by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — The Canadian Paralympic Committee is giving away a hard-covered book titled Winning – A celebration of Paralympic Sport in Canada.
The 100-glossy-paged book is in French and English.
Todd Nicholson, chair for the International Paralympics Committee Athletes Council was recently in Cobden – for two reasons. The first was to watch his father, Stuart Nicholson, receive an MP Commendation for his volunteer work from Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MP Cheryl Gallant and to hand out the book.
“Ideally, we’d like to get a copy of the book in every school,” he said.
Mr. Nicholson played sledge hockey for Team Canada for 25 years. Prior to that, he played regular hockey, however, following a car accident at the age of 18, he was left a paraplegic. He is a graduate of Arnprior District High School. He has competed in five Paralympics. The team captured gold in 2006, silver in 1998, bronze in 1994, and fourth place finishes in 2002 and 2010. Mr. Nicholson has a full collection of medals from world and international championships in a number of different sports as well, from wheelchair basketball, triathlon, duathlon, and wheelchair tennis to name a few.
David Johnston, Governor-General of Canada, has declared 2015 Year of Sport, noted Mr. Nicholson.
“With the pan-am and para-pan-am games, and FIFA Women’s World Cup Soccer all happening in Canada, he declared it Year of Sport,” he explained.
“We (the Paralympics athletes committee) are trying to promote sport,” he said. “We want to encourage people to try something new, even a new sport. Any sport is possible for anybody.”
It’s hoped that by giving away Winning, people will read it and see just how possible it is to enjoy sports, even if one is handicapped, Mr. Nicolson said.
“We are trying to encourage more people to get involved,” he said.
Mr. Nicholson said Clay Dawdy of Calabogie and his wife are creating a centre in Ottawa called the Ability Centre. The two met through Mr. Dawdy’s adaptive sports program, which he operates out of Calabogie. Mr. Dawdy’s wife is a recreational therapist for children with disabilities.
“Working together, we are looking to get the awareness out there as much as possible for a fully inclusive society,” Mr. Nicholson said.
