Rick Hansen
Encyclopedia
Richard M. Hansen, CC
, OBC
(born 26 August 1957) is a Canadian Paralympian
and an activist for people with spinal cord injuries
. Following a car crash at the age of 15, Hansen sustained a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down. Hansen is most famous for his Man In Motion World Tour. He was one of the torchbearers
and brought the flame into the stadium to light one of the final torch lighters in the 2010 Winter Olympics
. At the opening ceremony
for the 2010 Winter Paralympics
his story was shown on a huge wraparound screen, before Hansen took the stage and spoke to the crowd.
, Rick Hansen grew up in Williams Lake, British Columbia
. As a young athlete, he had won all-star awards in five sports when he was paralyzed at the age of 15 from being in the back of a truck when it swerved off the road and crashed into some trees. He worked on rehabilitation, completed high school, then became the first student with a physical disability to graduate in physical education
from the University of British Columbia
. Hansen won national championships in wheelchair volleyball and wheelchair basketball
teams. He went on to become a world class champion wheelchair marathoner and Paralympic
athlete. He competed in wheelchair racing at both the 1980
and 1984 Summer Paralympics
, winning a total of three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. Hansen won 19 international wheelchair marathons, including three world championships. He also coached high school basketball and volleyball. Hansen had a very close relationship with his family, especially with his father and grandfather, with whom he enjoyed frequent fishing trips.
, who had lost a leg to bone cancer
, undertook the Marathon of Hope, intending to run across Canada from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island
to raise awareness for cancer research. He made it from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Thunder Bay, Ontario
, before a cancer recurrence forced him to stop, about two-thirds of the way through his journey. Inspired by Terry's courage, Hansen decided to undertake a similar journey for spinal cord injury research. But his planned path was far more ambitious: he planned to circle the world in his wheelchair.
He embarked on his Man in Motion World Tour on 21 March 1985 from Oakridge Mall in Vancouver
. Although public attention was low at the beginning of the tour, he soon attracted international media attention as he progressed on a 26-month trek, logging more than 40,000 km through 34 countries on four continent
s before crossing Canada. He returned to Vancouver's BC Place Stadium
to cheering crowds of thousands on 22 May 1987 after raising $26 million for spinal cord research and quality of life initiatives. Like Terry Fox, he was hailed as an international hero.
Today, the wheelchair and many other items associated with the Man In Motion World Tour are preserved by the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The song "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)
" was written in his honor by Canadian record producer and composer David Foster
and British musician John Parr
and performed by Parr for the soundtrack of the film St. Elmo's Fire
. It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
in the United States
in September 1985.
Heart of a Dragon http://www.heartofadragonmovie.com is the soon to be released film based on Hansen's Man in Motion Tour. Over twenty years ago, Michael French flew with a film crew from Vancouver, British Columbia to Beijing and documented Hansen's entrance into Beijing with over 1 million Chinese heralding his arrival as a hero.
The Blusson Spinal Cord Centre is fully accessible, with no need to display the wheelchair disability sign, and integrates research with care. The centre is home to the Brenda and David McLean Integrated Spine Clinic, which provides one-stop outpatient care for people with spinal cord injuries or diseases of the spine. Rick Hansen Foundation programs including the Rick Hansen Institute (formerly the Spinal Cord Injuries Solutions Network) and the Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion and Ambassador programs are also located in the centre.
The province has previously contributed $17.25 million to spinal cord injury research and quality of life – $2.25 million to the B.C. Leadership Chair in Spinal Cord Research at the Rick Hansen Institute at UBC and $15 million to the Rick Hansen Foundation in support of its ongoing work to help improve the lives of people with spinal cord injuries.
Hansen has served as chair of both the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society and the Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund Society, helping to restore and protect sturgeon and salmon populations in British Columbia.
Hansen earned a bachelor's degree
in Physical Education in 1986 from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
.
on June 29, 1987. His citation reads:
Hansen was named Commissioner General for the Canadian Pavilion at Expo '88
in Brisbane
, Queensland
, Australia
. In 1986, a township
in Sudbury District, Ontario
, previously named the Geographical Township of Stalin, altered its name to the Township of Hansen in the athlete's honour. It is now within the boundary of the municipality of Killarney
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OBC
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
(born 26 August 1957) is a Canadian Paralympian
Paralympian
A Paralympian is an athlete who has participated in the Paralympic Games.A Paralympic athlete has a physical disability. The disability can be amputation, spinal cord injuries, visual impairment or cerebral palsy. An exception is the sighted guides for athletes with a visual impairment...
and an activist for people with spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injury
A spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease. Depending on where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence...
