Barwick is a three-time Paralympian and has won more medals at major Games than any other Canadian rider having represented her country at international level for more than 12 years.

Her accomplishments include bringing home individual gold and silver medals from the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, and winning Canada's only medals, a silver and bronze, at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France.

"This induction is a fabulous affirmation of all the effort and work that I've put into being the best I can be as a person with a disability, and being a good representation of a Canadian citizen," said Barwick.

"There are no guarantees in life, so for me, I took having a disability as a challenge, not just to overcome, but a challenge to rise to the occasion."

Barwick was paralysed from the waist down when a bale of hay fell on her in 2000 but competed at her first Paralympics in Athens four years later.

In addition to the 38-year-old, who was inducted into the athlete category, two other individuals were honoured during this year's ceremony.

Bernard Gluckstein, a personal injury lawyer and long-time accredited Paralympics photographer, was inducted into the builder category.

Inducted into the achiever category in recognition of his dedicated and tireless promotion of Paralympic athletes was Rick Mercer, a political satirist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

The Canadian Disability Hall of Fame was created to permanently recognise outstanding Canadians who make extraordinary contributions to enriching the quality of life for people with physical disabilities.

It is located at Metro Hall in Toronto and is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.



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