'My disability informs me': Quadriplegic West Vancouver council candidate shares inspiring life journey
Twenty-four years ago, Alexis Chicoine's life changed forever.
At the age of 30, she was on her honeymoon in Venezuela when she got into a car accident.
"I guess I watched enough medical shows that when I'm laying there and I went to push to get up, I'm like, 'oh no, I'm paralyzed,'" she said.
Chicoine told CTV News that it was a huge adjustment for her, adding that it was as much an emotional journey as a physical one.
"You lose 90 per cent of your body," she said. "You have this projection of where life was going to go and unfortunately the partner at the time couldn't handle it. Too much of a change and he left."
"So, 29 to 31, I was married, quadriplegic, and divorced."
But the obstacles didn't stop her from living her life.
With the help of her loved ones, Chicoine got back into the workforce and said she soon noticed how inaccessible West Vancouver was.
"There are so many doors, even today, that don't have automated buttons; restaurants, bathrooms," she said.
While she has seen progress over the years, she said there's still a lot more work to do. Now, she's running for council in West Vancouver with the goal of seeing that work done.
"At the municipal level, I can't control everything, but I can control policy," she said.
She said if she's elected, she would offer a fresh perspective in council that she believes will lead to more inclusive and environmentally friendly infrastructure, including universally designed buildings, fully accessible public transportation as well as more senior homes.
"My disability informs me, but it doesn't define me," Chicoine said. "Diversity in thought is so important for innovation and that is all aspects that I tie to my disability."
"My disability has brought me so many strengths and it really has defined the strengths that I can bring to the table," she added.
Voters head to the polls Oct. 15.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks beat Oilers 5-4 in comeback to take Game 1
The Vancouver Canucks won the first game of their NHL playoffs series with the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 on Wednesday night coming back from a three-goal deficit.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.