“In three seconds my life was turned upside down.”
“As I lay there, staring at the ceiling and struggling to get up, I had no idea what was ahead of me.” Prior to his accident in November 2014, Chris’ life was unremarkably “normal”. Just over six years ago, he slipped and fell in his bathroom and injured his neck. Unable to move, he lay there paralyzed for 14 hours until his mother discovered him lying in the bathtub. His injury took him through the entirety of the healthcare system, starting with a 911 call, emergency room surgery, ICU, inpatient care, rehabilitation, outpatient appointments, research group advocacy, and volunteering. Hear him recount how, against all odds, he not only survived but also found the strength, determination, and faith to reshape his purpose and create a quality of life that few believed was attainable.
Contact don@gpsrecruiting.ca for public, speaking engagements and availability.
Notable Publications and Engagements.
2025
-
Follow up to: Will Ontario be AODA compliant by 2025?
Watch a clip here
-
Qualifying for MLI Select with Accessibility
-
Aging in place presentation to Rosedale Condo Group
2024
-
Reaction to announcement on Canadian Disability Benefit
-
Making ride-share services and taxis accessible.
-
Appointed to the Accessibility Advisory Council Waterfront Toronto.
Read more HERE
-
Will Ontario be AODA compliant by 2025?
Watch HERE
-
The Independence Initiative is a knapsack we will give to every newly injured person with SCI across 7 rehab centers in Ontario starting January 2024. Learn more HERE
-
Created by Peter and Paul’s Gift Baskets and along with Quinto Zimmerman and Tony Awad, we contributed to this year’s gift baskets to make sure newly injured patients had a selection of adaptive devices included.
-
My accessibility consultations with the Ability Clinic and getting them gold certified through the RHFAC program. Read the article here.
-
Listen to my discussion with Paul Vandergriendt about starting my business and an Accessibility Consultant.
2022
-
Along with Quinto Zimmerman and Tony Awad, we contributed to this year’s gift baskets to make sure newly injured patients had a selection of adaptive devices included with each gift basket.
-
HandiCup exhibitor at the Abilities Expo in Miami, Florida at the Miami airport. Doubletree convention center.
-
HandiCup exhibitor at the Active Living Tradeshow in Toronto Ontario at Variety Village
-
Article - Pulled Off Weel-Trans and Forced Onto Subway
-
Mind Your Own Business TV show (MYOB) on AMI Network season one
-
Watch this video to learn how Chris Stigas, a spinal cord injury survivor, optimized intermittent catheterization to achieve a better quality of life.
-
Abilities Expo Community Magazine
-
Invited to Serve on the Design Of Public Spaces Committee (DOPS) for The Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility
-
CBC News re: Medical supplies hardships for Ontarians
-
Synapse Town Hall Presentation on the launch of new Patient Portal by Epic for UHN
-
Featured in the Accessibility Professional Network (APN) newsletter that circulates from the Rick Hansen Foundation
-
Fashion Dis TV Show, season one episode three on AMI Network
-
Health Talk Day presentation at UHN
2021
-
Retired from TTC, Advisory Committee for Accessible Transportation (ACAT)
-
CBC News re: accessibility at 10 TTC stations
-
Podcast on Major Pain with Jesse Plack
-
Top 10 accessibility Fails I see as a RHFAC Professional in the field. Written by myself and published in the SBS group Inc. property management newsletter email blog
-
Invited by Metrolinx to review New Presto Accessible Fare Gates Proto types for municipal and provincial transit agencies.
-
Podcast with Rahi Link TBA
-
Podcast with Mike Donnelly
-
Podcast on Ramp it Up with Rhonel Cinous.
-
Podcast on Agapi Greek Radio with Irene Anargyrou
-
Article re: My accessibility consultations with the Ability Clinic and getting them gold certified through the RHFAC program
written by Alexandra Rendely,
-
Pandemic Heroes Award from MP Rob Oliphant for my donation of one gift basket to every spinal cord injury patient at Lyndhurst Rehab.
-
Podcast on Job Talks with Paul VanderGriendt
-
Transportation with a power wheelchair
-
Podcast with Julie Sawchuk
2020
-
Patient as Faculty Designation through Holland Bloorview Children’s Rehab Hospital to speak and work with children with disabilities about living with a disability.
-
Award, from Spinal Cord Injury of Ontario for Activist of the Year
Spinal Cord Injury Ontario | Supporting and advocating for and with people with a disability.