. Following a car crash at the age of 15, Hansen sustained a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down. Hansen is most famous for his Man In Motion World Tour. He was one of the torchbearers
Olympic Flame
The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928...
and brought the flame into the stadium to light one of the final torch lighters in the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
. At the opening ceremony
2010 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Paralympics was held on March 12, 2010 beginning at 6:00 pm PST at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada....
for the 2010 Winter Paralympics
2010 Winter Paralympics
The 2010 Winter Paralympics, officially the X Paralympic Winter Games, or the 10th Winter Paralympics, were held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from March 12 to 21, 2010. The Opening Ceremony took place in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the Closing Ceremony in Whistler...
his story was shown on a huge wraparound screen, before Hansen took the stage and spoke to the crowd.
Early life
Born in Port Alberni, British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Rick Hansen grew up in Williams Lake, British Columbia
Williams Lake, British Columbia
Williams Lake, is a city in the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Located in the central part of a region known as the Cariboo, it is the largest urban centre between Kamloops and Prince George, with a population of 11,150 in city limits....
. As a young athlete, he had won all-star awards in five sports when he was paralyzed at the age of 15 from being in the back of a truck when it swerved off the road and crashed into some trees. He worked on rehabilitation, completed high school, then became the first student with a physical disability to graduate in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. Hansen won national championships in wheelchair volleyball and wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball is basketball played by people in wheelchairs and is considered one of the major disabled sports practiced. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole...
teams. He went on to become a world class champion wheelchair marathoner and Paralympic
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
athlete. He competed in wheelchair racing at both the 1980
1980 Summer Paralympics
The 1980 Summer Paralympics were the sixth Paralympic Games. They were held in Papendal, close to the host city of Arnhem, Netherlands, from June 21 to 30, 1980.- Sports :...
and 1984 Summer Paralympics
1984 Summer Paralympics
The 1984 Summer Paralympics were the seventh Paralympic Games to be held. They were held in two separate locations, Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom and in the Mitchel Athletic Complex and Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, United States of America The 1984 Summer Paralympics were the...
, winning a total of three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. Hansen won 19 international wheelchair marathons, including three world championships. He also coached high school basketball and volleyball. Hansen had a very close relationship with his family, especially with his father and grandfather, with whom he enjoyed frequent fishing trips.
Man In Motion World Tour
In 1980, fellow British Columbian and Canadian athlete Terry FoxTerry Fox
Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox , was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research...
, who had lost a leg to bone cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, undertook the Marathon of Hope, intending to run across Canada from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
to raise awareness for cancer research. He made it from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thunder Bay is a city in and the seat of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario, and the second most populous in Northern Ontario after Greater Sudbury...
, before a cancer recurrence forced him to stop, about two-thirds of the way through his journey. Inspired by Terry's courage, Hansen decided to undertake a similar journey for spinal cord injury research. But his planned path was far more ambitious: he planned to circle the world in his wheelchair.
He embarked on his Man in Motion World Tour on 21 March 1985 from Oakridge Mall in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. Although public attention was low at the beginning of the tour, he soon attracted international media attention as he progressed on a 26-month trek, logging more than 40,000 km through 34 countries on four continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
s before crossing Canada. He returned to Vancouver's BC Place Stadium
BC Place Stadium
BC Place is a multi-purpose stadium located at the north side of False Creek, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It serves as the home field for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer . Originally opened on June 19, 1983 as the...
to cheering crowds of thousands on 22 May 1987 after raising $26 million for spinal cord research and quality of life initiatives. Like Terry Fox, he was hailed as an international hero.
Today, the wheelchair and many other items associated with the Man In Motion World Tour are preserved by the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The song "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)
St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)
"St. Elmo's Fire " is a song recorded by John Parr. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on 7 September 1985 and peaked at number six in the UK, Parr's home country....
" was written in his honor by Canadian record producer and composer David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
and British musician John Parr
John Parr
John Parr is an English musician, best known for his 1985 US #1 hit single "St. Elmo's Fire". Parr has sold 10 million albums worldwide.-Biography:...
and performed by Parr for the soundtrack of the film St. Elmo's Fire
St. Elmo's Fire (film)
St. Elmo's Fire is a 1985 American coming-of-age film directed by Joel Schumacher. The film, starring Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Mare Winningham, is a prominent movie of the Brat Pack genre, and revolves around a group of friends that have...
. It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in September 1985.
Heart of a Dragon http://www.heartofadragonmovie.com is the soon to be released film based on Hansen's Man in Motion Tour. Over twenty years ago, Michael French flew with a film crew from Vancouver, British Columbia to Beijing and documented Hansen's entrance into Beijing with over 1 million Chinese heralding his arrival as a hero.
