Rick Hansen High School opened its doors in September, 1993. It costed $22 million to build and initially welcomed 1100 students from grades 8-12. Gerda Fandrich, school board chairwoman, recounted the history of the school’s development in 1988. It took five years to build a school designed to meet the needs of physically-challenged students. Rick Hansen urged B.C.’s education ministry to continue to build schools that are accessible.
Timeline of Creating Rick Hansen High School
Sept 26, 1992: Rick Hansen admitted he was reluctant to lend his name to the new high school. When Hansen was interviewed, he commented if he agreed with the school being named after him “well no, I’m still alive”. It was the commitment on the part of the School District to make the school accessible for anyone, convinced him.
Philosophy is radically changing, the building industry. That is why I think this building is so important, it is a flagship.
Rick Hansen
It is a golden opportunity, there are not very many people kids can consider heroes anymore
Bill MacGregor, Principal
June 5, 1993: Principal Bill MacGregor, his team of teachers and support staff, along with the hundreds of students who will call the new Rick Hansen Secondary School in Clearbrook their Alma Mater. They believe that the legend of the man is sure to live on for years to come. Hansen helped design his school philosophy. The school is to include a wall outside of the counselling area that is dedicated to the “Man in Motion Tour”, featuring highlights of Hansen’s world tour.
His values are intrinsic to this school and will be very much part of what we will strive for as a school population. How often do you have a living example of someone who has surmounted overwhelming obstacles to be the best he can be? What a tremendous role model. We hope our students will be more aware and sensitive to the needs of others, not just people who are physically challenged, but everyone. What better way to “keep the dream alive” than creating an awareness in our schools.
Bill MacGregor, Principal
Fun Fact No.1!
There are four public schools named after Rick Hansen! Two are Secondary Schools, one in Abbotsford, B.C and one in Mississauga, Ontario. Plus two Elementary Schools in London and Aurora, Ontario
Rick Hansen also has a township in the municipality of Killarney Ontario named after him. What was previously named the Township of Stalin, it is now the Township of Hansen.
Sept 22, 1993: During the grand opening ceremony, Rick Hansen himself performed the ribbon cutting. It had also included speeches from the Matsqui Police Color Guard, Rev. Hans Kouwenberg from the Calvin Presbyterian Church, the School Board Chairperson, Secretary Treasurer, the Superintendent, the contractor, the architect, and the Hansen family including his parents.
Fun Fact No.2!
In 2016, Rick Hansen’s Dave de Wit had been named as one of Canada’s top principals!
Sources Used For This Page:
rickhansen.com, Abbotsford News and Abbotsford School District Pamphlet- The Reach Archives.