Rick Hansen named honorary colonel
OTTAWA – The Defence Department is marking the 25th anniversary of Rick Hansen’s round-the-world wheelchair trek by naming him honorary colonel of its joint personnel support unit.
The unit offers services and programs to sick or injured military personnel, both serving and retired, and their families, as well as the families of those killed.
Hansen’s original Man in Motion wheelchair marathon took 26 months, covered 34 countries and raised $26 million for research into spinal cord injuries.
The Rick Hansen Foundation has raised more than $250 million in total and continues to investigate advances in research and improvements in quality of life.
Honorary colonels help foster morale within their units and help ensure that military customs and traditions are maintained.
Appointments normally last three years.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay said it is an honour to have Hansen involved in the military.
“I have no doubt that he will continue to be an inspiration to all our men and women in uniform and their families who find the strength to face the tremendous challenges that come with their situation and for their desire to recover and live accomplished lives in the face of adversity,” MacKay said in a statement.
Hansen said he hopes to be able to provide encouragement to soldiers dealing with serious problems.
“We each have the power within in us to take small steps to overcome extreme obstacles,” he said. “When we have hope, we have possibility.”
More from metronews.ca
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Rick Hansen Appointed Honorary Colonel of the Canadian Forces Joint Personnel Support Unit
News Release / May 22, 2012 / Project number: NR - 12.083
OTTAWA
– The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, announced
today the appointment of Mr. Rick Hansen as Honorary Colonel of the
Canadian Forces (CF) Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU), an
organization that offers dedicated programs and services to support
serving and retired ill and injured military personnel, as well as
their families, and the families of those who lost their lives while
serving. “We are truly honoured to have such a remarkable person as Mr. Rick Hansen join our military family by accepting this important appointment,” said Minister MacKay. “I have no doubt that he will continue to be an inspiration to all our men and women in uniform and their families who find the strength to face the tremendous challenges that come with their situation and for their desire to recover and live accomplished lives in the face of adversity.”
Rick Hansen, a renowned Canadian Athlete and founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation and the Rick Hansen Institute, grew up in small-town British Columbia with a single dream: to one day represent Canada at the Olympic Games. But at the age of 15, he was thrown from the back of a pick-up truck, paralyzing him from the waist down. Unwilling to give up on his love for sport and fortified with a new dream, Hansen became the first person with a disability to graduate from the University of British Columbia with a degree in physical education. Ten years later, he set off on his Man In Motion World Tour, travelling 40,000 kilometres through 34 countries and raising $26 million for spinal cord research
Upon returning home from his epic journey he founded the Rick Hansen Foundation, which has raised more than $252 million to help find a cure for spinal cord injury and to build an accessible, inclusive society for all Canadians. Hansen was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1987. He is also a member of the Order of British Columbia, a recipient of the Diamond Jubilee Medal and one of Canada's most decorated Paralympic athletes.
Minister MacKay’s decision to appoint Mr. Hansen as Honourary Colonel of the CF Joint Personnel Support Unit was met with absolute delight by Rear-Admiral Andy Smith, Chief Military Personnel. “Mr. Hansen’s life-long devotion to making a difference in how people with a disability are perceived, and his ability to inspire them to move forward is truly fitting to one of the main priorities of the Canadian Forces, that of caring for our own,” said Rear-Admiral Smith. “I’m convinced this extraordinary individual will do great things for our deserving people and for their families. We could not have appointed a better person to this position.”
"I am absolutely thrilled and humbled to be appointed Honorary Colonel of the JPSU." said Mr. Hansen. "I look forward to sharing my own experiences with all JPSU members, their families and the families of our men and women who lost their lives in service of Canada," he added. "My goal in accepting this honour is to provide some encouragement to those faced with life-changing challenges. We each have the power within in us to take small steps to overcome extreme obstacles. When we have hope, we have possibility."
As an Honorary Colonel, Mr. Hansen’s role will be to help foster morale within his unit, help build relationships through the honorary colonel network and ensure that the customs and traditions of the CF are maintained. The Minister of National Defence, on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Staff, is the approving authority for all appointments. Tenures are normally for a period of three years.
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Rick Hansen to host Day of Honour for Canada’s role in Afghan war
Athlete Rick Hansen will host a
multimillion-dollar National Day of Honour May 9 to commemorate Canada’s
sacrifice and contribution to the war in Afghanistan.
The
12-year military engagement cost the lives of 158 Canadian soldiers,
one diplomat, one journalist and two civilian contractors. The Canadian
government is estimated to have spent upwards of $11-billion on the
conflict.