Post-tour career
Hansen is currently president and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation, which has generated more than $200 million for spinal cord injury related programs and Hansen was noted as "the driving force" in the development of the 48 million dollars iCORD houses an information network designed to track and record "best practices" in spinal cord treatment across the country and internationally, as well as the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry, allowing doctors and experts across the country to share vital information on what works and what doesn't for specific kinds of spinal cord injuries.The Blusson Spinal Cord Centre is fully accessible, with no need to display the wheelchair disability sign, and integrates research with care. The centre is home to the Brenda and David McLean Integrated Spine Clinic, which provides one-stop outpatient care for people with spinal cord injuries or diseases of the spine. Rick Hansen Foundation programs including the Rick Hansen Institute (formerly the Spinal Cord Injuries Solutions Network) and the Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion and Ambassador programs are also located in the centre.
The province has previously contributed $17.25 million to spinal cord injury research and quality of life – $2.25 million to the B.C. Leadership Chair in Spinal Cord Research at the Rick Hansen Institute at UBC and $15 million to the Rick Hansen Foundation in support of its ongoing work to help improve the lives of people with spinal cord injuries.
Hansen has served as chair of both the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society and the Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund Society, helping to restore and protect sturgeon and salmon populations in British Columbia.
Hansen earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Physical Education in 1986 from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Personal life
Hansen married Amanda Reid, his former physiotherapist. They have three daughters: Emma, Alana, and Rebecca, and live in Richmond, British ColumbiaRichmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
.
Professional background
- President and CEO, Rick Hansen Foundation (1997–Present)
- National Fellow, Rick Hansen National Fellow Programme, University of British Columbia (1990–Present)
- Consultant on Disability Issues to the President, University of British Columbia (1989–1991)
- Commissioner General to Canada Pavilion at World Exposition '88 in Brisbane, Australia (1987–1988)
Memberships
- Member, Living Rivers Trust Fund Advisory Board (2005–Present)
- Interim Chair, Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund Society (2000–Present)
- Member, Board of Directors, Rick Hansen Institute (1997–Present)
- Chair, Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society (1996–Present)
- Member, Board of Directors, Rick Hansen Foundation (1993–1999)
- Member, Board of Trustees, Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation (1992–2000)
- International Advisory Committee for Globe '92, Congress and Exposition on the Environment (1991–1992)
- Chair, International Committee on Integration of Disabled Athletes (Renamed: Commission for the Inclusion of Athletes with Disabilities) (1990–Present)
- Chair, Advisory Committee of the Disability Resource Centre, University of British Columbia (1990–1997)
- Chair, Independence 92 - International Congress and Exposition on Disability, Vancouver, British Columbia (1990–1992)
- Member, Board of Directors, Nike Canada (1989–2004)
- Partner/Advisor, National Access Awareness Week, Canada (1989–1999)
- International Advisory Committee for Globe '90, Congress and Exposition on the Environment (1989–1990)
- Member, Board of Governors, 1994 Commonwealth Games, Victoria (1989–1994)
- Advisory Panel, Man In Motion Legacy Trust Fund (1987–Present)
- Member, Board of Directors, Man In Motion World Tour Society (1987–1992)
- Member, Board of Directors (Honorary), Man In Motion World Tour (1986–1987)
Awards and honours
- Special Achievement Award, University of British Columbia (1979–1982)
- "Outstanding Athlete of the Year," by Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (1980)
- Lou Marsh/Canadian Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award; co-winner, Wayne Gretzky (1983)
- Outstanding Young Person of the World for personal improvement and accomplishment by Junior Chamber International (1983)
- University of British Columbia's Alumni Award of Distinction (1983)
- Athlete of the Week: by ABC Wide World of Sports (1983)
- British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, W.A.C. Bennett Award (1983)
- Newsmaker of the Year by Canadian Press (1986)
- Companion of the Order of Canada (29 March 1988)
- Order of British ColumbiaOrder of British ColumbiaThe Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
(1990) - Terry Fox Hall of FameTerry Fox Hall of FameThe Terry Fox Hall of Fame recognizes "outstanding Canadians who have made extraordinary contributions to enriching the quality of life for people with physical disabilities". It is run by the Canadian Paraplegic Association. The Hall is named after Terry Fox, a cancer research activist who...
(1993) - W.A.C. Bennett Award (BC Sports Hall of FameBC Sports Hall of FameFor over 40 years, the community has entrusted the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum with the responsibility to collect, preserve, study, and interpret materials that relate to British Columbia’s rich sport history...
and Museum) (1994) - Induction into Canada Sports Hall of FameCanada's Sports Hall of FameCanada's Sports Hall of FameCanada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
(2006) - Canada's Walk of FameCanada's Walk of FameCanada's Walk of Fame , located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a walk of fame that acknowledges the achievements and accomplishments of successful Canadians...
