Bruno native Joelle Buckle has received the 2018 Leadership Excellence Award from Wheelchair Basketball Canada.

"Buckle has dedicated more than 12 years to being a community champion and leader for wheelchair sports in Saskatchewan," the group said in a news release.

Buckle created the NRG Mini Wheelchair Basketball Program in 2006 – the first sports club for youth in Saskatoon where both able-bodied athletes and those with a disability could play the sport together.

Buckle started playing wheelchair basketball in Grade 8. It was the first sport she had played since a car crash left her paraplegic at the age of four, she told Bolt FM.

“It was just really nice to be part of a team. It was very competitive, it was this exciting atmosphere to be around, so I really enjoyed it.”

She played for 15 years before turning to coaching various levels of play. Now, the 36-year-old focuses on kids aged six to 16, where her passion is seeing kids of mixed abilities learn about team sports.

“I think that’s really important for kids of all abilities and all ages, to be apart of a team and to learn how to work together as a team, and that’s something that was missing for kids with disabilities.”

Able-bodied athletes get a rare opportunity to play with their siblings and friends who have disabilities, she said. If everyone has the right equipment, it becomes hard to tell which kids have a disability and which kids don’t.

“It’s beautiful, really. The kids get to experience something where they’re not judged by their disability and they’re just another kid being able to play a sport and being part of a team.”