Rick Hansen Foundation donates 1,700 items to Canadian Museum of History
Posted May 22, 2020 2:06 pm.
Last Updated May 23, 2020 9:48 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — It’s a major donation coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion World Tour.
The Rick Hansen Foundation is giving more than 1,700 items from the 1985 event to the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec.
“A tremendous honour.”
That’s how Rick Hansen (@RickHansenFdn) is characterizing the Canadian Museum of History’s acquisition of items used during his Man in Motion World Tour in 1985. This includes 1,700 artifacts and thousands of archival documents, photos & videos.
— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) May 22, 2020
The B.C. Paralympian and advocate says it’s a tremendous honour for the items to be displayed there.
“This collection of historical memorabilia is a representation of the many people — including friends, family and supporters from all walks of life, across this great country and around the world — who helped me turn my dream into a reality,” Hansen says.
“It is inspiring that the collection is considered a part of Canadian history because the Tour’s purpose reflects Canadian identity and values. The tour was just the beginning of the ultramarathon of social change. It will take many in motion, over generations to come, for the dream of a world without barriers for people with disabilities, and a cure for paralysis after spinal cord injury, to finally come true.”
“I am driven by a deep passion and need to make a difference and leave this world a little better than when I arrived. That’s what keeps me going.” — Rick Hansen #MIMWTMemories #RickHansen @RickHansenFdn https://t.co/WIPqLQkOPS pic.twitter.com/XaHAMXi1d6
— Museum of History (@CanMusHistory) May 22, 2020
In 1985, Hansen set out to raise awareness of the potential of people with disabilities and to research a cure for paralysis from spinal court injuries. Over the course of 26 months, Hansen travelled 40,000 kilometres around the world in his wheelchair during his Man of Motion tour.
The President and CEO of the museum points to the importance of Hansen’s tour in contemporary Canadian history.
“This collection shows how Mr. Hansen rallied public support in Canada and internationally, forever changing public perception of people with disabilities. We are delighted and grateful that Mr. Hansen has donated this valuable collection to the museum, where it will help to tell his remarkable story, and inspire generations to come,” says Mark O’Neill in a release.
He’s previously donated one of his well-used gloves to the museum. The museum – based in Quebec – says the collection is an important part of Canadian history.
— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) May 22, 2020
In 2017, Hansen donated a well-used glove from the tour to the museum, which is on display alongside a picture of him during his tour when he visited the Great Wall of China in 1986.