(2007) - Recipient of CPA Alberta's Christopher Reeve Award (2007)
- UBC Sports Hall of Fame
- Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of AlbertaUniversity of AlbertaThe University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
(2011) - Honorary Doctor of Laws, Vancouver Island University (2009)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws, Carleton UniversityCarleton UniversityCarleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
(2009) - Honorary Doctor of Laws, Simon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
(2008) - Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Northern British ColumbiaUniversity of Northern British ColumbiaThe University of Northern British Columbia is a small, primarily undergraduate university whose main campus is in Prince George, British Columbia. UNBC also has regional campuses in the northern British Columbia cities of Prince Rupert, Terrace, Quesnel, and Fort St. John...
(2008) - Honorary Doctor of LettersDoctor of LettersDoctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
, Thompson Rivers UniversityThompson Rivers UniversityThompson Rivers University is a comprehensive university located in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. It offers students a broad range of courses, career streams, and the ability to ladder credits from diploma programs into full degrees...
, Williams Lake Campus(2007) - William Van Horne Visionary Award (2006)
- Honorary Doctor of Letters, McGill UniversityMcGill UniversityMohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
(2005) - Honorary Doctor of Laws, McMaster UniversityMcMaster UniversityMcMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
(1999) - Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western OntarioThe University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
(1997) - Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of ReginaUniversity of ReginaThe University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
(1997) - Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(1995) - Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of VictoriaUniversity of VictoriaThe University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
(1994) - Royal Bank Award (1994)
- University of British Columbia Athletic Hall of Fame (1994)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws, Saint Mary's UniversitySaint Mary's University (Halifax)Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. The school is best known for having nationally lead programs in Business, Astronomy and International Development Studies as well, one of the best football and Men's hockey programs in Canada .The campus is situated in Halifax's...
(1993) - Honorary Doctor of Laws, UBCUniversity of British ColumbiaThe University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
(1987) - People In Motion, a not-for-profit organisation was after Hansen
- Three public schools have been named after Hansen:
- Rick Hansen Secondary SchoolRick Hansen Secondary School (Abbotsford)Rick Hansen Secondary is a public high school in Abbotsford, British Columbia part of School District 34 Abbotsford.Rick Hansen Secondary School is named after Rick Hansen, an athlete who won all-star awards in five sports when he was paralyzed at the age of 15 after being thrown from the back of...
, Abbotsford, British ColumbiaAbbotsford, British ColumbiaAbbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,... - Rick Hansen Secondary SchoolRick Hansen Secondary School (Mississauga)Rick Hansen Secondary School is a public high school located in the south-eastern edge of Streetsville, a community in Mississauga, Ontario. Rick Hansen is the home to graduates from Fallingbrook Middle School, Fairwind Senior Public School, and Hazel McCallion Senior Public School...
, Mississauga, OntarioMississauga, OntarioMississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades... - Rick Hansen Elementary School, London, OntarioLondon, OntarioLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
- Rick Hansen Secondary School
Order of Canada Citation
Hansen was appointed a Companion of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
on June 29, 1987. His citation reads:
Already a world-renowned wheelchair athlete, this British-Columbian fulfilled a dream of wheeling around the world to make others aware of the potential of the disabled and to raise funds for spinal cord research among other things. His 44,000 km. journey, recently completed, took him to four continents and 33 countries, inspiring people around the world to realize their potential and raising many millions of dollars for the cause.
Honorary appointments
- Honorary Director, Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (2002)
- Honorary Board member, Think First Foundation (1998–2000)
- Honorary Chair, Brain and Spinal Cord Research Centre Campaign, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia (1995)
- Honorary Patron, B.C. Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (1995–Present)
- Honorary Chair, Grey Cup Festival (1994)
- Honorary Chair, Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (1990–Present)
- Honorary Chair, Alberta Premier's Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities (1989–Present)
- Honorary Chair, BC Premier's Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities (1989–Present)
Hansen was named Commissioner General for the Canadian Pavilion at Expo '88
Expo '88
World Expo 88, also known as Expo '88, was a World's Fair held in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia, during a six-month period between Saturday, 30 April 1988 and Sunday, 30 October 1988...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In 1986, a township
Township (Canada)
The term township generally means the district or area associated with a town. However in some systems no town needs to be involved. The specific use of the term to describe political subdivisions has varied by country, usually to describe a local rural or semi-rural government within the county...
in Sudbury District, Ontario
Sudbury District, Ontario
The Sudbury District is a district in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1894 from townships of eastern Algoma District and west Nipissing District....
, previously named the Geographical Township of Stalin, altered its name to the Township of Hansen in the athlete's honour. It is now within the boundary of the municipality of Killarney
Killarney, Ontario
Killarney is a municipality located on the northern shore of Georgian Bay in the Sudbury District of Ontario. It is also the name of the largest community within the municipality...
.