Rick Hansen Foundation

10/10/2026

On World Mental Health Day, we’re sharing Geoffrey Maguire’s story. Like many people, he never imagined disability would become part of his own life until he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Adapting physically was only part of his experience. There was also the emotional impact, and for years, Geoffrey felt as though he was the only person navigating something like this.

Reading Rick Hansen’s autobiography helped shift his perspective. Rick’s resilience and the role Amanda Hansen played throughout his tour and after gave Geoffrey a deeper appreciation for the people who help carry us through life’s most difficult chapters.

The barriers Geoffrey encounters as a wheelchair user today haven’t disappeared, but the way he approaches them has changed, along with his understanding of how accessibility leads to a better life. As he reflects:

“Based on the mistakes that I have made, don't let anger be the thing that leads you.”

Read Geoffrey’s story here:

On World Mental Health Day, we’re sharing Geoffrey Maguire’s story. Like many people, he never imagined disability would become part of his own life until he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Adapting physically was only part of his experience. There was also the emotional impact, and for y...

10/09/2026

Today, Brad McCannell was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame, which recognizes outstanding Canadians who have made extraordinary contributions to enriching the quality of life for people with physical disabilities.

Before retiring from RHF in 2026 as Vice President of Access and Inclusion, he led the development of the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) program, transforming how accessibility is measured in the built environment.

Brad’s work has influenced major buildings, transportation hubs and international events across Canada and around the world, including Vancouver International Airport, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Toronto’s CN Tower. Through his leadership, expertise and lived experience, Brad has helped remove barriers and create more accessible environments for people of all abilities and ages.

This honour could not have been granted to a more deserving and dedicated individual. Brad was the heart of the RHFAC program in his time here at the Foundation. His impact on the accessibility of the built environment will continue to be felt by generations of Canadians with disabilities. We strive to carry on his legacy of innovation, transformational vision and tireless advocacy in the work we do every day.

Congratulations Brad. Your work lives on.

Brad is pictured here receiving his award along with the other 2026 Inductees, Dr. David Legg and Mac Marcoux, who are both part of the Paralympic movement. Presenters Patrick Jarvis, Selection Board, Canada Disability Hall of Fame, and Maria Gregory, Senior Director, Client Experience, CIBC, are also pictured.

Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons CIBC Canadian Paralympic Team

10/06/2026

“It’s not just about being given opportunities, it’s about being celebrated for the way he is.”

Oscar has a way of seeing the world that is entirely his own. He even has a special name for our Founder: “Rick Handsome.” To Oscar, Rick is a hero, especially because he’s “not one of those stand-up men.”

On World Cerebral Palsy Day, we’re celebrating Oscar and people with cerebral palsy around the world for who they are, the stories they share and the contributions they make to their communities.💚

Discover Oscar’s story on our blog.

Oscar has a way of seeing the world that is entirely his own. He even has a special name for our Founder: “Rick Handsome.” To Oscar, Rick is a hero, especially because he’s “not one of those stand-up men.” On World Cerebral Palsy Day, we’re celebrating Oscar and people with cerebral pals...

10/06/2026

Forty years after the Man In Motion World Tour began, Canada has made meaningful accessibility progress. Yet barriers in spaces and systems still limit full participation for people with disabilities.

Your donation can sustain 40 years of momentum and help move us toward A World Without Barriers. Donate today at RickHansen.com/Donate

10/06/2026

A big shoutout to our partners for helping make another meaningful screening of Man In Motion: The Rick Hansen Story and 40th anniversary celebration possible, and for sharing our commitment to advancing accessibility and inclusion.

This weekend at VIFF reminded us once again of the power of people and organizations coming together around a shared purpose. That spirit of collaboration was at the heart of Rick and his team’s two years, two months and two days on the Man In Motion World Tour, and it continues through the Many In Motion today.

Four decades later, that lesson continues to guide us as we work together toward a World Without Barriers.

RBC | Vancouver International Airport | Air Canada | Fasken | MNP | Ocean Trailer | Canadian Tire | Deloitte | HUB International | Savoury Chef | Scotiabank | TELUS

10/05/2026

Here’s to the teachers making a difference every day! 📚

This World Teachers’ Day, we want to celebrate the educators helping make classrooms more inclusive and accessible for all.

We’re grateful for your passion, creativity, and commitment to empowering the next generation to recognize barriers, embrace inclusion, and create positive change toward a more inclusive future.

From our Foundation and our School Program, thank you for everything you do, today and every day!

Learn more about our School Program: RickHansen.com/Schools

10/05/2026

Today we want to recognize UBC Properties Trust and the MacIsaac Health Building, for being the recipient of the 2026 BOMA Canada Rick Hansen Accessibility Award!

This national award recognizes the highest Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) rating achieved by a BOMA Canada member building in the past year.

The MacIsaac Health Building demonstrates how accessibility can be considered throughout a space. Its features include acoustic treatments, adjustable lighting, assistive listening systems, visual fire alarms, universal washrooms, and accessible laboratories and classrooms.

By placing accessibility at the heart of building design, UBC Properties Trust is helping raise the standard for Canada’s built environment and showing what is possible when spaces are designed to support people with a wide range of disabilities.

Congratulations on this important recognition and your commitment to creating spaces that work for everyone!

Read more about this recognition in our press release:https://www.rickhansen.com/sites/default/files/press-release/2026-10/prbomaaccawarden4racc.pdf

10/03/2026

Forty years after Rick Hansen set out from Vancouver on the Man In Motion World Tour, the story behind that remarkable journey returns to the city where it began!

Man In Motion: The Rick Hansen Story will screen today at Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) bringing Rick’s journey to the big screen through rare archival footage and personal recordings that reveal the determination, teamwork, and shared vision behind the Tour.

Four decades later, we’re excited to share this story with audiences in Vancouver and continue the journey toward a World Without Barriers.

Learn more about the 40th anniversary at RickHansen.com/40

10/01/2026

The next chapter of accessibility progress needs people like you.

Your gift can help remove barriers in spaces and systems and create greater access and opportunity for people with disabilities.

Carry the momentum forward by donating today at RickHansen.com/Donate

10/01/2026

🌠Meet Gregory Perri, one of our 2026 Difference Makers of the Year! Inspired by a family friend with a visual disability, Gregory set out to make astronomy, a science often considered highly visual, more accessible so more people can experience the joy of exploring the stars. ⭐

Gregory created an accessible astronomy club that brings people together from across Canada to explore space through verbal descriptions, sonification, tactile experiments and other multisensory activities. He even created a portable tactile star map that allows blind participants to explore constellations through touch.

His goal is simple: “I want more people to be able to experience astronomy.”

Read more about Gregory’s story and how he’s making the stars more accessible in our latest blog:

Gregory created an accessible astronomy club that brings people together from across Canada to explore space through verbal descriptions, sonification, tactile experiments and other multisensory activities. He even created a portable tactile star map that allows blind participants to explore constel...