FEBRUARY 2008

GREAT VALENTINE GALA ISSUEMAGAZINE

2008 King Clancy Award Winners

Robert Hampson Sgt. Andrew McLean Shirley Shelby

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A GALA WELCOME

A Gala Night OutThe 24th annual Great Valentine Gala

promises a night to remember

The 2008 King Clancy AwardsThe CFPDP pays tribute to three outstanding Canadians

Leading by ExampleSaluting the 2008 CFPDP Corporate Award winners

A Blast from the PastLegendary Sixties pop sensation Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone take Gala revellers down memory lane

Gunning for GoldTeam Canada prepares for this year’s

Summer Paralympics in Beijing

A SHINING TRIBUTEThe Royal Canadian Mint celebrates athletes with a disability

COMING BACK STRONGCanada’s wounded service men and women

discover the joys of Paralympic sport

WhyNot.I N T H I S I S S U E

FEBRUARY 2008

M A G A Z I N E

WhyNot. MagazineTHE GREAT VALENTINE GALA ISSUEFEBRUARY, 2008

Published by the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons,731 Runnymede Road, Toronto, Ontario, M6N 3V7 Telephone (416) 760-7351Fax (416) 760-9405 E-Mail: whynot@sympatico.cawww.cfpdp.com

Publisher: Vim KochharEditors: Lawrence Allen and Bill McOuat Publication Manager: Dorothy PricePublication Coordinator: Joan ChampDesign & Production: The Richmond StudioSales: Envision Inc.Printing: Thompson Printing, Paris, Ontario

For information about advertising rates, pleasecontact our Advertising Sales representatives:Envision Inc., Telephone (416) 259-5677.

The reproduction of articles from WhyNot.Magazine, with the exception of copyright material, is welcome provided the source isacknowledged. Additional copies of WhyNot.Magazine are available from the Publisher at acost of $2.50 each plus shipping and handling.

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19Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled PersonsThe Canadian Foundation for PhysicallyDisabled Persons, a charitable organizationfounded in 1985, assists people with physi-cal disabilities to live fuller lives. Its missionis to create awareness in the public, businesscommunities and government of the abilitiesof persons with disabilities and their needs inthe areas of housing, employment, educa-tion, accessibility, sports and recreation andresearch. In the past twenty-four years, theFoundation has raised substantial funds,which it has distributed to a wide variety oforganizations and events. These include theTerry Fox Hall of Fame, the Eternal Flame ofHope, the Rotary Cheshire Home, theCanadian Helen Keller Centre, the annualGreat Valentine Gala (in cooperation withthe Rotary Club of Toronto-Don Valley), theKing Clancy Awards, the Corporate Awards,the WhyNot Marathon, the first CanadianMarathon for the Paralympics, Jeff Adams’CN Tower climb and Rolling RampageWheelchair 10K Road Race

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COVER: Saluting our 2008 King Clancy Award winners.

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4WhyNot. February 2008

It is my pleasure to send greetings to theCanadian Foundation for Physically DisabledPersons as you celebrate your 24th GreatValentine Gala.

Since 1985, this foundation has assisted people with physical disabilities to live a morefulfilled and dignified life. You have ably createdpublic awareness, inspired government and business alike to address the special needs of disabled persons.

During my mandate as Lieutenant Governorand as Honorary Patron of the CanadianFoundation for Physically Disabled Persons, I am committed to adding my voice in support ofimproving accessibility for all.

I offer sincere congratulations to this year’sKing Clancy Award winners: Robert Hampson,Sergeant Andrew McLean and Shirley Shelby.

As The Queen’s representative in Ontario,please accept my best wishes for a successful and memorable Gala.

David C. OnleyThe Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

As Honorary Co-Chair of the Great Valentine Gala,it is a great pleasure to welcome you here thisevening. TD Bank Financial Group is proud to bea supporter of the Canadian Foundation forPhysically Disabled Persons (CFPDP), and it is anhonour to be involved in this year’s gala.

The Great Valentine Gala is a wonderful way to celebrate and promote the talent andaccomplishments of persons with disabilities,while also raising much needed funds for themany vital causes supported by the foundation.Since 1985, the generosity and goodwill of galasupporters have assisted a growing list of publicawareness initiatives, community services, andelite and recreational sports programs that havebrought new hope and opportunities to manythousands of disabled Canadians.

On behalf of TD, I want to thank the CFPDPand all of the foundation’s dedicated volunteersand patrons whose generosity and goodwill areso important to the continuing success of thisevent. I hope you have a wonderful evening –thank you one and all.

Ed ClarkPresident and CEOTD Bank Financial Group

Messag

I am delighted to send my warmest greetings toeveryone in attendance at the 24th GreatValentine Gala, in support of the CanadianFoundation for Physically Disabled Persons(CFPDP).

“Why not?” This powerful belief has beenthe rallying cry for the CFPDP since its inception.It is a defiant retort to the physical, professionaland societal barriers faced by so manyCanadians with disabilities. But it is also an inspirational truism by which to live.

When we believe in ourselves and in ourdreams, and when we gather our strengthtogether, there is no limit to what we canachieve. With the support of people like you, the CFPDP has made great strides in ensuringaccessibility for disabled persons, and in providing a myriad of tools and resources to help them achieve their goals.

I am proud to be patron of the CFPDP, and Icongratulate the organizers and volunteers whowork so hard to make this Gala such a success,year after year. I wish everyone an enjoyableevening.

Michaëlle JeanGovernor General of Canada

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5February 2008 WhyNot.

It is truly an honour to join you once again asChairman of the Great Valentine Gala. As along-standing supporter and board member ofthe Canadian Foundation for Physically DisabledPersons, I have a keen appreciation of theimportant role this special evening plays in thelives of a great many Canadians with disabilities.

