By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles with files from Lara Fominoff - @LaraFominoff

University of Lethbridge recognizes Rick Hansen with honorary degree

May 31, 2018 | 4:53 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The University of Lethbridge recognized Rick Hansen Thursday, May 31, with an honorary Doctor Laws degree, as part of the 2018 Spring Convocation ceremonies.

The Man in Motion travelled 40,000 km around the world in a wheelchair in the late ‘80s, to generate awareness of the potential of those with disabilities and to encourage the world to remove barriers for those individuals.

During the visit to Lethbridge to receive the honorary degree, Hansen spoke with the media, discussing how far the cause has come.

“When I started my Man in Motion tour in the ’80s, in many ways the issue of disability was largely thought of as a charity or a lot of attitudes steeped in old history… it was something to be pitied, not a lot of opportunity,” said Hansen. “So, it was a new awakening and since then attitudes have shifted significantly towards one of inclusion and equality, and that people with disabilities have a right to be fully included and participate in our society.

“Over 98-per cent of Canadians believe that this is true, and that’s a really powerful shift in the attitudes of Canadians,” he added. “Now we’re moving to the economic and cultural imperative of including people with disabilities. It’s not just about human rights, our country’s economic productivity and our cultural capacity depends on people with disabilities being able to make their meaningful contribution when barriers are removed.”

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Hansen also talked about his appreciation for being recognized by the U of L.

“It is an incredible honour and it’s inspiring, I’m grateful,” said Hansen. “It makes me feel like perhaps the work that I’ve been on and the team that I’ve been a part of, we’ve been making progress, and it really makes me feel like maybe my best work is in front.”

To that end, Hansen says he wants to see Canada create a system where future buildings are rated and certified as being accessible, which could then be used to help score a city’s accessibility. It’s his hope that we could inspire other nations to build a global standard.

“The world is so much smaller and more connected now, and the notion of a movement, globally, continuing to accelerate progress, to make the world accessible and inclusive for spinal cord injury and people with disabilities is real, it’s not just a pipe dream,” Hansen said. “In many ways, this moment is a celebration of our progress as much as it is a rally cry to get there faster… I can’t be more inspired to be here.”