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Meet Veteran Steve Daniel

Growing up in Sudbury, Steve Daniel joined the Canadian Forces when he was a teenager. With 14 years in the Royal Canadian Regiment 1st and 3rd Battalion, Sergeant Daniel served four tours of duty in Croatia, Bosnia and Afghanistan.

As a Parachute Instructor in airborne operations, he had 101 free fall jumps under his belt.

On his 102nd jump, something went wrong. Gaining speed far too quickly on landing, and unable to slow his descent, Sgt Daniel landed on his tailbone, fracturing his T-11 vertebrae, paralyzing him from the waist down.

It took 4 days for the swelling to go down before they could even operate.

“Like anyone who experiences an SCI, it is a mind blowing experience. Everything you know about life ultimately changes from that moment on,” recalls Steve.

The soldier who had devoted a large part of his life to the Canadian Forces was now about to take on adapting to his new life.

This Remembrance Day, November 11, Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA) Ontario celebrates and honours Retired Sergeant Steve Daniel.

You know the journey individuals like Steven make moving forward. This Remembrance Day, I hope that you’ll keep Steve and our soldiers and veterans who fought in the war, in your heart.

Steve’s introduction to CPA Ontario began immediately with peer support and regional services. Marjorie McCann, CPA Ontario’s Regional Services Coordinator, and Steve connected in their community, working to bring CPA Ontario’s support, services and knowledge to the SCI community. Steve cannot say enough about Marjorie and her commitment.

Steve also became connected to ‘Soldier On’ the organization that helped him and helps other ill or injured Canadian Forces individuals by supporting their full and active participation in physical fitness, health promotion and sport.

As you can see from his list of accomplishments, Steve is not a man who waits on the sidelines.

  • Gold medal at the 2008 Canadian Indoor Rowing Championship with the fastest time ever recorded in Canada for his category
  • Gold medal in rowing at the 2008 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in his category
  • 11th in the world in rowing at the 2008 Beijing Summer Paralympic Games
  • Rowing Canada Male Adaptive Athlete of the Year, 2008
  • Greater Sudbury Community Builder Award of Excellence in Sport and Recreation, 2009
  • 2nd place at the Northern Ontario Provincial Wheelchair Curling, 2010
  • Diploma in Business Administration from Cambrian College
  • Degree in Physical and Health Education (Health Promotion) from Laurentian University


What is he doing now? Steve is a first year learner at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
Why? He feels there are many similarities between military and medicine – “Medicine is a profession where you can challenge yourself and it offers lifelong learning. As well, I feel I can bring my everyday knowledge of living with a spinal cord injury in the North to the medical profession,” says Steve.

Let’s not forget to mention that Steve is also a member of CPA Ontario Board of Directors, since 2010.

“As a Board Director, I see the organization from a different point of view – I see the organization as a strategic society. From the Board to staff members – everyone truly cares about the mandate of CPA Ontario and improving the organization to better assist people with spinal cord injuries. In our current strategic planning we are involving everyone, including the voices of those who are benefitting from the organization – so we can be better at what we do – achieving excellence in helping people with a spinal cord injury,” says Steve.

Just like you, Steve believes in CPA Ontario. “I feel I am making a difference being on the Board – bringing a Northern and rural perspective to the Board,” says Steve.

Today he is giving back as he knows there is so much more to be done So, on November 11, Remembrance Day, celebrate and honour our soldiers and those who are rebuilding their lives.

Sincerely,

Bill Adair
Executive Director

P.S. CPA Ontario was founded in 1945 by World War II veterans who had survived but with life changing spinal cord injuries. Today we continue in helping all people with an SCI with support to reintegrate back into their communities.