As a major source of funding for the CFPDP, the Gala has contributed substantially tonumerous initiatives that have helped peoplewith a disability play a more active and rewarding role in the life of their communities.Whether in the areas of sports and recreation,community services or the CFPDP’s numerousnational awareness projects, Gala funds havehelped to lay the groundwork for a more openand inclusive society where everybody has anopportunity to play a part.

I want to extend my heartfelt appreciationto each of you for joining us here on this important evening, and to our many dedicatedvolunteers and patrons. It is your unstinting support and participation that make this wonderful event a night to remember.

I hope that you will also keep us in mind foryour plans in 2009 when the CFPDP and theirmany friends and community partners will becelebrating the Gala’s 25th anniversary.

George PrzybylowskiChairThe Great Valentine Gala

It gives me great pleasure to join you this eveningas Honorary Co-Chair of the Canadian Foundationfor Physically Disabled Persons’ 24th annual Great Valentine Gala.

It is a privilege to be involved in this worthyand time-honoured charitable event. The GreatValentine Gala has enjoyed remarkable successboth as a fundraiser and as a focal point for promoting the abilities and achievements ofCanada’s disability community. With your invaluable support, the CFPDP has been an active force in the provision of essential serviceslike housing and other community-based support-ive programs, including substantial ongoing assistance for our nation’s Paralympic athletes.

The Gala is also a perfect evening for recognizing the inspiring contributions of the dedicated individuals and businesses who haveplayed a leadership role in the creation of moremeaningful and accessible opportunities for peoplewith disabilities. In this regard, the Great ValentineGala serves as an inspired tribute to many of thecore values that bind us together as Canadians:generosity, compassion, volunteerism and community service.

I want to congratulate Vim Kochhar and histeam at the Canadian Foundation for PhysicallyDisabled Persons for the outstanding service theyperform on behalf of Canadians with disabilitiesand I wish you every success for the future.

Robert JohnstonPresident Hudson’s Bay Companyages

Greetings and welcome to the CanadianFoundation for Physically Disabled Persons 24th annual Great Valentine Gala.

This is always a special night for all of us here at the CFPDP. You will find no group in thiscountry more diverse or broadly based thanCanada’s disability community and Gala night isone of those rare occasions when you can see themany faces of that community and how diverse,committed and accomplished its members reallyare. Disability is a great equalizer. It can afflictany one at any time. And sooner, or later, it visitsus all. We all have a stake in this struggle forgreater opportunities and due consideration. OnGala night, it’s hard to imagine how the worldcould be any other way.

On behalf of the Foundation, I want to pay aspecial note of thanks to our loyal Gala patronsand volunteers and all of you who join us in thisvery important show of support for the dreamsand aspirations of people with disabilities. Yourgenerosity and goodwill are what keep us goinghere at the CFPDP and I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you. Together, I have no doubt we can make this country a bet-ter place for all Canadians. And come and join us next year for the Great Valentine Gala’s 25th anniversary!

Vim KochharPresident and CEOVimal Group of CompaniesChairCanadian Foundation forPhysically Disabled Persons

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20082 0 0 8Great ValentineGala

The 24th annual Great Valentine Gala offers up a night to remember for friends and supporters of Canadians with disabilities

8WhyNot. February 2008

I

Presentation of the 2007 King Clancy Awards to Canada’s medal

winners at the 2006 Paralympics

Opposite page:Major Beverly Ivany

leads Gala revellers in the national anthem

Great ValentineGala

t’s become a Toronto tradition beloved byfriends and supporters of Canada’s disabil-

ity community, an annual rite of communitypartnership and celebration in the service ofone all-embracing goal: a new world of hopeand opportunity for Canadians who live withdisability. On February 9, when the Canadian

Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons’convenes its 24th annual Great Valentine Galaat the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, 800 sup-porters of the CFPDP’s ambitious dreams for abetter world will gather to pay tribute to aremarkable group of Canadians whose leader-ship and exemplary achievements are helping

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to redefine a lot of old ideas about the limitsof possibility. That sense of shared promise,and the powerful feeling of community itengenders, is what Gala night is all about, saysCFPDP chairman Vim Kochhar.

“People with disabilities have a lot to teachus about our potential and our capacity toendure and succeed. Gala night isn’t aboutphysical disability. It’s about coming togetherin a common cause and rising to surmountwhatever challenges come our way. It justgives you a real sense of optimism about ourability to be the best that we can be. It’s a greatfeeling,” declares the Gala’s perennially upbeatfounder.

Pumping up Canadians’ faith in the powerof possibility has been Kochhar and compa-ny’s stock in trade since 1984, when he and asmall band of Toronto-Don Valley Rotariansteamed up with revered Cheshire HomesCanada founder Margaret McLeod to raisemoney for North America’s first barrier-freeapartment building for people who are deaf-blind. Opened in 1992, the Rotary Cheshire

Homes complex in Willowdale, Ontario,remains to this day a model of secure inde-pendent living for people with disabilitieswho want to play an active role in their com-munities. Indeed, the first Great ValentineGala in 1985 was conceived as a vehicle forraising funds for RCH and it was the successof that venture that convinced Kochhar tolaunch the CFPDP in 1987 as a means ofadministering the Gala’s charitable revenues.Working with his fellow Rotarians, CheshireHomes and other organizations involved inbuilding RCH proved an invaluable lesson inthe leveraging power of communal endeavourand team work, says Kochhar. It also affordedthe CFPDP its first connections in the disabil-ity community’s extensive and varied networkof advocates and service providers, which wasan education in itself.

