Michael Edgson invests in giving back

Canadian Paralympic Committee

May 02, 2018

The education and experience of being a Paralympic athlete still resonates with visually impaired swimming legend Michael Edgson more than 20 years after he last donned a Team Canada uniform.

Michael Edgson headshot

‘’I consider myself a product of the Paralympic movement,’’ said Edgson, a 21-time Paralympic Games medallist from 1984 to 1992, which included 18 gold. ‘’It is important, giving back to an organization and a movement that helped me develop as an individual.

‘’At the same time it’s something that I fully support and believe in.’’

Following his competitive career, Edgson was on the CPC’s board as finance director for four years. Then about two years ago he became involved with the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Paralympic Foundation of Canada.

‘’It is driving sponsorship, engagement, donations and community awareness and raising the profile of the Paralympic movement. It is a very easy activity to be involved in knowing very well what it means and stands for.’’

Professionally Edgson has worked with RBC for over 20 years in a variety of leadership roles. Currently, he is an investment and retirement planner. He resides in Ladner, B.C., just outside Vancouver with his wife. His three children are all in university.

As with all Canadians coast-to-coast, Edgson was overjoyed with the performances in PyeongChang which exceeded expectations. He says it is just another example of how the Paralympic movement continues to evolve.

‘’The movement has expanded worldwide,’’ he said. ‘’Canada has been at the forefront since the 1980’s and continues to be one of the leading nations in the Paralympic movement. 

‘’The depth of competition and the speed is elevating more and more every single year. That has brought the expertize, the funding, the resources and the awareness.’’

‘’Sport is very much woven in the moral fabric of this country. Para athletes are part of that fabric.’’

 

 

 

 

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