Rick Hansen

Through the power of his own story and the inspiration he’s found in others, Rick Hansen encourages us all to recognize the Difference Makers in our lives and to see ourselves as Difference Makers. Difference Makers are leaders by example, catalysts – those whose passion and courage ignite talent and action in others. Their energy empowers them to believe in their own potential and find solutions to barriers. Who amongst your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors create an impact? What can you do to make others around you better? Rick shares his vision and inspires audiences to join his journey to create an accessible, healthy and inclusive world where people of all abilities can fully participate in and contribute to.

When Rick Hansen was 15, his life changed forever. He was thrown from the back of a pickup truck and he sustained a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down. He would never walk again. Lying in a hospital bed on his 16th birthday, Rick recognized that his new reality interfered with all his goals and dreams – he had wanted to become a professional athlete and thought this was no longer possible. But with the incredible support of those around him, he learned to move forward. Once he could see the possibilities and stop the comparisons of life before and after his injury, it got easier for Rick to adapt and excel again. Rick is a six-time Paralympic medalist, three-time world champion and nine-time Pan Am gold medalist. He also competed for Canada in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in the 1500m wheelchair track event. As a young athlete in a wheelchair, Rick had a vision to show the world that anything is possible. On March 21, 1985, Rick embarked on the Man In Motion World Tour, wheeling 40,000 kilometres through 34 countries across four continents to create awareness of the potential of people with disabilities and to raise money to remove barriers. Through Rick’s personal journey, we learn that overcoming barriers and navigating through challenging times builds resilience. Today, Rick looks back on his amazing experiences since his injury and he will be the first to tell you that he wouldn’t trade his life for the use of his legs.

When Rick set out to wheel around the world in 1985, he wanted to create awareness of the potential of people with disabilities and to raise money to remove barriers. Currently, approximately 16% of the world’s population has a disability – the largest “minority group” in the world. And because of age-related disabilities, or even temporary disabilities, it is the only minority group that most people will experience at some point in their lives, whether through age-related, temporary, or permanent disability. Technology and science are slowly improving health outcomes, but we need inclusivity and accessibility to be at the core of our laws and innovations. And, in addition to removing physical barriers, we must acknowledge and tackle the stubborn invisible ones, too. By reflecting on our own actions and beliefs, we can challenge existing standards and dream up new ones – ones that foster hope, inspiration, and acceptance. Rick Hansen encourages us all to fight for accessibility as a human right. An accessible and equitable world will only be achieved when we all work together. Anything is possible if we have the courage to try.

One in four Canadians aged 15 and older identifies as having a disability, according to Statistics Canada, and that number is growing as our population ages. For the first time in Canada’s history, the number of people aged 65 and older now exceeds the number of children under 15—highlighting why accessibility can no longer be treated as a niche issue, but as a core design imperative. Many Canadians encounter barriers every day, whether accessing public spaces, participating in community life, or seeking employment, because of physical and attitudinal barriers to accessibility. Today, more than 1.3 billion people are living with a disability worldwide, and this number continues to grow as populations age. In Canada, 40% of people aged 65 and older have one or more disabilities, pointing to the urgent need for accessible communities and outdoor spaces. Rick shares his vision of universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible public spaces, ensuring that everyone is able to participate and live to their full potential. The expertise and responsibility to not invest in new barriers lies with all of us. Rick shows us why the public and private sectors must work with all levels of government to normalize a harmonized approach to establishing common metrics for all significant barriers that people with disabilities face. When everyone can participate in and fully contribute to our society, we prove it’s not only the right thing to do, but it will make a positive impact on our economy, community, and people.

Rick Hansen’s earliest memories are of fishing adventures with his grandfather, father, brother, uncle and cousins. At the age of 15, he sustained a spinal cord injury after a truck accident on his way home from a fishing trip. Following his injury, Rick used adapted equipment to venture out on fishing trips with family and friends. Returning to the outdoors was a big part of helping Rick reclaim his identity post injury. Rick has experienced first-hand the power of outdoor spaces to transform wellbeing, and they’re inextricably tied to his advocacy for accessibility. Unfortunately, many of our natural spaces are inaccessible to people with disabilities, resulting in inequities and exclusion. As a result of his life experience, the conservation of healthy sturgeon and salmon ecosystems is also a strong priority for Rick throughout his life. For over 20 years, Rick has been an advocate of environmental stewardship. He has worked closely with government, fisheries scientists, enforcement personnel, students and academics, plus commercial, sport, and aboriginal fishermen to ensure that these species have a healthy future. Today, there are 1.3 billion people with a disability; this number continues to grow with an aging population. Rick believes that by creating more access to the outdoors and nature, we improve our health outcomes, strengthen social bonds and help nurture a community of people who have a deeper commitment to a thriving planet.