“It didn’t take long to realize there was thistremendous need out there for services andopportunities that no one else seemed to beproviding,” recalls Kochhar. “We’ve been for-tunate to be able to count on the generosity of

KING CLANCYAWARD WINNERS

1987Richard Beecroft

Carl HiebertRon Turcott

1988Robert Wilson Jackson

Beryl PotterMona Winberg

1989Rick Hansen

Jackie RodgerKerry Grant Wadman

1990John Black Aird

Arnold BoldtVicki Keith

1991Barbara Turnbull

Terry Fox André Viger

1992David OnleyDick Loiselle

1993Gary McPherson

Jeff TiessenKarl Hilzinger

1994Reverend Robert Rumball

Joanne Bouw1995

Rob SnoekSpencer Bevan-John

Jack Donohue1996

Kurt BrowningBetty and Rolly Fox

Rhona Winifred MickelsonRobert Steadward

1997Jeff Adams

John and Jesse DavidsonHenry N.R. Jackman

1998Joan Mactavish

Amy DoofenbakerDave Shannon

1999Jim Knox

Kelly Klassen Frank MacIntyre

2000Terry Kelly

Stephanie McClellanWalter Gretzky

2001Stephanie Dixon

Lisa FranksPatrick Jarvis

2002Jim Sanders

Joyce FairbairnChantal Petitclerc

2003Henry WohlerDiane DupuyDaniel Wesley

2004Linda CrabtreeDavid CrombieGord Paynter

2005Canadian medal

winners at the 2004 Athens Summer Paralympics

2006Steven Fletcher

Tom JearyJoanne Smith

2007Canadian medal

winners at the 2006 Torino Winter Paralympics9February 2008 WhyNot.

PHOTOGRAPHS this page BY CASEY CHUHANIUK

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10WhyNot. February 2008

2008Great

Valentine GalaCommitteeMembersGALA CHAIR

George Przybylowski

FOUNDATION CHAIRVim Kochhar

ADMINISTRATIONDorothy Price

EVENTS COORDINATION

Joan ChampRob Ham

FACILITIESMark Lecker

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

Suhana Meharchand

PUBLIC RELATIONSRichard Rotman

FINANCEDavid Ford

SALESRoy Ashforth

Bill Jack

KING CLANCY AWARDSDoug Richardson

Barry CokeDorothy Price

CORPORATE AWARDSStan Lewis

Vim KochharRoy Ashforth

V.I.P. RECEPTIONBeverly Ivany

Richard RotmanKhalid Khokhar

Barry Coke Rob Snoek

Doug Richardson

TOMBOLAAva Paulin

Larry PaulinCindy Accardi

Jennifer RobbinsPatty Grant

Deirdre GibsonRotaract Club of

Toronto-Don Valley

a great many loyal friends and supporters overthe years and it’s very gratifying to look backand see all the things we’ve managed toaccomplish together.” Other CFPDP projectsthat have benefited from the generosity ofGala patrons include:

• The Canadian Helen Keller Centre,Canada’s only training centre for the deaf-blind. Opened in May 2001, with fundingfrom the CFPDP, the Rotary Club of Toronto-Don Valley and the Ontario TrilliumFoundation.

• Paralympic Sports. From the beginning,the CFPDP has been an active supporter ofour Paralympic athletes and the CanadianParalympic Committee. In 2000, theFoundation donated over $100,000 as anofficial team sponsor for the SydneyParalympics. The Foundation also supportedathletes at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City,in Athens in 2004, and again in Torino in2006.

• Recreational programs for people withdisabilities, including Ontario Sports for the

Disabled and the 1998 Wheelchair RugbyWorld Championships at Toronto’s HumberCollege.

• Canadian Rotary Clubs, organizationswith a long and active involvement in the dis-ability community, have received over$400,000 from the CFPDP for projects assist-ing members of the disability communityacross the country.

The CFPDP is always receptive to newideas and partnerships that can assist mem-bers of the disability community pursue theirdreams, notes Kochhar. “Obviously you wantto be sure money is going where it can do themost good. But that said, there’s only so muchany charitable enterprise can do. We realizedearly on if we really want to make a lastingimpact on the fortunes of people with disabil-ities, we have to reach out and engage thebroader public. Over the long haul, I thinkpublic awareness is the most valuable contri-bution we can make,” says Kochhar.

In addition to being the Foundation’s flag-ship annual fundraiser, notes Kochhar, the

Gala co-chairmen Tim Hockey of TD Canada Trust (left) and Reid Bigland of Chrysler Canada (right) present the 2007 CFPDP Corporate Award to Boris Jackman, accepting on behalf of Petro-Canada

PHOT

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UNBA

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Gala has always proved a lively forum for pro-moting the disability community’s depth oftalent and ability and the inspired contribu-tions of their many dedicated communitypartners and organizations. One of the high-lights of the evening’s festivities is the presen-

tation of the Foundation’s annual King ClancyAwards and the CFPDP Corporate Awards –presentations that serve to underscore notonly achievement, but also many of theimportant issues at the heart of the disabilitycommunity’s struggle for greater indepen-dence and opportunity.

This year’s Gala program will also feature aspecial tribute to some of the athletes who willbe representing Canada at the Beijing SummerParalympics in September. Old friends of theGala are well acquainted with the achieve-ments of Canada’s Paralympians, says CFPDPexecutive director Dorothy Price, and the ath-letes are always a welcome addition to the fes-tivities.

“People with disabilities have always beenamong the movement’s most compelling andarticulate advocates and our Paralympians aresuch wonderful ambassadors for the cause.They’ve given Canadians good reason to beproud. We’re honoured to have them at theGala,” says Price.

11February 2008 WhyNot.

The Pointer Sisters light up last year’s Gala

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CASEY CHUHANIUK

CFPDP chairmanVim Kochhar

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Presenting the 2008King Clancy Awards

14WhyNot. February 2008

Shirley ShelbyA pioneer organizer of sports for people

with a disability, Shirley Shelby is a foundingboard member of Sport for Disabled Ontario –now Paralympics Ontario – and has served aspresident of the Ontario Blind SportsAssociation (OBSA) for more than 25 years.

