RICK HANSEN HAD A DREAM..... HIS JOURNEY CONTINUES... »
25 years ago Rick Hansen had a dream – to make the world more accessible and inclusive and to find a cure for spinal cord injury. Inspired
by a deep-seated belief that anything is possible, Rick’s ‘big dream’ took shape in the form of the Man In Motion World Tour. For 26 months
he and his team wheeled more than 40,000 km through 34 countries, raising awareness of the potential of people with disabilities. The
completion of this epic Tour was a testament to willpower, physical prowess and the ability to lead a seemingly impossible campaign. It was
the beginning of a life-long and selfless journey to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Now, twenty five years after his legendary Man In Motion World Tour, Rick Hansen’s journey to realize his dream of a world inclusive and
accessible to all, continues. Building on a lifetime of extraordinary accomplishments, Rick believes his best work is still in front of him;
challenging us to dream extraordinary dreams, to focus attention on accessibility and to remind everyone that when we remove barriers,
anything is possible.
Beginning on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador, the 25th Anniversary Relay will retrace the Canadian
segment of the original Tour, but this time one man in motion will be represented and celebrated by many in motion; engaging 7,000
participants from across Canada who have made their own difference in the lives of others.
With the goal of the Relay to recognize these everyday difference makers, Rick Hansen will not be wheeling across the entire country as he
did 25 years ago. Rather, he will be present at a number of stops throughout the country during the nine month 25th Anniversary Relay, and
will join individuals as often as possible along their segment of the Relay.
The 7,000 Medal-Bearers will pass the singular Rick Hansen Medal to each other in 250 meter segments, as the Relay weaves its way
across the country. The Rick Hansen Medal - created by the Royal Canadian Mint - is not only a symbol of its namesake and Rick's
inspiring story of courage and determination, but also represents the potential in us all to make a difference in our communities, our country
and our world.
Those that have the honour of carrying the Rick Hansen Medal will have demonstrated Rick's values of courage, determination and teamwork.
Each Relay day will conclude with an End of Day Celebration, which will provide the opportunity for communities to come together, recognize
their own Difference Makers (Medal-Bearers), raise awareness about accessibility and inclusiveness and inspire a new generation to take
action to help make the world a better place.
Not only has Belleville been chosen as one of only 165 communities across Canada to hold an End of Day Celebration, but thanks to the
enthusiasm and excitement exhibited by our community, Mayor Ellis and Council, the 25th Anniversary Rick Hansen Relay Belleville
Committee, and the Belleville Accessibility Advisory Committee, we have also been chosen to have Rick Hansen personally attend the
celebrations on October 31, 2011.
“The Belleville Experience”
Join the celebration!
On October 31st and November 1st, 2011 Rick Hansen and his Relay Team will be joining us in Belleville; giving every one of us the opportunity
to showcase our community spirit and the commitment we have to accessibility.
Cheer on our Medal-Bearers as they travel the route from Dundas Street to the Quinte Sports Centre on the afternoon of October 31st and
again in the morning on November 1st as the relay continues from the Quinte Sports Centre to Quinte Secondary School, Centennial Secondary School and down Palmer Road to Sir James Whitney School.
Belleville and area residents who have applied to the Rick Hansen online public contest will have an opportunity to become one of the 44 Medal-Bearers participating in the Belleville portion of the relay.
These Medal-Bearers will represent a wide spectrum of individuals from our area who are making a difference. Examples will include those
who have made a difference by:
- Championing Inclusivity: Creating a more inclusive and accessible society.
- Empowering Youth: Engaging a new generation to become catalysts for positive change.
- Protecting the Planet: Contributing to the protection and sustainability of the environment.
- Promoting Health: Encouraging others to live a healthy, active lifestyle.
- Medical Progress: Advancing research or healthcare for the betterment of others
Our community was able to choose a final Medal-Bearer to carry the medal the last 250 metres of the relay on October 31st and on to the
stage at the Quinte Sports Centre for the ceremonial transfer of the medal.
Councillor Garnet Thompson, Co-Chair of the 25th Anniversary Rick Hansen Relay Belleville Committee, is proud to announce, on behalf
of the Committee, the final Medal-Bearer for Belleville. “Belleville has many people who are champions in doing great things for our community
and we would be honoured to give every one of them the privilege of being the final Medal-Bearer. Unfortunately we can only choose one
person and based on her dedication advocating for people with disabilities, as well as the fact that she has been inspirational in overcoming
her own disability, our choice is Karen Kitchen. Karen has been an accessibility advocate in this community since childhood and has been
a member of the Belleville Accessibility Committee since its inception; helping to bring about many of the accessibility improvements in Belleville.”
Karen Kitchen says, “It is truly an honour to be chosen as the final Medal-Bearer and I will use this opportunity to honour my parents, Bob and Barb Kitchen. I was born with cerebral palsy and when my parents found out about my disability they met this challenge head on. My parents believed that awareness was extremely important. They taught me at a very young age to accept my disability and to become involved in
creating awareness of persons with disabilities in our society. It is so important for me to continue to eliminate barriers to make society a
better place for everyone.”
Join us as Mayor Ellis welcomes Rick Hansen and his Relay team to Belleville in a short ceremony at 3:58 pm, in Market Square between
Front Street and Pinnacle Street. Rick Hansen will be giving a short speech before moving on to the Quinte Sports Centre for the longer
End of Day Celebration.
Prepare to be inspired and entertained as you bring the whole family out for this exciting celebration
that will honour Rick Hansen and the Difference Makers in our community!
Start your trick or treating at the Quinte Sports Centre; where treats will be given out to participants of the fun fair.
Children wearing a costume will be able to enter a contest for a $25.00 gift certificate for the Quinte Mall and all people
participating in the fun fair will have the opportunity to win a prize.
The End of Day Celebration will run from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, with live entertainment, a fun fair and a sledge relay race, with some of our own Belleville Bulls. The final Medal-Bearer will arrive at 4:58 pm for the End of Day Ceremony, during which time Rick Hansen will give a speech and afterward he will be available for photo opportunities with the public.
The Relay will resume the next morning from the Quinte Sports Centre at 8:50 am, with an in-school Start of Day Ceremony at Quinte Secondary School to follow and stops at some of our local schools as the Relay travels out of Belleville.