BC Paraplegic Association
Encyclopedia
The BC Paraplegic Association (BCPA) is a not-for-profit organization that helps people with spinal cord injuries adjust, adapt and thrive by providing answers, information and community experiences in the Canadian
province of British Columbia
.
The BC Paraplegic Association has three core services through which it serves the BC Paraplegic community, the Peer program, Information Services and SCI Information Database.
The BC Paraplegic Association works in close partnership with the Vancouver General Hospital
, GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Rick Hansen Institute
, Neil Squire Foundation, BC Wheelchair Sports (BCWCS) and The Disability Foundation.
The Canadian Paraplegic Association, BC Division (now known as the BC Paraplegic Association) was formed in 1957, led by executive director Doug Mowat
, who held this position until his passing in 1992.
The first unit of the Western Society for Physical Rehabilitation opened in 1947 and was renamed the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre in 1957.
In 1959, the association’s first employee was hired as a rehabilitation consultant. That same year, the BC Paraplegic Association celebrated its first job placement.
During the 1960s, scholarship
s were made available to assist individuals with physical disabilities in reaching their post-secondary education goals. The BC Paraplegic Association also helped contributed to worldwide disability education and development in 1969 with its donation of equipment to people with disabilities in developing countries.
Strong promotion by the BC Paraplegic Association to revise the BC Building Code and eliminate stairs as the only means of access to public buildings proved successful in 1973, when the City of Vancouver introduced its new accessibility by-laws. These standards were expanded throughout the province under the BC Building Code in 1979.
The BC Paraplegic Foundation was established in 1975 to support the BC Paraplegic Association and individuals with spinal cord injuries and other mobility-related impairments.
The BC Paraplegic Association also extensively consulted in the planning of Vancouver’s Expo ’86 which was lauded as a showcase for accessibility and high-tech innovations for people with disabilities.
In the 1990s, the association worked with BC Transit and were instrumental in the development of the accessible bus program in the Lower Mainland – the first of its kind in Canada.
as an MLA.
The organization's most recent director of marketing and development, Stephanie Cadieux
, was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a BC Liberal MLA in the 2009 provincial election
, becoming the second wheelchair user ever elected to the legislature.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
The BC Paraplegic Association has three core services through which it serves the BC Paraplegic community, the Peer program, Information Services and SCI Information Database.
The BC Paraplegic Association works in close partnership with the Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver General Hospital is a medical facility located in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the largest facility in the Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre group of medical facilities...
, GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Rick Hansen Institute
Rick Hansen Institute
The Rick Hansen Institute is an organization that raises funding for spinal cord research. Rick Hansen himself was hurt in an accident at 15 and then wheeled across Canada to raise money and started the Institute. They want to cooperate with all the Canadian Paraplegic Associations in each...
, Neil Squire Foundation, BC Wheelchair Sports (BCWCS) and The Disability Foundation.
History
The BC Paraplegic Association is a branch of the Canadian Paraplegic Association(CPA). The CPA was founded in 1945 by veterans who sustained spinal cord injuries in WW II; its mandate was to minimize social barriers faced by persons with disabilities so that they could benefit from an improved quality of life.The Canadian Paraplegic Association, BC Division (now known as the BC Paraplegic Association) was formed in 1957, led by executive director Doug Mowat
Doug Mowat
Doug Mowat was a Canadian politician, who served as a Social Credit Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1983 to 1991, representing the riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain...
, who held this position until his passing in 1992.
The first unit of the Western Society for Physical Rehabilitation opened in 1947 and was renamed the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre in 1957.
In 1959, the association’s first employee was hired as a rehabilitation consultant. That same year, the BC Paraplegic Association celebrated its first job placement.
During the 1960s, scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
s were made available to assist individuals with physical disabilities in reaching their post-secondary education goals. The BC Paraplegic Association also helped contributed to worldwide disability education and development in 1969 with its donation of equipment to people with disabilities in developing countries.
Strong promotion by the BC Paraplegic Association to revise the BC Building Code and eliminate stairs as the only means of access to public buildings proved successful in 1973, when the City of Vancouver introduced its new accessibility by-laws. These standards were expanded throughout the province under the BC Building Code in 1979.
The BC Paraplegic Foundation was established in 1975 to support the BC Paraplegic Association and individuals with spinal cord injuries and other mobility-related impairments.
The BC Paraplegic Association also extensively consulted in the planning of Vancouver’s Expo ’86 which was lauded as a showcase for accessibility and high-tech innovations for people with disabilities.
In the 1990s, the association worked with BC Transit and were instrumental in the development of the accessible bus program in the Lower Mainland – the first of its kind in Canada.
Staff
Doug Mowat, the organization's longtime executive director, was also the first wheelchair user ever elected to the Legislative Assembly of British ColumbiaLegislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
as an MLA.
The organization's most recent director of marketing and development, Stephanie Cadieux
Stephanie Cadieux
Stephanie Cadieux is a Canadian politician, who was elected as a BC Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2009 provincial election, representing the riding of Surrey-Panorama...
, was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a BC Liberal MLA in the 2009 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 2009
The 39th British Columbia general election was held on May 12, 2009 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
, becoming the second wheelchair user ever elected to the legislature.