Like many who have unselfishly volun-teered their time and expertise in supportinggrassroots Paralympic sports, Shelby’s initialinvolvement was inspired by the attitude andaccomplishments of the athletes themselves.

After retiring from teaching music inToronto in 1975, Shelby and her husbandlooked to travel the world. But on their firsttrip to Barbados, Shelby’s husband had a strokeand spent several months in hospital. A yearlater, they returned to the island under circum-stances that led Shelby to question the limitedoptions available to travellers with a disability.

To help address this situation, she workedwith Transport Canada, attended special needstravel conferences and arranged her own con-ferences in Toronto to address the obstaclespeople face. In the end she started her owncompany called Travel Helpers, which sheclosed a little over a year ago.

It was in 1978 that Shelby made one of her

first travel plans for athletes, a charter flight forthe Ontario team to compete in the SummerGames for the Physically Disabled in St. John’sNFL. It turned out to be a smart move.

“It worked out very well for us becausewhile we were there Air Canada went on strikeand we were one of the few teams that was ableto get home without having to make costlyarrangements,” says Shelby.

By 1981 she was in full swing, making thearrangements for Ontario athletes to travel tocompetitions around the country. She soonbegan to volunteer her time.

“I was always so impressed by the athletesthat I thought it was time to do a little more, soI offered to join the organizing committee forthe upcoming Summer Games that were beingheld at the new Variety Village here in Toronto,”says Shelby.

A little turned out to be quite a lot. In1981, the office for Sports for the PhysicallyDisabled opened and Shelby choose to workwith the association representing athleteswho are blind or have a visual impairment.As founding president of the OBSA she’sbeen steering the ship ever since; leading theAssociation’s continued growth, organizingand hosting increasing numbers of events,

The King Clancy Awards are presented each year at the Great Valentine Gala to individuals whose personal accomplishments and contributions have furthered the goal of full participationand inspired others to reach their true potential.

PHOTOGRAPH of SERGEANT ANDREW MCLEAN by HOTSHOTS

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15February 2008 WhyNot.

and travelling with the various teams.About those 25 plus years, Shelby speaks of

all the athletes with genuine pride, and of herself she simply says, “I’ve had a lot of fun withwhat I’ve been doing.”

Sergeant Andrew McLeanFor Canadian Forces Search and Rescue

Technician, Sgt. Andrew McLean, concern forthe well being of others goes beyond his mili-tary service. While he has received severalcommendations for fulfilling his duties at thehighest level, he has also stepped up tobecome a key voice for the Canadian Para-lympic Committee’s (CPC) innovative “SoldierOn” program.

In 2005, when McLean learned of a USArmed Forces program focusing on the rehabil-itation of its injured members through recre-ation and sport, he began inquiring about start-ing such a program in Canada. He soon discov-ered that the CPC had initiated “Soldier On”, anew program to assist Canadian Forces mem-bers injured on or off duty to make sports partof their rehabilitation and transition.

When he found out that Greg Lagacé of theCPC was in contact with the Department ofNational Defence, McLean thought there might

be an opportunity for him to play a role.“Right away I thought that with things

already moving ahead at the higher levels Imight be able to get involved and help getthings rolling at the grassroots level,” saysMcLean.

Since then, the 36 year old, who is current-ly stationed at CFB Trenton in Ontario, hasdevoted virtually all of his spare time to pro-moting, publicizing and raising funds for theprogram to help ensure that as many of his mil-itary colleagues as possible can benefit. He hasdone dozens of interviews for television, radioand the press, and has spread the word relent-lessly among the military community.

His efforts have paid off. Military units, rel-atives and friends of Canadian forces members,and a great many individuals have donatedgenerously to the program or organizedfundraising events across the country.

McLean himself, who happens to be Canada’sUltramarathon champion, entered the YukonArctic Ultra run in February 2007 to raise fundsalong with the profile of “Soldier On”. Althoughsomewhat disappointed that an ankle injury lim-ited him to “just” 160 kilometres of the 700-kmrun, McLean raised several thousand dollars andgreater awareness for “Solder On”.

Robert HampsonSergeant Andrew McLean Shirley Shelby

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16WhyNot. February 2008

That summer, at the annual World 24-hourrace held in Drummondville, Quebec, McLeancovered over 217-km on the same bad ankle toplace 23rd in the field of 145 elite ultra run-ners. Again the beneficiary was the “Solder On”program. On a more personal level, McLeanalso paid the airfare for a fellow sergeant toattend a ski camp in Washington for peoplewith a disability.

Citing Terry Fox and Rick Hansen as majorinfluences on both his running and his drive tohelp out, McLean is emphatic about the valueof the program and supporting each other anyway we can.

“Soldier On and other programs for peoplewith a disability are so important, not only forthose injured, but for their families as well,” hesays. “Anything can happen to any of us and Ilike to think we can all do more to get involvedand make a difference.”

Robert HampsonFor most people, a pop tab just opens a can

and serves no other purpose. For RobertHampson, however, it opens a world of possi-bilities for a young person with a physical dis-ability.

Blind since he was four years old aftersurgery to remove a brain tumor, Hampsonbegan collecting pop tabs when he was just five.After eight years, he reached his goal and hadenough to sell to a recycler. The proceeds boughta much needed wheelchair for a young boy.

Now 15 and in grade 9, Hampson figuresthat with contributions from people acrossCanada, he has collected two tons or aboutseven million tabs over the years. His “Tabs forKids” program is now run through thePresident’s Choice Children’s Charity and hasrecently purchased a motorized lift to give ateenage girl access to the family vehicle.

