A day of fishing sounds simple, but many people with disabilities face barriers that keep them from accessing the outdoors in the same ways as able-bodied people. When we started talking about expanding our Fishing Forever program, which provides an opportunity for people with diverse abilities to learn, or continue, to fish and enjoy the outdoors, the B.C. Wildlife Federation (BCWF) reached out to the Rick Hansen Foundation for their endorsement and support.
They jumped at the opportunity and invited a group of BCWF staff members out on the river with Rick to discuss the possibilities, build community, and to catch and release a couple of sturgeons.
Kendall McLaughlin, BCWF Engagement Coordinator, was one of the lucky staffers who was invited to launch with Rick Hansen from the Steveston harbour in Rick’s custom-made accessible boat.
“There were a lot of cool features about the boat,” Kendall raved. “It has a ramp so that wheelchair users can get on easily, it has wider cabin doors to make it more accessible, and it has a rising platform in the cabin so that people can be lifted to see out the windows better or operate the boat.”
In addition to being captivated by the incredible boat, Kendall was lucky enough to reel in a sturgeon.
“It was one and a half metres long and untagged, so we got to tag the fish, and they told me about this program where you can adopt any sturgeons that are newly tagged, and it’ll give you an update on where it was caught and how big it has grown,” they said. “It’s a great way to get funding for sturgeon conservation.”
Fishing Forever co-chair, Mike Stiles, was able to reel in a sturgeon using a specialized electronic fishing rod that operates with the push of a button.
“It was truly a memorable day spending time with Rick and the excellent team from the B.C. Wildlife Federation. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to connect with Rick given our shared experience and journey with spinal cord injuries and navigating life with a disability. It was also wonderful to discover our mutual passion for fishing, which we both enjoyed even before our injuries,” said Mike. “We both strongly believe that fishing can be incredibly instrumental in rehabilitation and offer significant benefits to many more individuals. We envision a future where this can be achieved through increased funding and more frequent events.”
All fish were handled in accordance with Best Handling Practices as per Best Handling Guidelines for Angling Sturgeon in British Columbia (Province of BC), and the FRSCS Scientific Collection Protocols of sturgeon guidelines. Tony Nootebos, a Fraser Valley angling guide and sturgeon conservation expert, was present to ensure that the sturgeons were handled safely.
In between fishing, the voyageurs chatted about what the BCWF does to support people with disabilities, what the Rick Hansen Foundation does, and where there might be opportunities to collaborate.
“This opens up a new world for current and future generations to make sure everyone can go out and do the things that they love,” BCWF’s Director of Operations, Education, and Engagement Chris Lim said. “Our goal for Fishing Forever has always been to make the outdoors more accessible for everyone. We’re making adaptations to our equipment, making adaptations to where we fish, and teaching our volunteers and our staff how to fish in different ways to allow as many people as possible to enjoy the sport. A partnership like this with the Rick Hansen Foundation is inspiring. It’s nice to know that we’re all working toward the same goal.”
Fishing Forever events took place in 13 communities across British Columbia in 2025, reaching over 1,100 participants. The program is primarily run by volunteers.
Rick Hansen ended the day by filming a promotional video with Mike Stiles to encourage more people to attend Fishing Forever events next year.
In his video, Rick states: “I just want to say a huge thanks to all that you do, Mike, and the team, how you put on tremendous opportunities for people who have disabilities to get out back into the outdoors, back fishing again. It’s part of my rehabilitation, part of my whole life journey, and anybody like you guys that are working towards removing barriers, Mike, they have my full support and keep up the great work and if you know anybody who has a disability who wants to get out fishing, contact these guys at Fishing Forever. They’re fantastic.”
Photo: Rick Hansen poses with Mike Stiles, Co-chair of the Fishing Forever program, Kendall McLaughlin, BCWF Engagement Coordinator, Chris Lim, Director of Operations, Education, and Engagement, and Jesse Zeman, Executive Director, as well as a few members of Rick’s team, Shelley Cave, from the Accessible Outdoors Program, and Tony Nootebos, a Fraser Valley angling guide and sturgeon conservation expert.