As Wheelchair Rugby prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in Winnipeg in 2027, the official logo for the 2027 Wheelchair Rugby Nationals is more than a mark of the milestone. It reflects the sport’s history, the strength of its athletes and the Indigenous culture and heritage deeply rooted in Manitoba. 

The crest began with an original piece of artwork by Winnipeg-based Indigenous artist Jacqueline “Jackie” Traverse. Inspired by the sport of wheelchair rugby and her Anishinaabe culture, Traverse created an illustration featuring a warrior’s shield, a bear paw and feathers. The artwork would later become the centerpiece of the 2027 National Championships crest, with graphic designer Brandon Lewandowski crafting the concept into a cohesive logo representative of the event. 

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Traverse is an Ojibway artist from Lake St. Martin First Nation. A multi-disciplinary artist, she works across a variety of mediums, including oil and acrylic painting, mixed media, stop-motion animation and sculpture. Her work draws heavily on her Indigenous culture and her experiences as an Indigenous woman living in Winnipeg. 

For Traverse, the inspiration behind the original artwork began with a familiar feature of the sport: the wheel. 

“The wheel of the rugby wheelchair reminded me of a warrior’s shield,” explained Traverse. “I chose to put the bear’s paw on the shield as the Bear represents courage in Anishinaabe culture.” 

A sport that demands physical strength, resilience and a competitive spirit, wheelchair rugby reflects many of the qualities Traverse wanted to capture in her design. 

“I think it takes a courageous person to play this sport and you must have strong hands and arms to do so, which is why I chose the bear paw as the totem on the warrior shield.” 

From there, Lewandowski worked to translate Traverse’s original artwork into a cohesive, event-ready crest. Through the vectorization of the illustration and the addition of typography, dates, and other design elements, he brought the various components together while preserving the meaning and artistic vision behind the original piece. 

The finished crest also carries significance beyond the sport itself. Manitoba is home to a diverse Indigenous population, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples, each with distinct histories, cultures and traditions. First Nations in Manitoba include a number of distinct peoples, among them Cree, Dakota, Dene, Ojibway and Oji-Cree. As an Ojibway artist from Lake St. Martin First Nation, Traverse brings her own cultural perspective to the Nationals logo through her original artwork, recognizing a part of Manitoba’s Indigenous heritage while celebrating a milestone event in the city where wheelchair rugby first took shape. 

For Wheelchair Rugby, returning to Winnipeg in 2027 carries particular significance. As the birthplace of the sport, the city will welcome athletes, coaches, officials and supporters from across the country to celebrate 50 years of competition, community and growth. 

With Traverse’s artwork at its heart, the 2027 National Championships crest connects the strength and spirit of wheelchair rugby with the cultural heritage of the place where it all began.