Canadian hero Rick Hansen will be awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 2 p.m. ceremony on Tuesday, June 9, “in recognition of an outstanding contribution as a leader in the education of people with disabilities.”
In 1985, Rick Hansen pushed his wheelchair out of Vancouver, B.C. and set out on a journey that would make history. His legendary Man In Motion World Tour spanned more than 40,000 kilometres and 34 countries. It took more than two years to complete and raised more than $26 million for spinal cord injury research. Rick’s incredible achievement became a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of teamwork. His courage and determination inspired people to believe in the possibility of a fully accessible and inclusive society and a cure for spinal cord injury.
Following a car crash at the age of 1 5, Rick suffered a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down. Forced to define a new life for himself, he never hesitated to challenge society’s perceptions about what is possible for anyone with big dreams and the passion to see them through.
Today, Rick is still a Man In Motion. As president and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation, he remains committed to making communities more accessible and inclusive for people with spinal cord injuries and advancing research in that area. Through his leadership, the foundation has generated more than $200 million for spinal cord injury-related programs and initiatives. Rick has been named as a Companion of the Order of Canada and to the Order of British Columbia.