Ian Gregson

Ian Gregson (born September 2, 1962) is an actor, musician, activist and author in British Columbia, Canada. He was born in St Helens, Lancashire, England. As a young boy his promising athletic career in track and field seemed to end on May 18, 1978. During his lunch hour at Ashton-in-Makerfield Grammar School (now The Byrchall High School), Gregson was involved in a railway accident that resulted in the loss of his right leg above the knee. Undaunted by this physical setback, he continued his involvement in track and field by taking up shot put and weight training. In September 1981, he emigrated to Canada with his family. Paralympian Gregson first gained national media attention in the fall of 1982 after completing the first ever Terry Fox Run in Port Coquitlam. Shortly thereafter, he began to focus on competing in disability sport events and in 1983 became Canada's top amputee athlete. In 1984 and 1988 he represented Canada at the Paralympics, and in 1986, after receiving a fourth place at the World Championships in Sweden, he became the first athlete with a disability in Canada to receive a post secondary athletic scholarship. In 1987 Gregson received the Chevron Canada Award for Post Secondary Sports. After retirement he became Chair of the BC Disability Games, overseeing several successful events during his tenure. In 1998 he published his first book, Irresistible Force: A History of Disability Sport in Canada, via Raincoast Books in Vancouver.