-
Presentation re: Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA), Health Literacy Conferance - in California on how Covid has affected people with disabilities via Zoom
Meet our Plenary Speakers - Conference
-
TVO Mary Baxter, What new legislation means for home and community care in Ontario
-
TVO News article by Mary Baxter re: Home care during a pandemic and future legislation regarding home care
-
Twitter, UHN Patient Experience
-
Presentation re: Smart WiFi Products & Disabilities to 2nd yr OT students @UofT via Zoom
-
2020 UHN President’s Award, Patient Partner (Team) – Digital Patient Engagement Consultant Group – This amazing group includes 13 Patient Partners who are informing UHN’s virtual care strategy as well as other important digital initiatives occurring at UHN. Their recommendations and feedback have been essential for improving virtual care across UHN as we’ve gone from about 250 virtual visits a-week at the start of the pandemic to more than 7,000 a-week.
Astounding 240 “deserving” nominees for UHN Local Impact Awards
-
NDP Canadian National News Release
-
Global News Tom Hayes, PSW’s testing COVID-19 & PPE
-
Radio, Funny820AM Radio, iHeart Radio, Humble & Fred Pirate Radio – Hit @ minute 68:50 seconds
-
Re: Electric GO bus pilot review @ Metrolinx head office
-
CITYTV, Brandon Rowe, social media and accessibility in Toronto restaurants (part 2)
-
Re: Streetcar operator recertification @ TTC Leslie Barns training facility
2019
-
Magazine, Spinal Cord Injury Ontario, Community Magazine, Introducing new Young Professional new Board Members, page 40
-
Hardcover Book, Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body, page 87
-
Magazine, Spinal Cord Injury Ontario, Community Magazine, From Injury to Innovation, page 24
-
Re: Officially became a member of the Accessibility Professionals Network with the Rick Hansen Foundation
-
Re: Machine/Human Interfaces Techna Symposium @ formerly, Medical and Related Sciences, now Discovery District Building
-
Article re: Patient Partners bring lived experience to UHN’s Accessibility Advisory Council
-
Invited to join The Institute for Education Research with UHN & Michener Institute
-
CTV Pat Foran Consumer Alert, Theraputix physiotherapy clinic steals thousands from clients
-
Re: Hallway Health Care & Nursing @ Nursing Faculty Building at University of Toronto
-
April 27, 2019 Re: Medical Imaging @ Michener Institute
-
Re: Appointed to Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit @ Toronto City Hall
2017
-
Re: Invited to join the Young Professionals Board under Spinal Cord Injury of Ontario
-
CITYTV Faiza Amin, social media and accessibility in Toronto restaurants (part 1)
-
Re: My story to underserved youth @ Urban Squash Toronto, Downsview Park
-
Magazine, Spinal Cord Injury Ontario, Community Magazine, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Fundraiser, page 16
-
Re: Public deputation to Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit @ Toronto Transit Commission Headquarters
-
Re: ICU care in approach highlight video @ Toronto Western Hospital
-
Video, UHN Patient Partner nurse awareness training
-
Re: Hospital Acquired Condition prevention video @ Toronto Rehab Institute Universality Center –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i8NKKKcZB4&ab_channel=StorymastersCommunications
-
Re: Life after the Gage @ Gage Transitional Housing
-
Re: Medical Imaging @ The Michener Institute
-
Re: Smart WiFi Products & Disabilities to 2nd yr Occupational Therapists students @ University of Toronto
-
Magazine, Accessible Yoga Journal, slides 15 & 30
https://accessibleyoga.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/AYC_Toronto2018_final.pdf
-
Re: Co-taught an Accessible Yoga class @ Victoria University
-
Re: Transitions of care @ formerly, Medical and Related Sciences, now Discovery District Building
2018
-
Re: My story to Deputy Minister of Health & Leadership team @ Ministry of Health Ontario Ont.
-
Re: My story to Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network @ 2MoH Ontario
-
Video, Life goes on after Lyndhurst
2016
-
Re: Lyndhurst Cottage program recap @ Lyndhurst Rehab
2023
-
Presentation to first year U of T students about smart home technology and how it can improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.
-
Niagara Parasport Festival
-
RHFAC Professional Spotlight: Chris Stigas
Read article HERE
-
Accessibility Professional Network 2023
-
Article - Shivers Up the Spine
This is a long read so if you want to skip to my section, look for the heading beginning “Inconsistent care dehumanizes people…”
-
Certified with the Inclusive Workspace and Supply Council of Canada as being a diverse company.
-
Mind Your Own Business TV show season 2