Undaunted by recurring tumors, multiplesurgeries and years of chemotherapy,Hampson’s drive and determination have alsoallowed him to blossom as a swimmer andskier. After proudly crossing the two-kilome-

tre lake at camp when he was just eight, hewas brought to the attention of Vicki Keith,the great marathon swimmer, former KingClancy Award winner, and former coach atToronto’s Variety Village.

“My first day at Variety Village was one ofthe best days of my life,” says Hampson.“Everyone was great. I was accepted just forwho I was right away and it didn’t matter that Iwas blind.”

Hampson has been a member of the VarietyVillage Flames since that day and has becomean accomplished swimmer. At the 2006Ontario Para Provincial Winter Champi-onships, he was the gold medalist in the 50-metre backstroke and is looking to add moremedals at this month’s games.

In addition to his fundraising and athleticpursuits, Hampson is also a regular guestspeaker and accessibility advisor. As a VarietyVillage Ambassador and CNIB EngagementSpeaker, he has spoken at various public andcorporate events to raise awareness of the truepotential of people with a disability. Mature andarticulate beyond his years, Hampson alwayshas a key message.

“Whenever I speak or tell my story at eventsI want people to leave with the idea that I amjust like everyone else and that anyone is capa-ble of helping others,” he says.

Hampson has also lent his expertise to theUniversity of Toronto and the Royal OntarioMuseum (ROM). At U of T he’s been an assis-tant in the adaptive physical education course,helping and evaluating students in creatingactivities for integrated physical educationclasses. In 2005 and 2006, he was a member ofthe ROM Accessibility Advisory Committee,acting as youth advocate, helping to ensure themuseum is fully accessible as it embarked on itsrecent expansion.

As he says, anyone is capable of helpingothers, but given his accomplishments andcontributions over the past 10 years, it may bea little difficult to think of Robert Hampson asbeing just like everyone else.

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17February 2008 WhyNot.

Visa CanadaVisa Canada is a long-standing sup-porter of the Paralympic movementand sponsors several CanadianParalympians through its Team Visaprogram.

Team Visa provides long-term sup-port to Canadian Olympic andParalympic athletes to help them preparefor major international competition. Thatsupport encompasses direct financialassistance, as well as a unique mentoringprogram, whereby athletes have access toParalympic and Olympic veterans whoknow the ropes.

Current Team Visa Paralympic athletes include swimmerBenoit Huôt, Nordic skier and wheelchair racer ColetteBourgonje, Nordic skier Brian McKeever, and wheelchair bas-ketball player Richard Peter. Among the mentors are skier IanBalfour and wheelchair basketball player Marni Abbott-Peter.

As a pioneering sponsor and supporter of the globalParalympic movement, Visa has used its high profile to playan important role in furthering worldwide acceptance andinclusion for people with a disability. It actively promotesawareness of the accomplishments of both athletes and non-athletes with a disability and ensures that its products andservices are accessible to everyone.

At the past three Paralympic Games, Visa has organized andhosted fun events for kids from local schools and rehabilitationcentres. These “Snow Days” and “Fun Days” give the kids andtheir families a chance to meet and see Paralympic athletesdemonstrate their skills and take part ingames.

Off the field, at the 2004 Games inAthens, Visa also took on an impor-tant initiative by working with morethan 2,000 merchants throughout thecity to help them make their storesmore accessible.

When the Paralympic Gamesarrive in Beijing this September, Visawill be playing a key role in their suc-cess once again.

Canadian Auto WorkersAs a socially conscious organiza-tion the Canadian Auto Workers(CAW) is a strong supporter ofpeople with disabilities in Canadaand in developing countries wherethey face even greater challengesand health risks.

Here at home, CAW and its250,000 members provide annualfinancial support to Winnipeg’s St.James-Assiniboia Industries’ pro-gram to provide employment train-ing to special needs youth. Each

year, the group ensures that up to 60 young people eitherobtain meaningful employment or receive pre-employmenttraining in community positions. On a broader scale, CAWis a key supporter of the Easter Seals campaign and CAWmembers donate more than $5 million each year in supportof the United Way.

Internationally, CAW has been a long-standing partnerof the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, a South Africa-based charity with a strong presence in Canada. Throughthis partnership CAW has put its support behind SouthAfrican youth with disabilities. One of the most disadvan-taged groups in a country where they are often just hiddenaway, these young people and their parents are beginningto have better access to much needed services and education.

For the past 10 years CAW has also been a key contribu-tor to landmine removal, victim rehabilitation and local

awareness. One of the worst remnantsof civil conflicts, landmines are still amajor cause of disability in severalcountries, including Mozambique.

Through its Social Justice Fund,CAW has donated more than $2million toward mine clearing andassisting people in afflicted commu-nities.

These are just a few of the many pro-jects the CAW and its members supportto further equality at home and abroad.

Presented each year at the Great Valentine Gala, the CFPDP Corporate Awards recognize the exemplary contributions of Canadian companies and organizations in support of people withphysical disabilities. This year’s recipients are Visa Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers.

2008 Great Valentine Gala Corporate Award Winners

Jesse Heckrodt of Cross Country Canada with Paralympic Nordic skier Tyler Mosher and coach Kaspar Wirz

CAW National President Buzz Hargrove

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19February 2008 WhyNot.

LEGENDARY SIXTIES POP SENSATION

PETER NOONE AND HIS HERMAN’S HERMITS

GUIDE GALA REVELLERS DOWN MEMORY LANE

The “British Invasion” of the 1960s wouldn’t have been the same without the hugely popular Herman’s Hermits and the unique style of co-founder and lead singer, Peter Noone.An instant smash in North America in 1965, Noone and the band had six top ten hits thatyear, including the chart toppers, “Mrs Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” and “I’m Henrythe VIII I Am”, and picked up three Grammy Award nominations.

