British Columbia Blind Sports and Recreation Association

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Ljiljana Ljubisic and Michael Edgson Named to Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame

Oct. 4, 2011 - The Canadian Paralympic Committee announced the selection of Ljiljana (Lilo) Ljubisic, Clayton Gerein, Michael Edgson, Dr. Earl Church and Senator Joyce Fairbairn to the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame. The five new entrants to the Hall will be officially introduced at the Canadian Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, taking place at the Ottawa Convention Centre on October 21, 2011.

A resident of Burnaby, British Columbia, Ljubisic is a five-time Paralympic athlete who represented Canada in Goalball and Para-Athletics. She was the first blind athlete to spin with a discus and won a total of six Paralympic medals in addition to 19 international podium finishes. Throughout her competitive career and in retirement, Ljubisic continued to contribute to sport as a leader through her involvement with the International Paralympic Committee Athletes Council, the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) and AthletesCAN.

"Lilo has played a central role in ensuring the voice of Paralympic athletes is present at decision making tables nationally and internationally," said Jasmine Northcott, Executive Director of AthletesCAN. "As the longest serving AthletesCAN board member, Lilo played a key part in shaping the early years of AthletesCAN, and as a member of the International Paralympic Committee Athletes' Council, laid the foundation for the athlete voice at the international level. Her demonstrated leadership and commitment to excellence as an athlete and as a leader has enabled Lilo to contribute to sport both on and off the field. It is this rare combination of skills that makes Lilo recognizable in the Canadian sport system and internationally as a true leader and an individual who will certainly continue to contribute significantly to sport well into the future."

The final person inducted into the athlete category is Michael Edgson, who was born in North Vancouver but spent his youth in Nanaimo, B.C. One of the most decorated Paralympic athletes in Canadian history, Edgson, a visually-impaired swimmer, captured 18 gold and three silver medals while setting nine world records over three Paralympic Games. A three-time BC Athlete of the Year recipient, he was also the first Paralympic swimmer to be inducted into Swimming Canada's Circle of Excellence. He is also a three-time B.C. Disabled Athlete of the Year winner and currently sits on the CPC Board of Directors.

"I am honoured and privileged to be part of the Paralympic Movement from the 1980s and see it grow to what it has become today," said Edgson. "I am proud of how our Canadian Paralympians compete on the world stage and of the vast improvements made at the grassroots parasport level. I am flattered to receive this appointment to the Hall, and to take on the responsibility that this privilege entails."

Biographies

Ljiljana Ljubisic – Athlete

Ljiljana (Lilo) Ljubisic is a five-time Paralympic athlete. From 1984 to 2004, Lilo successfully represented Canada in Goalball and Para-athletics. At her first Paralympic Games in 1984, Lilo competed in Goalball where she won a silver medal. Over the next four years, she began to train in Para-athletics with a specialty in the discus throw and shotput. In fact, Lilo was the first blind athlete to ever spin with a discus. Throughout her athletic career, Lilo recorded 19 international podium finishes and earned six Paralympic medals, including a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Along with her athletic achievements, Lilo has been acknowledged for her leadership and contribution to the international world of sport and the Paralympic Movement. Awards earned by Lilo include the AthletesCAN Leadership Award (2005) and the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) Women of Distinction Award (2004). She has also been named one of the 20 Most Influential Women in Sport & Physical Activity (CAAWS, 2003-2005) and was listed in the Top 100 of Canada's Most Powerful Women in 2007 (Women's Executive Network). A 1992 B.C. Athlete of the Year recipient, Lilo was elected as the first female Chair of the International Paralympic Committee's Athletes Council.

Michael Edgson – Athlete

Michael Edgson was born on May 6, 1969 in North Vancouver, but spent his youth in Nanaimo. He is one of Canada's most successful athletes whose performances continue to rank him amongst the very best. One of the most decorated Paralympic athletes in Canadian history, Michael, a visually-impaired swimmer, captured 18 gold and three silver medals while setting nine world records over three Paralympic Games. At the 1988 Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea, he won nine gold medals en route to setting four world records.

These accomplishments earned him the BC Disabled Athlete of the Year Award on three occasions, and he was a finalist for the Canadian Athlete of the Year award in 1992. After his swimming career, Michael was part of the Victoria Commonwealth Games Society where he was responsible for the field of play of swimming at the Victoria Commonwealth Games. Inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame, he was also the first Paralympic swimmer to be inducted into Swimming Canada's Circle of Excellence in 2009. Michael continues to contribute to sport in Canada as the Finance Director for the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

For the full press release on the Canadian Paralympic Committee website, click here.

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