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Biography & Autobiography Sports

Moving Forward

The Journey of Paralympian Colette Bourgonje

by (author) Mary Harelkin Bishop

Publisher
DriverWorks Ink
Initial publish date
Apr 2022
Category
Sports
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781927570777
    Publish Date
    Apr 2022
    List Price
    $7.99

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Description

In April 1980, with her high school graduation just around the corner, Colette Bourgonje was a small-town girl with big dreams. Her family’s home in Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan was already filled with her medals, trophies, and records of success in track and field, basketball, volleyball, and badminton. She had attracted attention from university coaches and was on the road to becoming a world-class athlete. Then a car accident changed her life – forever. Before long, Colette had come to terms with her new reality as a paraplegic and had set her sights on new dreams. In 1984, she became the first disabled student to graduate from the College of Physical Education at the University of Saskatchewan and the first female in a wheelchair to graduate in Physical Education from a Canadian university. At age 30, she competed in France at her first Paralympic Games. During the next two decades, she travelled the world and became one of Canada’s most successful disabled athletes – a 10-time Paralympian, mentor, teacher, and role model in sport and in life.

About the author

Mary Bishop is a teacher-librarian in the Saskatoon public school system. Writing has always been a very important aspect in her life. Mary knew she was a writer when she was nine years old. Mary has had a few poems and a short story published in local publications as well. She is a wonderful reader of her own work and is in great demand for writing workshops to help young people begin to write their own stories.In her spare time she loves to spend time with her family and friends walking, biking and skiing.

Mary Harelkin Bishop's profile page

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