The focus of the celebrations will be
Parliament Hill, although cities across Canada are being encouraged to
hold their own ceremonies.
The May 9
event will begin with a parade from the Canadian War Museum to
Parliament Hill. It will be followed by two minutes of silence, a fly-by
salute and public viewing of the Afghanistan Memorial Vigil in Centre
Block’s Hall of Honour. The memorial is a series of plaques represented
Canadians who died there as well as fallen U.S. soldiers under Canadian
command.
Families of Canadians who died
in Afghanistan are being invited to attend, and their travel bills will
be covered, the government said.
Representatives from Canadian military units who served in Afghanistan will also attend.
“Over
the course of 12 years in Afghanistan more than 40,000 members of the
Canadian Armed Forces served there, fighting insurgents, along with
hundreds of Canadian civilians who worked on development projects.”
Canadians “worked to defeat terrorism and give Afghans a chance at a
better future,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
“Canada played a central role in Afghanistan for more than a decade,” Mr. Harper said.
“With
Canada’s help, thousands of members of the Afghan National Security
Forces have been trained, hundreds of kilometres of roads have been
built or repaired, dozens of schools have been restored, thousands of
teachers trained, and millions of children have been vaccinated against
diseases like polio,” the Prime Minister said.
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http://nova0000scotia.blogspot.ca/2015/05/canada-military-news-why-arent-more.html
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RICK HANSEN- NEVER SURRENDER 30 years ago this month, David Foster and John Parr released the song St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion), written about the Man In Motion World Tour. The song became the anthem of the entire tour and helped keep me motivated to push through mental and physical challenges.
St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)- CANADA RICK HANSEN'S MAN IN MOTION TOUR 1985
Disabilities are Abilities in Disguise
BLOGSPOT:
CANADA MILITARY NEWS: O Canada...sigh, Why aren’t there more (visible/invisible) disabled TV Anchors, Media, Radio, OnLine folks representing us on air and radio AND POLITICS?-Here’s how 2do it-make the world proud/ #1BRising /UN Peacekeepers stop raping/OmarKhadr dishonours Canada and our troops who died 4 Afghan freedom
http://nova0000scotia.blogspot.ca/2015/05/canada-military-news-why-arent-more.html
St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVf4_WglzWA
Rick Hansen
A world-class competitor in wheelchair sports, he shared athlete of the year honours with Wayne Gretzky in 1983. His story is recounted in Man in Motion (1987). In 1987 he became a Companion of the Order of Canada. Hansen was the commissioner general for the Canadian Pavillion at Expo 1990 in Australia. He continues to be active in promoting disabled athletics and serves on a number of government organizations that deal with the needs of the physically disabled.
Hansen, Rick, Video
On the Great Wall of China (courtesy CBC).
Hansen, Rick
Hansen's Man in Motion tour travelled through 34 countries, including China, where he is shown on the Great Wall (courtesy CBC).Hansen, Rick
Rick Hansen, wheelchair athlete (b at Port Alberni, BC 26 Aug 1957). Inspired by the example of his friend, Terry Fox, Hansen left Vancouver 21 Mar 1985 to travel, in a wheelchair, the equivalent of the distance around the world. With the goal of seeking to increase public support and awareness of the capabilities of the physically disabled, his "Man in Motion" tour raised $20 million which is to be directed to spinal cord research, rehabilitation and wheelchair sports. Before his return to Vancouver 22 May 1987, Hansen travelled through 34 countries, including the US, the UK, China, the former USSR and Australia, before starting across Canada. His odyssey lasted 792 days, 467 of which were spent on the road. He wore out 117 tires and 11 pairs of gloves.A world-class competitor in wheelchair sports, he shared athlete of the year honours with Wayne Gretzky in 1983. His story is recounted in Man in Motion (1987). In 1987 he became a Companion of the Order of Canada. Hansen was the commissioner general for the Canadian Pavillion at Expo 1990 in Australia. He continues to be active in promoting disabled athletics and serves on a number of government organizations that deal with the needs of the physically disabled.
Rick Hansen - in China
Motivation- Rick Hansen - u can do anything
Rick Hansen Great Wall of China
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CANADA MILITARY NEWS-Wheelchair
Rights in Canada/Disabled have great sex lives and always have-global (July 11,
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in disguise baby!
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God bless our troops, then,,,, now... always
Standing Strong & True (For Tomorrow) Official Music Video (HD)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuNeV0fMflw
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