A decade and a half ago, Toronto-born songwriter Paul DeRosa wrote “Shine,” a deeply personal song in honour of his cousin and friend Pat Ferrari, who has lived paralysed from the waist down since the age of two as result of a car crash. Now, as Canada’s Paralympians train for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, that song is bringing inspiration to Team Canada and their families, friends, and fans around the world as their official theme song.

OTTAWA and TORONTO, June 18, 2019 /CNW/ - The Canadian Paralympic Team will shine on the international stage next year with a new soundtrack, as the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada'sParalympic Network, announced today their official theme song for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. 

The Canadian 2020 Paralympic team will be bringing a piece of Mississauga with them for the upcoming summer games in Tokyo. Thanks to the city’s own Paul DeRosa, whose song Shine has been announced as the official theme song for the team.

The Canadian Paralympic team has never had an official song dedicated to them — until now. 

The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and CBC/Radio and Canada’s Paralympic Network announced on June 18 the new theme song for Tokyo 2020. 

Paul DeRosa is the songwriter behind the new Canadian Paralympic theme song, “Shine.”

Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila was handpicked by CBC Music producers to provide the lead vocal on "Shine," the new Canadian Paralympic theme song for the games in Tokyo 2020. (CBC Music)

The Canadian Paralympic team is currently preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, and now they have a rousing new official song to propel them across the finish line.