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Hero Rick's Story

Rick's Story

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Rick Hansen as a young boy in Port Alberni, British Columbia
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August 26, 1957

Rick Hansen is born in Port Alberni, BC, and grows up in Fort St. John, Abbotsford, and Williams Lake, BC.

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Rick shows off his catch with friends Randy Brink and Don Alder shortly before the accident in which he sustained a spinal cord injury.
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June 27, 1973

On the way home from a fishing trip, Rick and his friend Don Alder are in a car accident and are thrown from the back of a pickup truck. Rick injures his spinal cord and is paralyzed from the waist down.

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Rick’s dad and his brother Brad take Rick fishing near their home for the first time after his accident. 
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1974

Rick’s dad and his brother Brad take Rick fishing for the first time after his accident. 

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Rick Hansen plays wheelchair volleyball after returning home from rehabilitation
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1974-1975

Returning home from rehabilitation, Rick is encouraged by his volleyball coach Bob Redford to get involved in wheelchair sports.

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Rick Hansen with Sam Stronge, who encouraged him to play wheelchair basketball
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1975

Rick was recruited to play wheelchair basketball by Stan Strong for the Vancouver Cable Cars

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Rick Hansen graduates from the University of British Columbia with a degree from the School of Kinesiology
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1976

Rick enrolls at the University of British Columbia. He later becomes the first person with a physical disability to graduate with a degree in Physical Education.

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Terry Fox and Rick Hansen in 1977
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1977

Rick recruited Terry Fox to join the Vancouver Cable Cars to play on their wheelchair basketball team. They became good friends 

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Rick Hansen and team participate in Vancouver International Marathon in May, 1981
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1979-1984

In five years, Rick wins 19 wheelchair marathons, three world titles, and 15 medals, 6 at the Paralympic Games and 9 at the Pan Am Games. He’s also Canada’s Disabled Athlete of the Year in 1979, 1980, 1982.

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Mural of locations visited during Rick Hansen Man in Motion World Tour
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March 21, 1985

Rick and his team leave Vancouver to embark on the Man In Motion World Tour, a journey around the globe to prove the potential of people with disabilities and raise awareness for accessibility.

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Reaching the half-way point in Melbourne 12,451.49 mi/20,036 km was huge moment for Rick and the Tour.
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February 1986

Rick and the team reach Australia and cross the halfway point of the tour.

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Celebration of Rick and his team reaching their final desination, Oakridge Shopping Centre on May 22, 1987
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May 22, 1987

Rick and his team complete the World Tour and return to Vancouver. The Tour raised $26 million for SCI research, rehabilitation and sport.

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Order of Canada Medal
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June 29, 1987

Rick is inducted into the Companion of the Order of Canada

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Rick and Amanda Hansen on their wedding day in October, 1987
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October 10, 1987

Rick and Amanda, Rick’s physiotherapist on the Man In Motion World Tour, get married in Vancouver.

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Rick Hansen and his team at Canada Expo
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1987-1988

Rick and Amanda move to Brisbane, Australia where Rick is appointed the Commissioner-General of the Canadian Pavilion for the duration of Expo 88.

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Individuals stand in front of the Rick Hansen mural at the Man in Motion World Tour Society
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1988

The Man In Motion World Tour Society (later the Rick Hansen Foundation) is created to raise money to improve the lives of people with disabilities and to support SCI research. 

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Founding of the Accessibility Awareness week in Canada
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1989

Rick and the Foundation co-founded National Access Awareness Week in partnership with the Federal Government 

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Rick Hansen interacting with his baby daughter.
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March 23, 1990

Birth of Emma Hansen

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Rick Hansen and Amanda Hansen with his two daughters
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January 17, 1992

Birth of Alanna Hansen

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Rick Hansen with order of BC medal
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1992

Rick is inducted into the Order of BC

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Photo of Rick Hansen and his family in his hometown, Williams Lake
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July 6, 1995

Birth of Rebecca Hansen

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Man in a wheelchair conducting testing in a labratory
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1995

Rick and the Rick Hansen Foundation work with the University of British Columbia to support the creation of CORD (later the creation of ICORD, the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries); a group of researchers and clinicians work together to make basic research more relevant to people with spinal cord injuries; and helped to establish five leadership endowments worth $20 million (now part of the Rick Hansen Trust at UBC) 

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Rick and colleagues from the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society.
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1997

Rick is the Founding Chair of the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society 

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Rick establishes the Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund Society 
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2000

Rick establishes the Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund Society 

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Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal
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2002

Rick receives the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal from the Governor General of Canada

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Group photo for Canada's Sports Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Celebrations
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2006

Rick is inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

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Rick Hansen and team at the Rick Hansen display
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2007

Rick is inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame.

