Embracing Paralympic Spirit

Over the past month, we’ve witnessed an extraordinary series of events, all centred around our impactful collaborations with the Paralympic Foundation of Canada. These endeavours culminated in successfully hosting two Para-Tough Cups in Calgary and Toronto. Notably, these events achieved two significant goals: supporting our exceptional athletes and fostering inclusive environments that welcomed individuals from all walks of life to appreciate the beauty of Paralympic sport.

Connecting with High-Net-Worth Donors

Inclusive of our work with the Paralympic Foundation, we seized a unique opportunity to engage with potential high-net-worth donors. By sharing our vision and programs, we offered them a chance to contribute to a cause greater than themselves. Through these connections, we continue to build a strong network of supporters who share our passion for positive change.

Skiing Passion at Mustang Cat Ski Lodge

One particularly memorable experience was collaborating with the Power To Be Foundation at the breathtaking Mustang Cat Ski Lodge. Nestled amidst majestic mountains, this wilderness retreat perfectly embodied the essence of skiing passion. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Power To Be Foundation for inviting me to ski alongside their esteemed donors and fellow advocates dedicated to their cause.

Halifax: Beauty, Warmth, and Fundraising

Recently, I had the honor of speaking at an event in Halifax, a city renowned for its natural beauty and the warmth of its people. Hosted by the Progress Club Halifax, this event aimed to raise funds for a special-needs home with a remarkable legacy spanning over 50 years. Alongside other sporting legends, I had the privilege of being interviewed by the esteemed Rod Black. The event’s success, attended by over 1200 supporters, was further graced by the presence of the talented cast and crew of the Trailer Park Boys.

Advocacy and Collaboration: A Global Perspective

Amidst these enriching experiences, I actively engaged in both in-person and virtual meetings. From a face-to-face meeting in Germany to virtual discussions with the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board, and several activations with Freestyle BC, our commitment to advocacy and collaboration remains unwavering. As we conclude our competitive season and prepare for another remarkable year of youth sports in British Columbia, our passion for driving positive change within the sports community continues to grow stronger.

Gratitude for Family and the Great Outdoors

In the midst of career aspirations and social contributions, I find immense gratitude in the moments spent with my family amidst the great outdoors. While I yearn for more time and opportunities to live the good life, I am genuinely thankful for the experiences I can provide and enjoy with my loved ones.

Welcome to the Rollercoaster: A Look Back at 2022 and 2023. Greetings from the rollercoaster ride that is life! 🎢 Let’s take a whirlwind tour through the highs, lows, and exhilarating loops that made up my 2022 and 2023 – a journey that has moulded me into a better partner, a better father, and an all-around more grateful human.

An Unforgettable Experience: Leading Team Canada in Beijing So, picture this: Leading Team Canada as the Chef de Mission at the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2022. Our team of 50+ incredible athletes, representing six sports, committed the past four years of their lives to this moment through a pandemic as they prepared to deliver on the biggest sporting stage in the world, then bam, the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was like navigating a mogul field blindfolded! 🎿 But guess what? We made it through, and the resilience of Team Canada was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Team Canada finished an impressive third overall on the medal table.

Embracing Personal Challenges: Post-Paralympic Reflections Now, let’s fasten our seatbelts to descend into my personal journey. The aftermath of the Paralympics was like an intense rollercoaster drop – a deep crash and a period of self-reflection. It was a journey through childhood trauma, grieving my spinal cord injury, and bidding farewell to the child within me, all while grappling with the early departure of my parents and sister. Talk about a wild ride! Enter therapy – my trusty internal guide supported by professionals helped me to manage the twists and turns. Navigating and transcending these traumas, I emerged like a phoenix rising from the ashes. The end of 2022 marked a new version of myself – a better partner, father, and a human filled with a newfound gratitude, self-awareness and humility.

New Horizons in 2023: Leadership and Family Growth Now, 2023, comes into view, bringing new beginnings and fresh adventures. Picture me snagging a seat on the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board, donning the hat of Vice Chair of the IPC Athletic Council, and teaming up with the Paralympic Foundation of Canada to Ignite our Nation and raise 35M to ensure equitable opportunity and barrier-free sports for all Canadians. 🌟

Family Life and Adventures: The Heart of My World But that’s not all! The family is growing – Nova, the 10-year-old hockey and singing enthusiast, and Hudson, the seven-year-old mountain-born daredevil with a love for biking and snowboarding. Meanwhile, I’m still knee-deep in the freestyle skiing world, serving as the Executive Director for the province of BC.

Gratitude for Life’s Journey: Embracing Every Twist and Turn Life in my World? Never a dull moment. I am grateful for every twist, turn, and loop-de-loop that comes my way, as they shape me professionally and personally. Here’s to the wild ride of life – may it continue to be thrilling, enlightening, and full of growth! 🚀✨

Blessed beyond measure to be able to have a casual conversation with the LEGENDARY Bruce Kirkby, hosted by the GREAT Andrea Carey

BiG LOVE to Ryan Leier and company at One Lions Yoga for sharing their love for humanity and curiosity from the MIND BODY relationship; it has been a humbling, eye-opening experience to join them and many other aspiring yogis on a 40 day Sadhana.

Be sure to check out One Lions Yoga for a full summary of the daily offerings that motivated and inspired me to become a little bit better every day.  My commitment to this program has sobered my mind and tempered my body through daily routine and discipline, for the most part, I have been able to dedicate the first two hours 5-7 am of each day practicing asana, meditation and devotions.  We were invited to give up something and add another to our life for these 40 days – I went huge and gave up my favourite vices and picked up reading in their stead, it also motivated me to dive into my own 4o day challenge #listenbekindhavefun – if you missed it you can catch that on the ‘gram.

BIG ups and blessings to all who are brave enough to approach each day with the heart of a lion!

Since 2014 Josh and I shifted our focus from many things related to running a business to healing and family. Retirement from sport was devastating for our family; we had no idea of the depth and scope of the challenges ahead. No need to go into details because that’s not what this blog is about, but what I will say is that in the dark days, Josh and I once again became ultimately grateful for community.

In the fast-paced world we live in today, entrepreneurs like ourselves are faced with the ever-evolving world of social media and in the few short years we stepped away from promoting our services through digital platforms, we noticed how quickly our brand started to fade – what a lesson for us in business.

We have recently been motivated to get back in the world of digital because we realize we have to for the work we do.  The first step was getting our website up and running again and we are extremely happy to have the team from nine10 on our side.  This is the third time we have had them help us with web design and we are more than happy with the results.  They were completely honest and upfront with what they could provide in the timeline provided.  They definitely exceeded all expectations and were extremely professional especially when it came to format and design.

This brings me to my last point and that is elaborating on community.  Support and networking through word of mouth are still one of the most valuable ways to spread the word.  So thank you nine10 for being part of our team.

~ Lacey

My sport story has come full circle.

Being in Pyeongchang for the 2018 Paralympic Games will mark the third round at the games for me, first time as a reporter. It feels great to be on the other side of the fence watching closely and cheering loudly with the millions of fans around the world as we watch these athletes put it all on the line.

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The word hyped seems like a gross understatement; as words often fail to describe emotion. Today is a big day, in so many ways!

The obvious, this is a new website and our first blog. Lacey and I are excited to open the doors and share with you the on going ebb and flow what of what we see as the second chapter in our life story.

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