After getting together in Manchester, England in 1963, Noone and Herman’sHermits released 11 albums between 1964 and 1971. The result was

millions in sales and several Gold records that include “There’s A Kind Of Hush”.

Already a veteran musician and actor at 16, Noone’s unmistak-able voice and on-stage charisma helped rocket the band tostardom. They performed to packed halls and arenas through-out the UK and North America, appeared on every majortelevision show, and graced the covers of internationalnews and music magazines.

A consummate performer, Noone hasn’t missed a beatover the years. He tours for the pleasure of

it and continues to sell out everyshow with Herman’s Hermits

Starring Peter Noone. Hisappearance at this year’sGreat Valentine Gala willbe a rare pleasure fromone of the stars of the“British Invasion”.

Herman’s Hermits front man Peter Noone

A GALA INVASION

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24WhyNot. February 2008

To reach its goal of a top 5 finish at the Paralympic SummerGames in Beijing, Canada will have to pull out all the stops,says chef de mission Debbie Low. And in more ways than one.

More than 4,000 athletes will be competing in 20 sportsin this the 13th Paralympics and the growth of the Games hasproduced increased interest and investment in Paralympicsports around the world. “Competition at the ParalympicGames has definitely intensified,” Low observes. “The num-ber of countries fielding delegations to the Paralympics hasincreased rapidly, growing from 125 countries in Sydney 2000to 136 in Athens 2004, to more than 140 countries expectedin Beijing.”

“We’re totally optimistic (about Canada’s chances),” shecontinues. “We’ve done some great things in the last fewyears, specializing in sport sciences. The one thing we doneed is more full-time coaches – both on the Paralympic andOlympic side, I think it’s one of our biggest gaps.”

As chef de mission (a French term meaning “leader of theteam”), Low will be overseeing some 250 team members – 150athletes, and 100 people in support (including operations,medical and media teams). Her primary responsibility is toensure that everything is in place, “so the athletes can prepare,and all they have to do is focus on competing.” That includesconsiderations ranging from crisis management, to the com-fortable co-habitation of team members from many differentsports in the Olympic Village. “You’re trying to merge theminto one Canadian team, team building,” says Low, who wasassistant chef de mission for the 2004 Games in Athens.

Along with the ever-increasing standard of competition,culture shock will be another significant challenge for Lowand Team Canada when they arrive in Beijing, with its’ mon-strous population of 14 million, different language and cus-toms. Having competed in previous Paralympics in Athens(2004) and Sydney (2000), blind 1500-metre favourite JasonDunkerley acknowledges some concerns. “It’s a part of theworld I’ve never been to,” he says. “I think with Europe thereare more commonalities. But I’m looking forward to theprospect of being at the Paralympics, and also in a differentcountry. You always have to prepare yourself well for a longperiod away from home.”

“I want to make it as similar to home as possible which isa challenge,” Dunkerley elaborates. “You spend a lot of timein the Paralympic Village, and it’s fairly isolated. You can go alittle stir crazy. You need not to think too much about it, butbe ready.” The team’s itinerary will include a number of sitevisits prior to the Paralympics. Low emphasizes it will also bea chance, “to get to know the organizing committee, and tryand get a preferred location in the village near the venues.”

Once again, Canada’s athletics (track and field), and swimteams can be expected to lead the medal count. But the men’sand women’s wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, goal-ball, and equestrian teams are all earmarked as having a goodchance for gold in Beijing. Both the men’s and women’s bas-ketball teams qualified for the Beijing Good Luck tourna-ment, which was scheduled for January 20-25.

“The opportunity to play and train at the venues we willcompete in at the 2008 Paralympics is a very important partof our preparation. This is a key step on the road to our goal(of winning an unprecedented third consecutive goldmedal),” says men’s team head coach Mike Frogley. “We arereally looking forward to going to China, and testing out ourskills against some of the best teams in the world.”

GUNNING FOR GOLDAlthough Canadians have high hopes heading into this year’s SummerParalympics in Beijing, they’ll be facing some stiff competition

Katarina Roxon in Rio deJaneiro last summer for theParapanamerican Games

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25February 2008 WhyNot.

With the women’s basketball team since1992, guard Jen Krempien has collected threeParalympic gold medals and four world cham-pionships. “(But) the competition is strongerthan ever,” says the 32-year-old Vancouver resi-dent. “The top 4 women’s teams in the worldare very strong – Canada, Germany, Australia,and the U.S. I think it could be any one ofthem.” While Canada claimed last year’s worldchampionships, the team is working throughinjuries to a number of key players (includingstar power forward Danielle Peers). Under headcoach Tim Frick, Krempien says the key will be,“to excel at the fundamentals, and win everypossession.”

Because they often train together at localclubs, she finds members of the men’s andwomen’s teams feed off each other’s success. “It’sa great climate to train in,” she comments. “It’ssuch a well-knit community, so if the men winit’s almost like the women won as well.”

The holder of three Paralympic medals, and a double goldmedalist in the 2006 IPC World Athletics Championships inthe Netherlands, Dunkerley has ambitions beyond winninggold in the 1500m (with his guide Greg Dailey). He also wantsto shatter the world record of 4:05.11 set by Great Britain’sRobert Matthews in 1989. “This will be my third Paralympics,and I’ve been second twice. We’re definitely training with thatin mind,” he says. “I think mainly, I want to be in shape to run4 minutes flat – obviously faster than the world record. Thatwill give us a chance to run any type of race. Often interna-tional races for the blind can be quite slow. You need to havea strong kick.”