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Outside view of the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre
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2008

Rick and the Rick Hansen Foundation lead the creation of the Rick Hansen Institute (now the Praxis Spinal Cord Institute) and helped create the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, a global collaboration of people with SCI, researchers, and service providers dedicated to generating life-enhancing solutions for those with SCI.  Their work is also in support of UBC’s International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), a key research consortium within the Blusson Centre.

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Bird's-eye view of Rick Hansen presenting at the Olympic games
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2010

As one of four final torchbearers, Rick carries the Olympic Flame into BC Place at the Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

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Rick Hansen Foundation in Vancouver during the last day of the 25th Anniversary Relay.
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August 24, 2011-May 22, 2012

During the 25th Anniversary of the Man In Motion World Tour, the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay, retraces the Canadian segment of the MIMWT, recognizing 7,000 difference makers who inspire a new generation to help improve the lives of people with disabilities.

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Rick in uniform as Honorary Colonel of the Join Personnel Support Unit (JPSU)
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2012

Rick is appointed Honorary Colonel of The Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU). The JPSU provides support services for currently serving and former CAF ill and injured personnel, their families, and the families of the fallen, through Integrated Personnel Support Centres (IPSCs). As an Honorary Colonel, Rick visited various IPSC units across the Country in order to help foster morale and build relationships.

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Rick Hansen and students at a school which received a Canada 150 Signature initiative Barrier buster grant
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2016

Rick and the Foundation mark Canada’s 150th Anniversary with support by the Government of Canada by granting $1.5 million to schools and community groups to help Canadians activate 55 large-scale “Barrier Buster” infrastructure improvement projects and awareness building events in their communities. 

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Man using wheelchair holds a measuring tape to measure a table.
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February 2017

The Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ is launched, the only program that rates, certifies and showcases accessible buildings. 

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Rick Hansen at the Invictus Games.
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2017

Rick is an Ambassador for the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. 

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Rick on the cover for 30th Anniversary of the Man In Motion World Tour book.
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September 2017

Rick celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Man In Motion World Tour by co-authoring a book, Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour –  30 Years later, A Celebration of Courage, Strength and The Power of Community.

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Rick Hansen accompanied with his wife and CEO Doramy Ehling smiling.
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December 2018

After a carefully phased 3-year process, Rick officially elevates from CEO to Founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation. As Founder, Rick will focus his time where it has maximum impact including being an advocate for change, building external relationship and continuing to inspire and engage audiences through public appearances. Doramy Ehling is appointed as the new CEO after over a decade of dedication to the Foundation as COO.

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About Us - EN

  • About Us
  • Our Programs
  • Leadership Team
  • Board Members and Committees
  • Donors
  • Annual Reports
  • 2021-23 Strategic Plan
  • FAQ
  • Work With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Champion's Circle

About Rick - EN

  • About Rick
  • Rick's Story
  • Man In Motion World Tour
    • Man In Motion World Tour
    • The Dream
    • Tour Timeline
    • Tour Gallery
    • Tour Team
    • 35th Anniversary
  • Rick’s Work and Vision
  • A Conversation with Rick
  • Awards & Honours

Get Involved - EN

  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Legacy Giving
  • Fundraise
  • Help make Canada accessible
  • Everyone Everywhere
  • National AccessAbility Week

Become Accessible - EN

  • Become Accessible
  • Rating & Certification 
    • Rating & Certification 
    • Rating Request Form
    • RHFAC FAQ
    • RHFAC v3.0
  • Accessibility Training and Education
    • Professional Training
    • Accessibility Training and Education
    • Tuition Grants
  • APN 2023 Conference
  • Accessibility Resources
  • Accessibility Professional Network
    • Accessibility Professional Network
    • FAQ: Accessibility Professional Network
    • Login
    • RHFAC Professional Directory
  • Post an Accessibility Job
  • Accessibility Advisory Services
  • Buildings Without Barriers Challenge
  • Leaders in Accessibility
  • B.C. Accessibility Grants

Schools & Communities - EN

  • Schools and Communities
  • Create an Inclusive School Year
    • Start with Awareness
    • Concentrate on Kindness 
    • Boldly Take Action
  • Resource Library
  • Ambassador Presentations
    • Ambassador Presentations
    • Book a Presentation
    • About Our Ambassadors
  • Difference Maker Awards
    • Difference Maker Awards
    • Difference Maker Winners
  • Supplementary Resources
  • Our Partners

News & Stories - EN

  • News & Stories
  • Blog
  • Media Centre
  • Newsletter
  • Disability Reports

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  • Imagine Canada Certification
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Imagine Canada

The Standards Program Trustmark is a mark of Imagine Canada used under license by the Rick Hansen Foundation.

Charitable Registration Number: 10765 9427 RR 0001 © 2023 Rick Hansen Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

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When Rick set out to wheel around the world in 1985, he had three missions: to raise awareness about the potential of people with disabilities, create accessible and inclusive communities, and find a cure.

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