Laurel Crosby | |
Birth Place: | Delta, British Columbia, Canada |
Known For: | President of Wheelchair Rugby Canada |
Spouse: | John |
Awards: | Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
Laurel Alarie Crosby is the President of Wheelchair Rugby Canada. She previously served as president of the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association and Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Crosby began her career as a principal at James Gilmore Elementary School, a French immersion school, in Richmond, British Columbia.[1] While there, she launched a website and program dedicated to school-friendly wheelchair Rugby for elementary and middle school aged children.[2]
She continued her involvement in wheelchair sports in 1979 and developed a junior sports camps for disabled youth.[3] During the 1980s, she sat on the board of directors for the British Columbia Wheelchair Sports Association and the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association.[4] Crosby continued her involvement in sports into the 1990s, where she served as Canada's Chef de Mission during the 1992 Summer Paralympics.[5] The following year, Crosby was appointed president of the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) until 1997. Upon stepping down as president for the CWSA, she accepted a similar position with the Canadian Paralympic Committee.[1]
In 2001, Crosby was considered for the position of president of the International Paralympic Committee following the retirement of Robert Steadward.[6] Although she was not selected, her continued advocacy for wheelchair sports earned her the Daryl Thompson Award from Sport BC (British Columbia).[7] In 2010, Crosby served as Chairperson of the Organizing Committee for the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships.[8]
In 2013, Crosby was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[9] Shortly thereafter, she was appointed President of British Columbia Wheelchair Sports Association and was honoured with the 2015 In Her Footsteps award by ProMOTION PLUS.[10] In 2018, Crosby was inducted into the Delta Sports Hall of Fame as a builder.[11]
In 2019, Crosby was appointed president of Wheelchair Rugby Canada.[12]