Rick Hansen will be in Castlegar for a sturgeon release event on Monday, April 23. The visit happens to almost coincide with the 25th anniversary of Hansen's Man in Motion World Tour. The 25th anniversary relay, which is going all across the world, will be coming through Castlegar on Sunday, April 22.
"It's almost 25 years to the day when I went through on my original Man in Motion tour," said Hansen. "The day before I arrive, the relay comes through Castlegar. It has a chance to be in a variety of places around the world.
"The Many in Motion Initiative moves from one Man in Motion to Many. It reflects over 25 years in the over 650 communities that I travelled through," Hansen continued.
"It honours the people who have made a difference in making their communities more healthy and more inclusive. It also sets the goals for the future and continues to inspire people to that combined vision."
The relay through Castlegar will feature several prominent local residents as medal bearers, chosen for their ability to make a difference in the community.
"There's going to be some amazing people," said Hansen. "Brian Bebelman, the Pass Creek fire chief, is an incredible leader in the community. He's helped build the rescue society. He's been very involved in the local golf fundraiser to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy.
"We're honoured that youth are also medal bearers from schools. The enthusiasm of schools and youth from across Canada and across the world is really encouraging because it makes me believe our global community is continuing to grow and our best work will be over the next 25 years as well."
Another Castlegarian who will be part of the relay is 13-year-old Cole Hoodicoff, who had a severe spinal cord injury while skiing at Red Mountain in Rossland which left him paralyzed below the chest.
"Cole is going to be there. He's one of the youth we're so proud of," said Hansen. "He's an example, in the old days it was an anomaly to see a young kid with a disability in a school environment in a small community like Castlegar. Now it's kind of normal. It's expected. There's still barriers but it's fantastic to see someone like Cole just getting on with life and staying positive and being a young boy with hopes and dreams."
Hansen had a chance to meet with Hoodicoff at Vancouver Children's Hospital and was inspired by him.
"He's a great young man."
Hansen is looking at the anniversary relay as a chance to not only look back at all that he and his foundation have accomplished, but also to look ahead to the future.
"What's important with this 25 year anniversary was to look back at the original dream of the tour and thank the people who helped complete that original journey," said Hansen. "Also, it was about recognizing and paying tribute to the progress and the people who helped drive that progress over the last 25 years. Also, I want to reflect my vision and interest, which have expanded beyond just finding a cure for spinal cord injuries and making communities accessible. I really care about a healthy and inclusive world. I really wanted the relay to reflect the expansion of that original vision and set the tone for my direction over the next 25 years."
Hansen hopes the relay will help people to make a difference in their community.
"Most importantly, my dream for the future is to build a global community of youth difference makers that can believe in themselves to think about what they care about, and play their role in helping make the world more inclusive. That's the tone of the 25th," he said.
"There is a part of it that is fund-raising and helping our foundation to move forward. The dominant focus is a sense of celebration and pointing the direction of the future so we can continue to move forward."
Hansen has been busy preparing for the 25th anniversary of the relay, but still finds time for himself and his family.
"It's been a very intense and busy two year period since the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which was the launch of our 25th," said Hansen. "The good news is I don't have to be out on the road everyday like the old days. I do need to balance it with my family and health. There are broader priorities than say just the relay and the 25th anniversary."
Hansen continues to build up programs with his foundation and form partnerships.
"It's always tricky to balance," he said. "But, fortunately, I have the support I need at home and with my team in the foundation. We just make the best choices we can and try to make sure we walk that line over time."
Hansen was able to take the time to go bungee jumping with Rick Mercer for a TV spot.
"That was terrifying as I went out the door and down for my jump," said Hansen, who was strapped into his wheelchair for the jump. "I had a tremendous amount of fun with Rick Mercer. He's a great guy."
Hansen was reluctant to take the challenge, but was urged on by his daughters.
"Normally, I probably would've passed," he said. "As a matter of fact, when he called me, I said 'why don't you come sturgeon fishing with me and we can tag and release some sturgeon of the Fraser?' He told me, 'Rick, I'd done a fishing show with Bob Rae, the former premier of Ontario. We didn't catch any fish and we had to do the show skinny-dipping in the lake.' I said, 'maybe I'll reconsider the bungee jumping."
Hansen said the bungee jumping stunt was also about overcoming barriers.
"You create artificial constructs in your mind," he said. "Life is a journey. Sometimes you need these metaphoric examples to stretch your imagination and potential. It makes me realize that whether it be recreational activities like bungee jumping or in my leadership work, that you can stretch your horizons and create new paradigms to continue to make a difference."