“It's an opportunity to educate the general public on the impacts of spinal cord injuries and the District's commitment to improve accessibility and inclusion for all its citizens and visitors,” said Paul Lalli, Accessibility Advisory Committee Chair.

Wheels In Motion brings communities together and touches the lives of thousands of Canadians with spinal cord injury every year. Funds raised support a wide range of life-enhancing programs that allow people with spinal cord injury to fully participate in their community and live life to its full potential.

Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion Squamish will feature a head-to-head wheelchair challenge where teams race against the clock through an obstacle course designed to foster a better understanding of what it is like to navigate through life in a wheelchair. The event includes some Paralympic sport demos, to showcase local adaptive sports programs, which will be able to foster athletes from the grassroots level all the way to the podium.  It will allow further exhibition of the local accessible facilities and programming laid out for the upcoming 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Wheels In Motion is for people of all ages and all abilities. No one is left on the sidelines with on-site activities to get everyone moving including wheel/walks, wheelchair sport demos, kids’ crafts, main stage entertainment and more.

Funds raised by Wheels In Motion support projects that respond to the priority needs of Canadians living with spinal cord injury on an individual basis, as well as through public initiatives that enhance the quality of life of people living with SCI in the greater community.  Funds help support projects in the areas of equipment and assistive devices, sports and leisure, education, skills development, peer support, access to research studies and integration back into the community following a spinal cord injury.

Squamish has already benefited from the Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion Quality of Life Program.  Local resident Kristen McBride identified a need at the recreation centre and through her dedication and fundraising efforts; Brennan Park Recreation Centre was retrofitted with automatic door openers.  Additions like these continue to move us closer to the goal of both Wheels In Motion and the Accessibility Advisory Committee, to make our community fully accessible and inclusive.  By removing barriers and creating more accessible neighborhoods, we are helping individuals with disabilities live life to its fullest potential and making our communities stronger, richer and more vibrant.

Select Committees were formed by Council to make recommendations to Council. They include many dedicated volunteers from the local community who contribute their ideas, vision and expertise to move important community projects forward. A minimum of one Council member and one District staff advisory member serve on each committee along with members of the community at large. On many Committees there are also members of specific organizations who contribute their expertise and knowledge in various fields. Committee appointments are made for a one-year term in January of each year, unless otherwise specified.

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For more information contact Robin Arthurs 604.815.5006