At just 23 years old, Raphaëlle Tousignant has already built a remarkable career in Canadian sport: one defined by determination and an unwavering passion to keep moving forward.

Raphaëlle grew up in Terrebonne, Quebec, in a family where hockey was part of everyday life. As a child she loved sports and played ringette, spending as much time on the ice as possible. Then, at the age of 10, her life changed dramatically.

Raphaëlle was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer that most often affects children and adolescents. To treat the disease, her right leg was amputated. It was a devastating moment for a young athlete. But it also marked the beginning of a new chapter.

After her surgery, Raphaëlle was invited to watch the Montreal Canadiens play, an experience that reignited her love for hockey. Soon after, her father introduced her to para hockey, a version of the sport designed for athletes with physical disabilities. From the moment she got onto the ice sled, she knew she had ‘found her place’. By age 14, Raphaëlle had already earned a spot on Canada’s women’s para hockey team, quickly establishing herself as one of the country’s most promising players.

Her talent and perseverance made history in 2023, when she became the first woman ever selected to play for Canada’s national para hockey team at a major international competition, competing at the World Para Ice Hockey Championship in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. For Raphaëlle, it was one of the defining moments of her career. “It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life as an athlete,” she shared. “It had a huge impact on my entire life.”

Her sights were set firmly on the future: particularly the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy. Para hockey at the Paralympic Games is technically mixed-gender, but only a select handful of women have ever competed. Raphaëlle was determined to become the first Canadian woman to play for the national team at the Paralympics. But in November 2025, while training and preparing for the next stage of her career, Raphaëlle received another life-changing diagnosis.

She had breast cancer.

Sharing the news publicly, she reflected on the shock of hearing the words again after already facing cancer once as a child. 

“I never thought I would say those words again: not now and not anytime soon,” she shared.

For Raphaëlle, the diagnosis came at a pivotal moment. The months ahead had been meant to represent the final push toward Paralympic selection. Instead, her focus shifted to treatment, including chemotherapy and planning for a double mastectomy.

Yet the mindset that carried her through childhood cancer remains the same.

“I’ve been here before,” she told us. “I’ve learned how to fall and get back up. I’ve learned how to breathe through pain and hold on to my positivity.”

Even during treatment, Raphaëlle continues to train and remain connected to the sport she loves. Each workout and each moment on the ice now carries an even deeper purpose. Her journey has not been without disappointment. She learned she would not be selected for the 2026 Paralympic Game: a difficult moment for an athlete who had worked toward that goal for years.

Still, Raphaëlle refuses to let that define her future.

Instead, she has already set her sights on the 2030 Winter Paralympics in the French Alps. With the continued growth of women’s para hockey, she knows the sport will continue opening the door for even more athletes to compete.

Beyond the rink, she is using her platform to educate and inspire others. Sharing her story, advocating for her sport, and even exploring a future career in sports journalism.

Raphaëlle’s story is a powerful reminder that breast cancer can affect people at any age, including young adults who are building careers, pursuing education, and chasing lifelong dreams.

Across Canada, more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Continued investment in research is essential to ensure earlier detection, more personalized treatments, and improved outcomes for patients of every age and stage.

Through our commitment to advancing research and improving care, Breast Cancer Canada is working to ensure that people like Raphaëlle have access to the best possible treatment when they need it most.

For Raphaëlle, this moment is only part of a much larger story.

“This is another chapter,” she said. “Not the whole story.”

And as she has proven time and again, Raphaëlle Tousignant is not done writing her story.