris last year.

All the athletes were presented with certificates by Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

Peters said Sunday it’s great to see Paralympic and Olympic volleyball players recognized together.

“To see our sport and the Paralympics elevated and recognized more and more within Volleyball Canada, have young volleyball players recognize me ... that’s really cool,” Peters told CTV News Edmonton.

“That just speaks to what Volleyball Canada has done, what our program has done, and what is happening with volleyball in general. There’s a huge uptick in the sport.”

After the ceremony, the athletes signed autographs and took photos with volleyball fans attending nationals.

The tournament continues next weekend.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Connor Hogg