Ian Gregson

Ian Gregson is a disabled activist and author in British Columbia, Canada.

He was born in St Helens, Lancashire, England on September 2, 1962. As a young boy his promising athletic career in track and field seemed to end on May 18, 1978 during his lunch hour at Ashton-in-Makerfield Grammar School (now The Byrchall High School), Ian climbed over a wall onto a railway track and was involved in a terrible accident that resulted in the loss of his right leg above the knee. Undaunted by this physical setback Ian continued his involvement in track and field by taking up shot put and weight training. In September 1981, in "an effort to escape Thatcher-ism", Ian emigrated to Canada with his family.

Paralympian

Ian first gained national media attention in the fall of 1982 after completing the first ever Terry Fox Run in Port Coquitlam. Shortly thereafter, Ian began to focus on competing in disability sport events and in 1983 became Canada's top amputee athlete. In 1984 and 1988 Ian represented Canada at the Paralympics, in 1986 after receiving a 4th place at the World Championships in Sweden he became the first athlete with a disability in Canada to receive a post secondary athletic scholarship. In 1987 Ian received the Chevron Canada Award for Post Secondary Sports. After retirement Ian became Chair of the BC Disability Games, overseeing several successful events in his tenure. In 1998 Ian published his first book "Irresistible Force" A History of Disability Sport in Canada, via Raincoast Books in Vancouver.

SFU

Whilst competing for Canada Ian returned to post-secondary education at VCC Langara and then later to receive his BA in Communications from Simon Fraser University. Ian was the first person in his family to receive a degree. Ian was also the first athlete with a disability in Canada to receive an athletic scholarship. In 2000 Ian returned to SFU to work for the Office of Research Services. In June 2008 I an was fired from his position within the Archaeology Dept at Simon Fraser University, ending a relationship with SFU that started in 1982.

Disability issues

Throughout the 90's Ian wrote for numerous magazines ranging from regular columns in Canada's leading disability and mainstream magazines. This included a controversial article on disability and sex in Larry Flynt's Hustler. As a result Ian gained a reputation as a writer who was not afraid to tackle uncomfortable issues.

Politics

Introduced to politics via Svend Robsinson and worked on federal NDP campaigns in early 90'sIn 2001 ran for MLA in Vancouver Hastings as Green Party candidate - received 14% of the popular voteRan for MLA in 2005 in Vancouver Hastings and received 9% of the popular voteFinancial Agent for Vancouver East Green Party 2004-2007President Vancouver Hastings Constituency 2004-presentCurrently running in the 2008 Vancouver Civic election for the Workless Party

Music

After taking up guitar whilst in hospital after his accident in 1978, Ian finally took the instrument seriously in 2000 and eventually joined East Vancouver's legendary "The Carnival Band".In September 2006 Ian started Mr M and The All Nighters, a Northern Soul tribute band, that plays classic Northern Soul. Strongly influenced by the music of his native Wigan and the Wigan CasinoMr M and The All Nighters plays locally around Vancouver and is set to tour in the very near future.

Most Recently

Ian currently lives in the Adanac Co-Op in East Vancouver.

External links

Ian's web site can be seen at [http://voteforian.ca voteforian.ca] for his run for the Green Party of British Columbia in the British Columbia general election, 2005.

Other web sites created by Ian Gregson include:
* [http://2010watch.com 2010watch The Official Watchdog for the 2010 Winter Olympics] [recently nominated for the 2005 SFU Sterling Prize for Controversy]
* [http://amputee-online.com Amputee Online]
* [http://amputee-online.com/force Irresistible Force - Disability Sport in Canada]
* [http://mrmandtheallnighters.com Ian's Northern Soul Tribute Band "Mr M and The All Nighters"]