A fully carded athlete since 1998, Dunkerley is one ofmany Canadian team members who are getting up in compet-itive years. He holds a B.A. in international development fromthe University of Guelph, and spent the past year working forthe Royal Bank of Canada under the RBC Olympian Program.He also played guitar on a friend’s folk CD. “As far as whetherI’ll keep going, I will make that decision after Beijing,” hestates. “It definitely is an older team, and the challenge is to seethere’s younger athletes coming up for sure – like my brotherJon (27), who hopes to make the team this year (in track).

Says Krempien, a clinical dietician at B.C. Children’sHospital who is working on her Masters in Nutrition, “Rightnow I’m still focusing on September of ’08, but I think this will

Canada’s women's wheelchair basketball team warming up at Athens Paralympics

A runner with a visualimpairment and his guideat the 2004 SummerParalympics in Athens

Photo Credit: Canadian Paralympic Committee/Jean Baptiste Benavant

Photo Credit: Canadian Paralympic Committee/Benoit Pelosse

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be my last Games. It’s just too hard asa Canadian athlete to train full-time,and have a life and a career.”

For Low, President and CEO of theCanadian Sport Centre Ontario, beingnamed chef de mission was, “a hugeprivilege. It’s something I’ve wanted todo for a long time,” she says.

“I was involved in Toronto’s bid toget the 2008 Games. I worked on thatfor four years. And for me, personally,going to ‘08 is even that much morespecial (because) I am half Chinese –my dad is from China. So that’s kindof neat.”

Many observers anticipate theBeijing Games could mean a big stepforward for China’s 82 million dis-abled people – particularly, the 1 mil-lion living in Beijing, of whom just 7per cent are currently employed! Inthe run up to the Games, the city hashosted regular “barrier-free days” tohighlight accessibility issues. And thegovernment has invested more than$10 million in the purchase of specialtransport – including two obstacle-free trains, 55 subway stationupgrades, 1,300 kilometres of side-walks specially paved for the blind,and 2,100 wheelchair crossings.

“For sure, I think it’s a greatopportunity for Chinese people withdisabilities. Before they weren’t reallyintegrated into society. Now you seeaccessibility ramps,” adds Low, whosehusband Steve Bialowas is a formerassistant coach of the men’s wheel-chair basketball team. “It’s such an oldcountry. Even when we went toAthens we saw the differences. TheGames brought accessibility to thecountry.”

Krempien agrees. “People withdisabilities haven’t been embracedand welcomed in Chinese society.Hopefully, the Paralympics will help. Ithink it’s going to be an interestingexperience for us, to hopefully be arole model for people with disabili-ties.”

26WhyNot. February 2008

When Adaptive Rowing makes its debut in the Beijing Paralympics this summer, Team Canada will behitting the water with high hopes and the maximum allowable contingent. That’s not bad, consideringit was only introduced to the True North in 2001, four years before the sport received the official nodfrom the International Olympic Committee for Paralympic status.

“It has been quite a ramp-up,” concedes Allison Sheard, coordinator of the National AdaptiveTeam for Rowing Canada Aviron. “We now have recreational, competitive and elite athletes in quite ashort period of time. We’ve been performing strongly the last two years. The level of competition hasincreased dramatically.”

At last summer’s FISA world championships in Berlin, Canada qualified the maximum nine adap-tive rowers for Beijing – the Mixed Coxed Four, one Double, and two Singles. Final selections will bemade in June, provided the boats meet Paralympic Committee time standards.

Perhaps Canada’s best hope for a medal rests with the Legs, Trunk and Arms Mixed Coxed Fourteam which has medaled two years running at the world championships. That includes Victoria Nolan(Toronto), coxswain Laura Comeau (St. Catharines), Scott Rand (Calgary), and Meghan Montgomery(Winnipeg). Another strong candidate for the podium is Peter Morel (Ottawa) in the Men’s Singles.

Sheard founded the nation’s first Adaptive program at the Argonaut Rowing Club in Toronto sevenyears ago, offering people with vision impairments a chance to try out the popular sport. Today, theclub offers programs for those with visual, mental, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, polio,spinal cord and other injuries. The event is divided into three categories: Legs, Trunk and Arms (thosewho can do the full rowing strokes); Trunk and Arms (without the leg motions of rowing); and ArmsOnly (where participants scull while strapped in place).

The growth of the sport has been remarkable, notes Sheard. “We started in Ontario in ’01, andwe’re now in five provinces, and there are athletes coast to coast. That’s a big thing.” Probably thebiggest obstacle, says Sheard, has been the accessibility of local docking arrangements. “Some of theclubs really aren’t that accessible.”

In Beijing, all competitors will use the same, specially adapted boats, making funding yet anoth-er challenge. “They’re not boats used so much in Canada, so we’ve spent some money on that,”explains Sheard. “The boats tend to be a bit more stable for the athletes with mobility problems.They’re a little bit wider. And Arms Only boats have pontoons added, to keep them from tipping.”

“We’re just learning how to modify the boats,” she elaborates. “There’s a lot of biomechanicalstuff we’re looking at – some significant changes in how we rig boats for the Arms Only, and the loading of the oars. It makes the coaches really step back and look at rowing.”

While Australia, Great Britain and Germany are traditional strongholds for the sport, Sheard (whohas coached both international and recreational adaptive athletes) anticipates Canada will make astrong showing.

And she’s expecting Adaptive Rowing will make quite a splash in its Paralympic debut. “Oh I absolutely think so. Judging by the last world championships, the quality of rowers has risen dramatically. The Mixed Cox Four is arguably one of the best races for all the countries. I fully expectpeople will be cheering.”

Canada’s mixed cox four on the water at theWorld Championships in Munich last summer

MAKING A SPLASHTeam Canada ramps up for the Paralympic debut of Adaptive Rowing in Beijing

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In what is being touted as aworld first, the RoyalCanadian Mint is spot-lighting the Paralympicswith the special issue of acommemorative 25-centcoin depicting wheelchaircurling.

