It's not unusual for the mayor of a large city to be an accomplished person.
Throwing out the opening pitch of a major league baseball game, founding 6 non-profit organizations, going sailing on weekends, and waving the Olympic flag during the hand-off ceremony when his city hosts the Olympic Games might seem like average activities for a mayor. What makes Sam Sullivan the Mayor of Vancouver, unique is that he has been quadriplegic since the age of 19.
Sam Sullivan – "Vancouver's Worst Skier"
When the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy came to a close, Sam Sullivan accepted the Olympic flag in a traditional ceremony that involves waving the oversized flag in the air eight times. When Sullivan came on stage to receive the flag from Turin's mayor, an audible gasp rose up from the crowd – most had not expected that Sullivan would be in a wheelchair.
Sam Sullivan, Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia Accepts the Olympic Flag in Torino Italy
Sam Sullivan was paralyzed in a skiing accident when he was only 19 years old. However, he didn't let that stop him from achieving his dreams in the civic arena, and he certainly wouldn't let it stop him from representing his city at the closing ceremonies of the Turin Olympics. But how could a wheelchair-bound man manage to swing an enormous five meter (approximately 5 yards) flag above his head, an act that is tiring even for someone with full use of his limbs?
To solve the problem, Sullivan had a special flag holder built into his electric wheelchair. He practiced how he would accept the flag alone at night in a parking lot, so that no one would see his mistakes. He inadvertently attracted the attention of the police during these late night practices. They were probably curious as to why someone would be waving a large flag in darkened downtown parking lot. Once they recognized who it was everything was fine. When the big day came, he was able to complete the traditional eight waves above his head by moving the wheelchair in a circular pattern.
Not only did Sullivan refuse to let his handicap prevent him from performing his duties on an international stage, but he also kept his sense of humor about his accident. He asked the reporters in a press interview whether it made sense to "send Vancouver's worst skier to the Olympics to represent the country," poking fun at the accident that caused his injury.
Mechanical Aids Help Sam Sullivan's Dreams Come True
Accepting and waving the Olympic flag probably would not have been possible for Sam Sullivan without his specially equipped electric wheelchair. However, that is far from the only time that Sullivan has done things that many would consider impossible for a quadriplegic person.
For example, September 11, 2001 is a date that is engraved in many of our minds as the day the Twin Towers crashed. But for Sam Sullivan, that day was special for an entirely different reason – that is the day on which he became the first paraplegic to start a professional baseball game with the opening pitch. How did a man with only limited use of his hands and arms manage to pitch a baseball? Sullivan did it with the help of a catapult that was specially designed for the ceremony.
Sam Sullivan, Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia 2010 Winter Olympics
When Sam Sullivan first realized that he would never walk again, the sport-loving young man fell into a depression that lasted for seven years. Part of what helped him come out of his long depression was the realization that other Canadians with similar injuries had gone on to be very successful. Among his sources of inspiration were Stan Stronge, who founded the Canadian Wheelchair Sports and Recreation Association, and Doug Mowat, a politician who was involved in the early foundations of wheelchair basketball and who campaigned for greater accessibility in British Columbia.
Sullivan vowed not to hold himself back any longer, and started working toward new ways to achieve his dreams. One of his areas of focus is using mechanical assistance to remove barriers to enjoying life. For example, be invented the TrailRider, a lightweight folding chair that, when pulled by friends, helped Sullivan enjoy off-road hiking through the beautiful mountains surrounding Vancouver. The TrailRider has helped many quadriplegic people experience a sport they love, reveling in the beautiful outdoors.
Not content with his own endeavors, Sullivan founded six different non-profit organizations which help disabled people to overcome the challenges of their environment. One organization, The Disabled Sailing Association, helps encourage disabled people to sail, another passion that Sullivan has learned to enjoy once again through the help of mechanical aids. The organization funds and creates specially adapted sailboats that rely on a “sip and puff” technology that allow maneuverability of the sailboats by “high quads”. This organization’s first sailboat was donated by paraplegic Rick Hanson who was awarded the boat by none other than English Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The boat was awarded to Rick Hansen for his completion of an across Canada "Man in Motion” tour. Another organization brings engineers together with disabled people to help overcome barriers through technology.
Sullivan Shows the Power of Determination
Sam Sullivan has proven that being wheelchair-bound doesn't mean that you have to give up the things you love, whether you are dreaming of running for office or of exploring the untamed wilderness. With determination and the right mechanical assistance, even very physical pursuits can be within reach. With people like Sam Sullivan driving innovation, more and more opportunities are becoming available each day.
Andrew Thomas is a recently moved from Vancouver BC to Ontario to be closer to family. He writes on a wide variety of topics including topics related to personal mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs.
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