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Patrick Jarvis

- 2024 Sportsperson of the Year -

Patrick Jarvis has a lifelong commitment to sport, reflected in his broad involvement and numerous roles across decades of dedicated service. Since the 1970s, he has empowered people with disabilities to achieve their fullest potential through sport. His connection with the Calgary Booster Club began in 1976 when he received the Harry Hood Memorial Award as Outstanding High School Football Player while attending Crescent Heights High School.

Patrick’s career in the Paralympic movement spans over 36 years as an athlete, coach, administrator, and advocate. He began as a Para Alpine Ski Racer from 1988-1991, earning an Achievement Award for Athletics, and later coached women’s fastball and served as a carded basketball official. In addition, Patrick excelled as a multi-sport athlete, competing in rugby, baseball, and marathons, including the prestigious Boston Marathon for a “Run Jarvis Run” fundraiser supporting Paralympic sports.

As both an athlete and builder, Patrick has profoundly shaped Canada’s Paralympic community. He competed at the 1990 World Track & Field Championships and the 1992 Summer Paralympic Games. Darrell MacLachlan, an alpine ski builder and friend, describes Patrick as a transformative leader who has guided hundreds of Canadian para-athletes and reshaped multiple sports organizations.

Since 1987, Patrick has volunteered with the Canadian Paralympic Sport Association, serving 13 years on the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) Board, including seven years as CPC President. He also served as CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Foundation. His extensive contributions include roles as Team Leader for the 1994 World Athletics Championships for Disabled athletes in Berlin and as Chef de Mission for Canada at the 1998 Paralympic Games in Nagano, Japan. As CPC President, Patrick was part of the Canadian delegation for the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games and again for the 2004 Salt Lake Winter Games. In 2007, he was inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame, and in 2010, he received the Order of Canada Medal for his enduring contributions to Paralympic sports.

Patrick’s international influence continued as a member of the Governing Board for the London 2012 Paralympic Games and the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. He has also been recognized with the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal twice.

The Calgary Booster Club named Patrick an Honoured Athletic Leader in 2013, recognizing his decades-long dedication to athletes in Calgary and beyond. From 2015 to 2019, Patrick served as Executive Director of the Canada Snowboard Association and was a member of the Order of Canada Advisory Council from 2019 to 2022. In 2023, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton appointed him interim Chief Executive, where he established a supportive, wellness-centered culture for participants.

Patrick’s latest honor came in May 2024, when he was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. This recognition celebrates his extraordinary contributions to sport, his vision for inclusive opportunities, and his steadfast leadership in the Paralympic movement.