Dr. Robert Steadward is a pioneering leader in the field of disability sport and a highly respected teacher, author, sport scientist and community volunteer. His seminal work brought the Paralympic Movement to the world’s attention and allowed athletes with a disability from Canada and around the globe to develop and compete to their fullest potential. In 1971, he began a five-year term as President of the Alberta Wheelchair Sports Association and by 1977, he was involved in the creation of the University of Alberta-based Research and Training Centre for Athletes with a Disability, which in time became The Steadward Centre for Personal and Physical Achievement. In 1989, Dr. Steadward was elected as the founding president of the International Paralympic Committee, a role he held for 12 years. Concurrently, Dr. Steadward also filled various roles with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, including national coach, chef de mission, national governor, treasurer, and president.
