A Legend, Shaped by Sports

A Legend; Shaped by Sports
by Madi A. 01/2006
dedicated to Corey, with love
Corey was born with cerebral palsy.

When he was nine months old, he attended a pop-up Sears photo shoot at a local IGA. The photographer asked that he be seated facing the camera and tilted slightly to the left. He was placed as requested, but he needed a supporting hand to remain upright. When it was explained that he could not sit independently, the moment landed quietly.

It wasn’t the first sign that had been noticed, but it was the first time it had been stated so plainly by someone else.

At thirteen months, he was admitted to SickKids Hospital in Toronto for further assessment. He was diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP), a form of CP that causes muscle stiffness, spasticity, and poor motor control, primarily affecting the legs. It often results in toe walking and difficulty with mobility. It was explained that he might never walk without assistance or devices such as ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), and that if he did walk, he would likely always require a mobility aid, such as a wheelchair, for longer distances.
Aside from early challenges with eye and hand coordination, and with consistent physiotherapy and occupational therapy, he developed a muscular upper body. His development never followed standard charts, but he learned at his own pace, with patience, repetition, and determination.

After his younger brother and sister were born, the three followed a path of discovery and were a trio of mutual growth. At first, there were gaps. With persistence, those gaps narrowed, and eventually, there was no holding him back.

He figured out life, his way.

When he was three years old, Saturdays were spent at the local bowling alley. The two boys took turns pushing the bowling ball between their legs down the lane, aiming to knock over as many pins as possible. That early experience became a lifelong passion. For more than thirty years, he participated weekly in Special Olympics Bowling and Sudbury Youth Bowling. Over time, he earned an impressive collection of trophies, ribbons, and badges, each one reflecting his discipline, progress, and love for the sport. He eventually retired from bowling due to work commitments.

He and his grandfather spent countless hours together at the bowling alley. It was their shared hobby, their bonding time, and the source of treasured memories.

In 1999, a family member and a friend, half amused and half curious, visited a psychic. It wasn’t taken seriously; it was meant to be fun. When asked about the children’s futures, the psychic turned a few cards and read a palm, then said, “I see Corey graduating from a college or university, a brown brick building.”

Those words lingered. At the time, the psychic had no knowledge of Corey’s cerebral palsy or learning disabilities, nor that post-secondary education had once seemed unlikely. The moment stayed with the family long after the visit ended.

Almost ten years later, Corey attended Cambrian College in the Glenn Crombie Centre. He graduated from the Building Bridges Program, a certificate designed to provide intensive employment preparation, social skill development, problem-solving, and job readiness. He later completed a workplace program through the March of Dimes.

It became clear that he would never allow his disability to stand in the way of success.

Fishing was another sport he shared with his grandfather. From a very young age, they spent many days at the cottage on the West Arm of Lake Nipissing. The boat was always ready. They would head out for hours, returning with enough fish for a family meal and stories that lasted far longer.

Sports were always his passion. He watched every game he could on television and knew every NHL player, team, and ranking. He was a lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan, and his superhero was Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls.

After trying integrated baseball and other local sports, he found a different path: para-sports.

And there, he thrived.

When he was eight years old, Corey joined the Therapeutic Riding Association for Challenged Kids (T.R.A.C.K.) in the Durham area, where he developed riding skills while improving muscle tone, balance, confidence, and social skills. He competed at a riding event at the Uxbridge Fair, where Governor General Jeanne Sauvé was present. Meeting her was an honour. He continued therapeutic riding non-competitively into the mid-2000 with the Sudbury Therapeutic Riding Program.

At twelve years old, he was a member of Shooting Stars, participating in wheelchair sports and training for the Special Olympics. He qualified locally in track and field events, shot put, and javelin, then went on to compete at the provincial level in Ottawa, winning gold medals in both. He qualified for nationals in Thunder Bay, but illness and financial challenges prevented him from continuing that path.

One summer, Corey attended an integrated accessible camp in Minden, Ontario, where he won first place in the KILCOO Olympics in track and field.

At twelve years old, he participated in downhill skiing at Adanac Ski Hill in Sudbury through the Ontario Track3 Adaptive Sports Association. His ski was adapted with a clip that held the skis straight, and his coach used a harness to help him stay upright. He loved the rush of going down the hill, but just as much, he loved the ride back up, the anticipation building with each lift, the world opening around him in motion.

It wasn't until he turned thirteen years old, wheelchair basketball became his true passion. For nearly fifteen years, Corey was a dedicated member of the Sudbury Rolling Thunder Wheelchair Basketball Team, he participated in practices weekly and was competing in exhibition games across the city. He attended a week-long wheelchair basketball camp at Variety Village in Toronto. He left Sudbury as a player and returned as a force.

In his late twenties, Corey joined the Northern Sliders Sledge Hockey Team, competing in tournaments across southern Ontario. Each year, the team was invited to the London Blizzard Sledge Hockey Invitational, which included national and international teams. In February 2016, the Northern Sliders went undefeated to win the tournament. This was one of the highlights of his athletic career. His mother and niece from Sudbury, his uncle from Windsor, and his aunt from Burlington were present to witness the moment.

In his early thirties, he began adaptive kayak rowing with the Sudbury Rowing Club. Though non-competitive, Northern Water Sports para-rowing remains his favourite summer activity. His most meaningful row took place on July 1, 2016, when his coach arranged a row on Bethel Lake behind Maison McCullough Hospice, where his grandfather was residing.

Golf has also been a lifelong joy. From a young age, he golfed regularly with his grandfather, creating memories that continue to live on. Today, with his Personal Support Worker (PSW), he still enjoys chasing that little white ball across the green and riding in the golf cart.

In 2025, Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin (ILSM) introduced adaptive wheelchair basketball sessions at the YMCA in Sudbury. Through the local Wheelchair Basketball League, Corey continues to stay active, connected, and engaged in inclusive recreation.

Beyond sports, he treasures family time. He is present for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, holidays, and special events. He has a dedicated PSW who supports his daily needs and often accompanies him to a Sudbury5 basketball game or a movie. He maintains lifelong friendships and values time spent with extended family, whether watching the Sudbury Wolves, visiting Windsor for a Detroit Tigers game, or travelling to Toronto to see the Blue Jays play.
Competition was never about winning. It was about showing up, again!

And despite every barrier, his love for sports became the fire that fuels his passion.