Vernon's Josh Dueck to be inducted into Canadian Disability Hall of Fame

Josh Dueck, born and raised in Vernon, is being inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame.

The honour is for outstanding Canadians who have made extraordinary contributions to enriching the quality of life for people with physical disabilities.

Dueck grew up aspiring to be an Olympian and was skiing from a young age. He was also a coach at Silver Star Ski Club.

In 2004, Dueck was demonstrating a jump to his group members when he crashed. The accident paralyzed him beneath his abdomen.

That didn't stop his athletic pursuit, as he became a skilled Sit Skier, winning silver in his Paralympic debut at the 2010 Vancouver Games in the sitting slalom race.

In 2012, he became the first person to ever complete a backflip on a Sit Ski. He was featured on the Ellen Show after the feat.

At the 2014 games in Sochi, he won another silver medal, this time in downhill. Days later, he took gold in the super combined and was named flag bearer for the closing ceremonies.

Since retirement, Dueck has continued to advance the Paralympic movement, including leading the 2022 Canadian Paralympic Team to Beijing as Chef de Mission.

He is also a Canadian Paralympic Hall of Famer, BC Sports Hall of Famer, 2012 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, 2012 X Games bronze medallist and a Queen's Diamond Jubilee recipient.

The other inductees into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame this year is builder Lorin MacDonald and retired Para ice hockey player Greg Westlake.

Congratulations to all the recipients!

For more information on the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame, click here.