Unveiled on July 10 atToronto’s Variety Village, theMint’s Paralympic tribute isone of a series of special editioncoins the Mint is issuing over thenext three years celebrating theVancouver 2010 Olympic and ParalympicWinter Games. The full run, totalling 350 million coins,will commemorate the 12 Olympic winter sports andtwo Paralympic winter sports. A second Paralympic trib-ute coin, featuring sledge hockey, will be minted in Juneof 2009.

The wheelchair curl-ing quarter was designedby Vancouver artist GlennGreen. It features a curlerin the centre, a stylizedMaple Leaf, and theinscription Vancouver2010.

With 22 million ofthem now in circulation(available at the RoyalBank, and participatingPetro-Canada outlets),Royal Canadian Mintpresident and CEO Ian

E. Bennett says the coins area fun way to get Canadiansexcited about the Games.“The coins are a wonder-ful way for Canadians toconnect with the Games,and to hold on to a lasting

reminder of what is sure tobe a very special time in our

history,” says Bennett.The Paralympics are also a

great vehicle for empowering allpeople with physical disabilities,

says Canadian Paralympic Committeepresident Carla Qualtrough. “We are confident

that this world first from the Royal Canadian Mint willbring a heightened awareness to this movement inCanada,” says Qualtrough.

At Vancouver, no less than 600 Paralympians areanticipated to compete infive sports comprising 64medal events.

Wheelchair curling madeits debut as a Paralympic sportat the 2006 Winter Games inTorino. Its profile amongCanadian sports fans receiveda huge boost when TeamCanada brought home thegold medal.

The RCM is also offer-ing the special issue cointhrough its web site,www.mint.ca, or by calling1-800-267-1871.

28WhyNot. February 2008

A SHINING TRIBUTE

Chris Daw, skip of Canada’s gold medal curling team at the 2006 Torino Paralympics, addresses ceremony at Variety Village

for the world’s first Paralympic commemorative coin.

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32WhyNot. February 2008

“I THINK IT’S AWESOME,” says MasterSeaman Eric Payne. Senior Stewardwith the HMS Queen Charlotte out ofCharlottetown, P.E.I., Payne is one ofthe members of our Armed Forces whohas recently signed on for the CanadianParalympic Committee’s (CPC) SoldierOn program.

Conceived with the endorsement ofthe Department of National Defence(DND) as an engaging way to help thenation’s service men and womenrebound from debilitating injuriesresulting in permanent disability, theCPC has undertaken to raise the fundsto purchase adaptive sports equipment -- like wheelchairs ($6,000), sit skis($4,000), hockey sledges ($895), andprosthetic limbs ($4,000 to $50,000).

Soldier On introduces service peo-ple to the joys of Paralympic sport andeases the burden of the sometimesprohibitive costs, says Payne. “It’s amatter of resources. And it gets con-fusing, because you don’t know what’savailable out there,” adds the serviceman, whose left leg was removedabove the knee following an April2005 motorcycle accident.

Before his accident, the 41-year-oldfather of two played just about everysport going, including hockey, flag foot-ball and volleyball for intersectionalArmed Forces teams dating back morethan two decades. Thanks to SoldierOn, he started playing wheelchair bas-ketball, “as a way to have some fun, dosome networking, and get a little active.I had already reached the part of myrehab where I could walk with pros-thetics, but I wanted to do more thanjust that. The more active you are, themore active you can be.”

This winter Payneplans to branch out andtry sit skiing, three trackskiing and sledge hockey.He says the support to befound among peers hashelped ward off thedepression that hits manywounded and injuredsoldiers. For one thing,notes Payne, the injuriesput everyone on a com-mon footing. “You’re like-minded, so if we want tojoke about able-bodiedpeople (it’s okay). It’s atime to laugh, really.”

Injured in a parachuting accident,soldier Steve Daniel was the first recipi-ent of a basketball wheelchair throughSoldier On. Like Payne, Daniel sayswheelchair sports have played a hugerole in his recovery. “Any injury whichconfines a person to a wheelchair can bea very isolating experience,” says Daniel.“I spent 14 years working in an envi-ronment where teamwork, physical fit-ness, and camaraderie were a huge partof the job. The biggest part of the reha-bilitation process was figuring out howto bring those elements back into mylife.”

In May, the CPC and DND orga-nized a summit for soldiers and relatedorganizations where participants had anopportunity to mingle with Canada’sParalympic athletes, coaches, and com-mittee members.

“We got to meet the Paralympicteams, and that makes it easier to seewhat’s possible,” Payne says. “You seepeople with the same type of challenges,and they’re on the national team.”

Barry Winfield, president of theCanadian Paralympic Foundation, sug-gests the Soldier On program willinspire soldiers to look beyond theirphysical disabilities and envision a newlife of opportunity. “Through sports,they will reconnect, socialize, sharecommon interests, and open doors toother opportunities in life,” predictsWinfield.

Many of Soldier On’s participantsare in tremendous physical condition,adds Winfield, and may themselves oneday become Paralympians – perhaps asearly as 2010, in time for the WinterOlympics in Vancouver.

Through Soldier On, the CPC hopesto also encourage front-line serviceproviders and health care professionalsto use sport to rehabilitate woundedand injured soldiers. It is also hoped theprogram will encourage grass rootscommunity sport for people with dis-abilities, helping local organizationsdevelop lively Paralympic programs oftheir own.

COMING BACK STRONGThe Canadian Paralympic Committee launches a new program to introduce thenation’s wounded service men and women to the joys of Paralympic sport

Sledge hockey player Herve Lordat the Soldier On ParalympicSport Summit at CarletonUniversity last May

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