Simon’s Adventure Aboard Everyone Everywhere
Simon announced himself before the boat even left the dock. “I have too many girlfriends,” he told Rick Hansen matter-of-factly, as if this were simply another accessibility issue requiring national attention. It set the tone for a day that was equal parts heart, humour, and something that felt a little like magic.
When Simon’s mom, Becs Hoskins, looks back on her family’s afternoon aboard Everyone Everywhere, the accessible boat that anchors the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) Accessible Outdoors Program, she remembers how perfect the day it was. It was sunny and warm, the sturgeon were biting, and her son Simon radiated joy. She also remembers how everything in her life braided together in that one day: family, purpose, volunteer work, and the long arc of accessibility that has shaped the Hoskins’ world.
“It was just a neat coming together,” Becs said. “Our family, my connection to Power To Be, and Simon being able to enjoy himself.”
The RHF Outdoor Accessibility Program removes barriers so that people with disabilities can access and enjoy Canada’s natural environments, beginning with the waterways on the West Coast. The program is made possible by The Peterson Family Foundation and community partners Power To Be, the Fraser River Conservation Society, and the Pacific Salmon Foundation. The intention of the program goes beyond one boat; it serves as a case study for what’s possible, to inspire more accessible outdoor design and policy change.
Coming Full Circle
Becs first connected with Power To Be, a nonprofit that creates access to nature for people with disabilities, after reading a story in her local newspaper in Victoria, British Columbia, in 2003. “I thought, hey, I need to be involved that,” she said. Becs became a kayak guide and program support; later, she joined the Board.
Two decades on, she’s raising Simon, who has Morquio syndrome which causes skeletal and joint conditions among other challenges. As a result, Simon is a part-time wheelchair-user.
“It was really cool how it all came together,” Becs said. “The blending of our family, my connection to Power To Be, and my years of dedicating time and energy to them, and with Simon being a budding accessibility advocate in his own right.”
As the lead for BC Parks’ inclusion work, accessibility is embedded in how she thinks. It’s possibly why the day on the boat felt less like an outing and more like a living illustration of everything Becs has fought for.
A Gift that Turned into a Story
The trip itself was a twist of fate. Becs had spotted a silent auction item, an outing on Everyone Everywhere with Rick. She texted her older half-brother in Toronto, an avid outdoorsperson, to see if he had any interest. By morning he had purchased it outright and booked flights.
And just like that, Becs, her husband, her brother, Simon, and his brother, found themselves in Steveston, B.C., motoring away from the dock on a boat designed to flatten every barrier that typically comes between a kid with a disability and being on the water.
Barriers Removed, Joy Unlocked
For Simon, the boat was memorable because it worked for him.
“Normally he has to ditch his chair to be included,” Becs explained. “But here, he didn’t. And that changed everything.”
There was the doorway that opened to the dock instead of forcing him to climb over a side rail. The balancing technology under the hull that reduced the chop. And the captain’s adjustable chair lift that ensures everyone can reach the windows no matter their height, was Simon’s favourite.
“Rick let me go up to the captain’s seat,” Simon said proudly. “And then he raised me up ’cause it can go up and down.”
The highlight, though, was the sturgeon. Rick noticed a twitch in the line and passed the rod to Simon, who reeled in a small, untagged fish. Later, Simon explained he wanted to adopt the fish through the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society. “Simon’s vision,” Becs said, “is to go online and claim that fish as his own.”
The Budding Accessibility Advocate
Between reeling in fish and exploring the boat, Simon kept Rick updated on his life. From his many girlfriends to navigating a world that isn’t built for those with disabilities, Rick took it all in stride. “They were just like… the cutest duo,” Becs said. “The only people on the boat with disabilities, and instantly comfortable with each other.”
The day clearly stayed with Simon. When RHF caught up with him a couple months later, Simon eagerly shared stories aboard Everyone Everywhere, including his own take on accessibility.
“Meaningful accessibility doesn’t mean one size fits all,” Simon said, sounding suddenly older than his nine years. “It just means people have options.” He also wants people to ask before assuming. “It’d be nicer if they said, ‘Can you do this?’ instead of ‘You can’t do this.’”
Becs listened in the background, her son revealing the kind of insight she’s spent her whole career trying to amplify. “He’s a budding accessibility advocate,” she added.
The Kind of Day You Carry with You
By the time the boat returned to shore, the whole family was glowing.
“It was an idyllic day in a million different ways,” Becs said. “We all came off the water just beaming.”
The experience was a glimpse of what happens when accessibility moves from theory to real life, when thoughtful design gives people agency and not just access. For Simon, the takeaway is straightforward: accessibility is about choice and understanding. For Becs, it was the satisfaction of seeing decades of work made visible on open water.
And for Rick? Well, he left with a new young friend, a freshly tagged sturgeon, and an update about the demanding social life of a nine-year-old with too many girlfriends.
