Eternal inspiration
July 12, 2004
By Cam Tait
EDMONTON, AB // Percy Wickman has always inspired people. When the
telephone piped up a few minutes before 12 noon last Thursday, Percy's
touching ways continued. "I decided I'm going to go," my friend said.
"Do you want me to pick you up?" I sat back in my chair and smiled.
Percy, I thought, you are still doing it. And you'll never quit.
The friend who called had lost his mother last year. He said going to
funerals was hard, almost impossible. So when he heard the news of Percy's
passing ten days ago, my friend didn't think he was emotionally prepared
to attend the memorial service on Thursday afternoon. Still, he wanted
to pay his last respects, and in that regard, he wasn't alone.
Percy was a pioneer, a respected politician, a husband, a father and
grandfather...someone who set the bar a little higher for everyone who
met him. He was a Grade 9 dropout from Thunder Bay, Ontario and often
said he was going nowhere fast. Then, in his early twenties, an industrial
accident broke his back and he would spend the rest of his life in a
wheelchair. Percy often called the event "a blessing in disguise" because,
somehow, it lifted him to new levels in his life.
It was Percy's personality, work ethic, and downright stubbornness that gave the Edmonton disabled movement the push it so desperately needed in the early 1970s. It was a time when people with disabilities were slowly becoming integrated into mainstream society. But it took someone with vision and thick skin to plow through on issues such as transportation and housing for people with disabilities. Percy accepted the challenge and succeeded.
He was also building his own foundation. After starting up several local groups for persons with disabilities, he wanted to give civic politics a shot. In 1980 he became Edmonton's first alderman with a disability. He was popular and you can see the stamp he left on the city everywhere you look. The curb cuts in the sidewalks for wheelchair-users to ride down on are thanks to Percy. The theatre seats taken out to make room for wheelchairs are Percy's work. Many other opportunities for people with disabilities are also thanks to Percy.
Perhaps his biggest moment on the political stage came in 1989. Percy
left civic politics and ran for the provincial Liberals. A story circles
that he admitted to several of his campaign advisors that he knew he
wouldn't win the election. After all, his opponent in the riding of
Edmonton Whitemud was then Alberta premier Don Getty. It would be okay,
Percy said, because it would give him great experience for his next
goal - running for the Mayor of Edmonton a few months later. But that
wasn't to be. Percy beat Getty and won the hearts of Albertans.
Percy spent 11 years as a MLA in Alberta. He always wanted to help people,
and not just people with disabilities, but anyone who needed help. His
"triple crown" was his three grandchildren and he shared every possible
moment he could with them.
In recent years Percy had health problems related to his injury. Last
week he slipped into a coma and never woke up. He was 63.
The church in the southeast corner of town was packed as people from
all walks of life came to say farewell to Percy. People with disabilities,
politicians from all three levels of government, friends, and people
whose lives were made just a little brighter because Percy shared his
time with them. And my friend, who sat on my left, was glad he went.
He now has the courage to attend funerals again.
Percy Wickman just keeps on inspiring people.
Do you know of someone who deserves to be in Charity Village's Spotlight?
Send us their name, telephone number and details about their community involvement
to cam@charityvillage.com.
