Rick Hansen
December 11, 2011
Diane Rogers, Arlene Grey, National President Dave Ronson and Sean Thompson with Rick Hansen, HRF
Paralyzed from the waist down since the age of 15, Rick Hansen’s belief that anything is possible has inspired people around the world. He is a gold-medal Paralympian, World Champion wheelchair marathoner, spinal cord injury and accessibility activist and an advocate for the power of sport. 
Hansen made history in 1985 to 1987 when he wheeled around the world on his Man in Motion World Tour. He traveled across four continents and 34 countries in 26 months. Hansen wanted to raise awareness and change the way people viewed those with disabilities. The tour raised $26 million for spinal cord injury (SCI) research and to make communities more accessible and inclusive.
In 1985, Kinsmen and Kinettes welcomed the chance to support Hansen’s tour. Clubs held events across the country and, by the end of the tour, Kin contributed over $500,000 to his cause.
The tour was just the beginning for Hansen as he continues to inspire and influence Canadians 25 years later. The Rick Hansen Foundation has contributed $245 million toward SCI research, rehabilitation and quality-of-life programs. The Foundation is currently leading a 25th Anniversary Man in Motion World Tour Relay that is crossing Canada in 2011-12.
Photo: Rick Hansen and Kin Canada Founder Hal Rogers at Kin headquarters during the Man in Motion World Tour, 1987.
Terry Kelly
Terry Kelly is a Canadian athlete, award-winning singer and musician and inspirational speaker. Blind since he was a toddler, Kelly is a strong supporter and champion for Canadian troops. Kelly visited soldiers in Afghanistan and helped launch the Portraits of Honour tour in 2011.
His song, Pittance of Time, was written for our veterans and troops abroad, for our living and fallen heroes. The song inspired a musical drama created for the stage.
Diane Rogers presented the HRF award to Kelly, saying "Tonight’s recipient is a gentleman who by his own example, his music and his inspirational talks, has helped thousands of all ages and walks of life to believe in themselves, believe they can overcome challenges and believe they can realize their dreams."
In 2003, Kelly was appointed to the Order of Canada. His inspiration, determination, optimism and love of life is — and will continue to be — felt throughout our Nation and beyond.
Captain (Doctor) Ray Wiss
Captain Wiss in Afghanistan
Dr. Ray Wiss is internationally recognized as the man who introduced ultrasound into Canadian emergency medical practice. His teachings have reached several thousand physicians, transforming the way emergency medicine is practiced in our country. He has been described as “the most influential emergency physician in Canada in the past decade.”
Dr. Wiss, now Captain Wiss, arrived in Afghanistan in early November of 2007 and returned in 2009. During his first tour, Dr. Wiss kept a diary, which was released as a hard cover book under the title of “FOB Doc”. After his second tour, he wrote “A Line in the Sand: Canadians at War in Kandahar.” The books were the best-selling military books in Canada in 2009 and 2010. All profits from the sales of these books are being donated to the Military Families Fund.
Since returning from Afghanistan, Dr. Wiss has continued to teach nationally and internationally and practices at the Sudbury Regional Hospital Emergency Department. He lives in Sudbury with his wife Claude and their two daughters.
Photo caption: Cindy Robertson, Doug Anthony HRF, Kin Canada National President Dave Ronson, Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Kin Canada Foundation President Curtis Kimpton and Kin Canada Foundation treasurer and life member Sean Thompson
Where: Michaëlle Jean Foundation office at the University of Ottawa
Presented by: Kin Canada Foundation President Curtis Kimpton, KCF Treasurer Sean Thompson, LM
The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean was presented an HRF because of her outstanding, compassionate leadership as Governor General of Canada and her on-going community service as UNESCO's special envoy to Haiti.
“Madame Jean’s motto, Break the Solitude/ BRISER LES SOLITUDES, speaks to the constant effort to bring all Canadians -- young, old, French and English together to build a better Canada. Madame Jean’s vision speaks to all Kin as we seek to change lives and build community,” said Curtis Kimpton.
Mme. Jean came to Canada in 1968 as a refugee from Haiti. She is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who devoted a tremendous amount of effort to charity work, particularly to assist immigrants to Canada and victims of domestic violence. In 2005, she was appointed governor general by Queen Elizabeth II and served as the 27th Governor General of Canada from 2005 to 2010.
In her first remarks after this announcement, Mme. Jean encouraged Canadians to involve themselves in their communities, and stated that she wished to reach out to all Canadians, regardless of their background, and made it a goal to focus especially on Canadian youth and the disadvantaged.
“You are a Leader in so far as you help to create those decisions and educate your constituents about why the decisions make sense,” said Mme. Jean. “It’s not about me. It’s about them.”
Wayne Gretzky was awarded an HRF at the First Annual Kinsmen of Edmonton Legends Experience dinner. The award was presented by Curtis Kimpton, president of the Kin Canada Foundation, and Dale Cooper, president of the Kinsmen Club of Edmonton.
“Tonight it is my distinct privilege and honour to announce the presentation of this award to our guest, star attraction, hockey, community and country icon… the person whose integrity, community spirit, community support and national pride continue to inspire Canadians of all ages,” said Doug Ingersoll, past national president of Kin Canada.
Nicknamed "The Great One," he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the NHL. His hockey jersey number 99 was retired by all teams in the NHL.
In his career with the NHL, Gretzky smashed almost every record on the books. He scored 894 goals eclipsing Gordie Howe’s previous record of 801. He won the Art Ross Trophy for most goals scored in a season ten times, seven of them in consecutive years. He led the Edmonton Oilers to four Stanley Cup wins and helped Team Canada win gold at the 1987 winter Olympics.
At 18 years of age he was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player and received the same honour eight more times throughout his career. Gretzky was awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy five times. This trophy is awarded annually to the NHL player judged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.
Gretzky was named an officer of the Order of Canada on June 25, 1984, for outstanding contribution to the sport of hockey. It took 13 years and seven months and two Governors General before he could accept the honour because the ceremonies are held during hockey season.
He was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada in 2009 "for his continued contributions to the world of hockey, notably as one of the best players of all time, as well as for his social engagement as a philanthropist, volunteer and role model for countless young people.”
The Hal Rogers Fellow, the most distinguished award bestowed by the Kin Canada Foundation, recognizes Canadians who demonstrate the high ideals of leadership, accomplishment and community endeavours to which Kin Canada founder Hal Rogers was committed. Céline was chosen to receive this award because of her exemplary support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
Céline Dion and René Angélil also received Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s Hall of Fame Award. The Hall of Fame Award is Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s most prestigious award. It recognizes exemplary dedication to helping people with cystic fibrosis and the tremendous and long-standing impact a person or couple has made on Cystic Fibrosis Canada. Their ongoing support represents a source of hope and inspiration for all individuals and families affected by cystic fibrosis.
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We acknowledge the financial support of the
Department of Canadian Heritage.
