The Canadian Paralympic Committee announced the selection of Ljiljana (Lilo) Ljubisic, Clayton Gerien, Michael Edgson, Dr. Earl Church and Senator Joyce Fairbairn to the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame. The five new entrants to the Hall will be officially introduced at the Canadian Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, taking place at the Ottawa Convention Centre on October 21, 2011.
A resident of Burnaby, British Columbia, Ljubisic is a five-time Paralympic athlete who represented Canada in Goalball and Para-Athletics. She was the first blind athlete to spin with a discus and won a total of six Paralympic medals in addition to 19 international podium finishes. Throughout her competitive career and in retirement, Ljubisic continued to contribute to sport as a leader through her involvement with the International Paralympic Committee Athletes Council, the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) and AthletesCAN.
"Lilo has played a central role in ensuring the voice of Paralympic athletes is present at decision making tables nationally and internationally," said Jasmine Northcott, Executive Director of AthletesCAN. "As the longest serving AthletesCAN board member, Lilo played a key part in shaping the early years of AthletesCAN, and as a member of the International Paralympic Committee Athletes' Council, laid the foundation for the athlete voice at the international level. Her demonstrated leadership and commitment to excellence as an athlete and as a leader has enabled Lilo to contribute to sport both on and off the field. It is this rare combination of skills that makes Lilo recognizable in the Canadian sport system and internationally as a true leader and an individual who will certainly continue to contribute significantly to sport well into the future."
Pilot Butte, Saskatchewan's Clayton Gerein was not just one of the finest Paralympians produced by Canada, he was also a champion of the Paralympic Movement itself. Gerein began his Paralympic career as a swimmer but found success in athletics, winning seven gold medals and 15 in total, over seven Paralympic Games between 1984 and 2008. He also won a number of national championships in Wheelchair Rugby previous to his Paralympic career before concentrating on the sport of athletics. A three-time Saskatchewan Athlete of the Year, Gerein was also a mentor to many young athletes through the Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports Association as a board member and a "Bridging the Gap" coordinator for South Saskatchewan. He passed away in January, 2010.
"My life was forever altered the day I met Clayton," said Lisa Franks, a Paralympian in Athletics and Wheelchair Basketball. "Clayton introduced me to wheelchair racing, and coached me while I competed on the Canadian Team. Both as an athlete and a coach, he offered a unique wealth of knowledge. His dedication to sport was an example to follow. He completed each training cycle with precision and truly loved competition."
The final person inducted into the athlete category is Michael Edgson, who was born in North Vancouver but spent his youth in Nanaimo, B.C. One of the most decorated Paralympic athletes in Canadian history, Edgson, a visually-impaired swimmer, captured 18 gold and three silver medals while setting nine world records over three Paralympic Games. A three-time BC Athlete of the Year recipient, he was also the first Paralympic swimmer to be inducted into Swimming Canada's Circle of Excellence. He is also a three-time B.C. Disabled Athlete of the Year winner and currently sits on the CPC Board of Directors.
"I am honoured and privileged to be part of the Paralympic Movement from the 1980s and see it grow to what it has become today," said Edgson. "I am proud of how our Canadian Paralympians compete on the world stage and of the vast improvements made at the grassroots parasport level. I am flattered to receive this appointment to the Hall, and to take on the responsibility that this privilege entails."
Entering the Hall of Fame in the coaches' category is Dr. Earl Church of Welland, Ontario. Dr. Church, who is currently coaching athletics at the Universite de Moncton and South East Athletics in New Brunswick, was already a well-known and respected athletics coach before entering Paralympic sport in 1989. His involvement grew over the next 19 years to include coaching in four Paralympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004) in addition to many World Championships and other international events. He was part of the coaching staff of the first fully integrated athletics team at the 1994 World Athletic Championships. Many of his athletes, including three time Paralympic gold medallist, Joanne Berdan, have earned world and Paralympic medals and credit Dr. Church for providing them with the boost they needed to make it to the next level. He has also served as a mentor to many Para-Athletics coaches.
"I know that there are many outstanding coaches who deserve this opportunity so I am both humbled and honoured to receive this award," said Dr. Church. "To be inducted into the Paralympic Hall of Fame is really special."
Senator Joyce Fairbairn rounds out the 2011 Hall of Fame List, nominated in the builder category. Senator Fairbairn represented the Government of Canada at the Nagano 1998 Paralympic Winter Games. While at those Games she learned that there may not be enough money to send a team to the next Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia, and she founded the "Friends of the Paralympics", to raise money for the Canadian Paralympic Committee and its athletes. Following the Sydney Games in 2000, this group became the Canadian Paralympic Foundation, and she became its first Chairperson.
"That request from Heritage Minister, the Honourable Sheila Copps, back in February, 1998 to represent the government of Canada at the Paralympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan changed my life forever," said Senator Fairbairn. "This is where I met a group of the most outstanding athletes and ambassadors for our country that I have ever known. I then decided to make championing the Paralympic Movement one my life ambitions. Fourteen years and seven Paralympics later, I am truly honoured and humbled to be recognized for this association."
About the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame
Initiated in 2000, the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates those who have made a significant contribution to the growth and development of the Paralympic Movement in Canada. These individuals will be acknowledged within the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame Honoured Members section located in the Olympic and Paralympic Gallery at Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary. Joining the ranks of many incredible individuals who have established the success of the Paralympic Movement, inductees to the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame will be celebrated and admired by all Canadians who visit Canada's Sports Hall of Fame now and in the future. The Canadian Paralympic Committee holds an induction process every two years, during a non-Games year.
Please join us for an inspiring evening to celebrate and honour those who have made a significant contribution to the growth and development of the Paralympic Movement in Canada at the 2011 Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
