TORONTO, Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Canadian Disability Hall of Fame (CDHF) today welcomes three remarkable Canadians, with Dr. David Legg, Mac Marcoux and Brad McCannell joining its distinguished ranks. The official ceremony will take place at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel during the 33rd Annual Canadian Disability Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon presented by CIBC. Founded in 1994 by Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP), the Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding individuals for their extraordinary achievements as well as allies whose contributions are helping to make Canada the best country in the world for people with disabilities.
“A life of accomplishment is about more than the milestones we reach. It is also about what we contribute along the way,” commented The Honourable David Crombie, Chair of the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame. “This level of excellence has a ripple effect, encouraging others to reach higher while helping to build a stronger and more inclusive society. That impact is wonderfully reflected in the lives and work of our 2026 inductees.”
Each year, the CDHF Selection Board considers nominees whose achievements reflect the extraordinary depth of talent and leadership across our nation’s disability community. With the Class of 2026, the Hall of Fame grows to 135 inductees who together have contributed more than 3,000 years of public service.
2026 Inductees
Dr. David Legg Mac Marcoux Brad McCannell
Dr. David Legg (Builder): Dr. David Legg’s contributions over more than three decades have helped shape adaptive and Paralympic sport in Canada and around the world. A professor at Calgary’s Mount Royal University for nearly 30 years, he is recognized as a leader, innovator, researcher and volunteer whose work has helped expand opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport and physical activity. He has served the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) in various capacities over multiple decades, including as President and board member. Beyond the CPC, Legg has provided global leadership through the Sport Science Committee of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and as President of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA). A widely published academic and advocate for inclusion, he has helped advance sport policy, athlete development and community programming.
Mac Marcoux (Athlete): Mac Marcoux is one of Canada’s most celebrated alpine skiers and a respected advocate for people with disabilities. After losing much of his vision to a degenerative disease as a child, he rose to become a dominant force in downhill racing, winning six Paralympic medals (two gold, one silver, three bronze), multiple world championships and 52 World Cup podium finishes. Marcoux represented Canada at three Paralympic Winter Games and earned a reputation for his speed, determination and competitive spirit. Beyond competition, he has collaborated on multiple documentaries and co-authored the book More Than Meets the Eye. Marcoux was the honorary captain of the Canadian Paralympic team for the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy. He has now committed his time and energy to helping the next generation of Para athletes through his work with the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Brad McCannell (Achiever): Brad McCannell has devoted more than four decades to creating a more accessible and inclusive world for people with disabilities. Living with a spinal cord injury since 1980, he has become one of Canada’s foremost experts in universal design. Before retiring in 2026 as Vice President of Access and Inclusion at the Rick Hansen Foundation, he led the development of the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) program, an innovative rating system that has transformed how accessibility is measured in the built environment. McCannell’s work has influenced major buildings, transportation hubs and international events across Canada and around the world, including Vancouver International Airport, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Toronto’s CN Tower. Through his leadership, expertise and lived experience, McCannell has helped remove barriers and create more accessible environments for people of all abilities and ages.
“Every new group of inductees reminds me why we created the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame in the first place — because there are people whose stories deserve permanent recognition in our country’s history,” said The Honourable Vim Kochhar, Founding Chair of CFPDP. “Dr. David Legg, Mac Marcoux and Brad McCannell have achieved so much in their own lives while making a difference for others. It is a privilege to celebrate them and I am very proud to welcome them to the Hall of Fame.”
“At CIBC we believe in powering ambitions for everyone,” said Ronan Ryan, Executive Director of the CIBC Foundation. “That’s why we place great importance on working with community partners who see potential and build pathways so every Canadian ambition can go further. As such, we’re proud to support the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame’s luncheon today to help celebrate individuals who continue to pave the way for the next generation of leaders and changemakers.”
CFPDP opened the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame on February 11, 1994, at Metro Hall in Toronto. More than three decades later, it continues to celebrate the breadth of Canadian excellence and the many ways individuals are making a difference in their communities and beyond.
Canadian Disability Hall of Fame at Metro Hall, Toronto
About the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame:
The Canadian Disability Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding accomplishments in volunteerism, the arts, sports, rehabilitation, science and medical research, advocacy and public policy. Founded by Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons in 1994, it is located at Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto, and at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 6 Sakura Way, second floor, Toronto. It is the only place in Canada that permanently honours the accomplishments of people with disabilities and those who enrich their lives.
About the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons:
Founded in 1984, Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP) seeks to emphasize a person’s abilities — rather than disabilities — and to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities. Over more than four decades, CFPDP has established, led and supported numerous initiatives that promote accessibility, inclusion and opportunity, including Canadian Helen Keller Centre, the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame, A Seat at the Table and a growing network of endowment funds supporting students with disabilities at post-secondary institutions across Canada. CFPDP’s new Impact Award for Disability Research is a $100,000 personal prize recognizing a mid- to senior-career Canadian researcher whose work has produced measurable improvements in accessibility, inclusion, independence, health outcomes, participation or quality of life for people with physical and sensory disabilities. The inaugural Impact Award for Disability Research will be presented at CFPDP’s 43rd Annual Great Valentine Gala on February 13, 2027, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. Together with its partners, CFPDP has raised more than $85 million to support these and other initiatives. Learn more at cfpdp.com.
Further Information / Media Requests:
Christine Payne
Executive Director
Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons
(416) 760-7351
[email protected]
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
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