Jim

Jim is an upstanding citizen—a husband, father, fulltime ironworker, owner of his own company, and volunteer firefighter.

He never thought his life would change. But in an instant it did.

Jim was working as an ironworker when he was tragically crushed against the roof of a building. His back was fractured and he was diagnosed with an incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). He was told he would never walk again. His life had changed forever.

Jim first discovered Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA) Ontario immediately after his surgery, through our Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) pilot program, which is designed to have immediate contact with newly injured people, providing them with services, resources, peer support and community reintegration.

We have been there with Jim and his family when they need us, helping them to rebuild their lives.

"At first, you are so shocked and when the doctors tell you that you will never walk again, you wonder where the hope is," Jim recalls. "Being connected to CPA Ontario and everyone there who believes in life after SCI—that was where the hope began."

Right now there are over 12,000 people living with SCI's in Ontario. And, the number is growing. CPA Ontario provides Peer Support, Regional Services, Employment Services, and Attendant Services to help 1,643 clients with 119,557 hours of vitally importnat services last year alone.

"It is hope CPA Ontario has given my family and me, " says Jim. It is everyone's job at CPA Ontario to do whatever it takes to help people rebuild their lives with dignity, passion, meaning and hope.

Web:  www.cpaont.org
Phone:  1-877-422-1112
416-422-5644