An Inspiration to all of us

March 01, 2010
My colleague, The Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State for Democratic Reform, will receive The Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta)’s  Christopher Reeve Award on March 5. I can think of no worthier recipient.
 
The Christopher Reeve Award honours the memory of the American actor (probably best known for his role as Superman) who was paralyzed in an equestrian accident. It is given annually to an individual who, on a national or international level, has made an outstanding contribution to the global village of persons with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities.
 
Steven Fletcher was a graduate mining industry engineer before being paralyzed from the neck down after an automobile accident with a moose. He was elected to the House of Commons in 2004, the first person with a permanent disability to be elected to the House, and has been re-elected twice.
 
Minister Fletcher will be speaking at several Edmonton events that weekend in March, including the Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta) annual Red Carpet Affair 2010 where he will be presented with the Christopher Reeve Award.
 
As Minister of State for Democratic Reform, Steven Fletcher has been working on creating a new Canadian agency to promote democracy abroad, as well as on election financing reforms and Senate reforms designed to strengthen the Canadian democratic process.
 
Minister Fletcher will also speak at a number of other Edmonton area events, talking about democracy, (perhaps touching on the recent presidential election in Ukraine and what effect the January earthquake will have on democracy in Haiti) and a number of important social issues, including discussion on a controversial subject, an Opposition Bill before Parliament on euthanasia.
 
I think Steven Fletcher’s story is an inspiring one and I encourage you to hear him speak when he is in the area. 
 
What do you think?