Kenneth Peter Thomas

We celebrate the life of Kenneth Peter Thomas, February 2, 1953-September 16, 2024. Ken was known by many as a music lover, athlete, community builder and activist for persons with disabilities. Ken was born to Sheila and Alan Thomas in Calgary, Alberta. A medical error lead to Ken’s cerebral palsy, a condition which affected his coordination and speech but not his mind. The family, having lived in Calgary and Lethbridge, moved to Edmonton in 1965 where Ken resided for the rest of his life. Ken’s cheerfulness, willing participation and positive attitude was acknowledged in 1974 when staff at the Glenrose Hospital School presented him with the Dr. J. E. Bradley Citizenship Award. This was but the first of many awards, including those for athletics. Ken competed in the sport of wheelchair track on a national and international basis from 1981-1994 winning many trophies and medals, including two from the Paralympics in Seoul, Korea in 1988 for the 100 and 400 meter race. Ken’s website “Backwheeler.ca” gives away his signature style of racing backwards. Because Ken could not use his hands he also had a signature style of typing- with his nose! The number of letters and reports he typed with his nose while on the following Board of Director’s is so impressive: Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta (1978-1984); Alberta Committee of Citizens with Disabilities (1979-1985); first President of the Alberta Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (1979-1994), the City of Edmonton Custom Transportation Services Advisory Board (1985-1990), the Artspace Housing Cooperative Board- VP Maintenance (1994-1998), and the City of Edmonton’s Advisory Board for Persons with Disabilities (2005-2011). For his community service he received the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), Ewan Nelson Mayor’s Award for Self-Advocacy (2012), and from the Canadian Paraplegic Association the Honorable Lois Hole Community Development award (2012). For recreation Ken attended Camp He Ho Ha from 1960-1979, and enjoyed swimming at the ACT, Hardisty and YWCA pools. Wheelchair square dancing was a big part of his life for many years, travelling across the country with the Swinging Spokes and then more recently dancing with Double Diamonds Community Dance. Ken was also the man in the wheelchair sitting in the front at many theatre and music events, attending the Edmonton Folk Music Festivals for 43 years! Ken was a champion for independent living and user-directed car. He lived at the Mcqueen group home (Easter Seals) and then in his own apartment at Artspace Housing Co-op. The Supports for Artspace Independent Living (S.A.I.L.) staff were amazing, particularly in the past three years when he was struggling with pain and limited mobility. Ken is survived by Brian (Genny) Thomas, Lorna Thomas and Phil Haug, Cayley Thomas-Haug, CarrieAnn (Dennis) Dykes, Scott (Erin) Thomas; Anne (Jim) Northey and their children Keller, Finn, Myles and Bridget; cousins in Medicine Hat, Calgary, Camrose, Vancouver Island and Ottawa. He is predeceased by his nephew Alex Thomas-Haug, his parents, grandparents and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He had a beautiful circle of friends who walked, ran, wheeled and danced beside him throughout his life. Donations can be made to the Cerebral Palsy Association or the Paralympic Sports Association. A video of the recording of Kenneth Thomas’ memorial will be available on You Tube.