By Grant Warkentin
Campbell River’s own Paralympian athlete Tyler Turner was honoured in council chambers last night, with a certificate of recognition from the city.
“Campbell River has been an amazing support for me,” he said after a short presentation for the public meeting. “Everyone in this town has been so welcoming to me.”
He brought his bronze medal, which he earned in the snowboard cross event in the 2026 Paralympic World Games last month, and was honoured with a brief presentation from the mayor and council, along with a framed certificate.
“I’d like to take a moment to recognize an outstanding local achievement,” said Mayor Kermit Dahl, introducing Tyler to the gallery. “The Paralympic Games represent the highest level of international competition for Para athletes, and Tyler’s performance is a testament to years of dedication, resilience, and elite athletic skill.
“We are incredibly proud of your achievements and grateful to have you here tonight to celebrate this remarkable moment with us.”
Turner, who lost both legs below the knee in a 2017 skydiving accident, was the first Canadian to win a gold medal in the event in the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games. He also won bronze in the banked slalom event.
He says he’s come a long way since his life-changing accident.
“As an athlete, physical injuries, we have to deal with them often, and that was normal,” he says in a video produced by the Paralympic Games. “The hard part was, how to recover from this mentally. How do you cope with that idea that maybe there’s no fun left for you out there?”
Turner says as he struggled through rehabilitation, learning to walk and snowboard on prosthetics, he decided to make it his goal to compete at the highest level possible.
“The Paralympics weren’t on my radar after my accident. It wasn’t this initial goal,” he says. “And once I decided it was the goal, I was all in. There was no turning back, and I wanted it.”
Turner went on to compete in the 2022 Paralympic World Games, winning two medals and earning his place as one of Canada’s top tier Paralympians.
He says he loves the elite level of competition, and is proud to represent Canadians who live every day with limb differences and amputations. He wants to help them find the same joy in sports that has helped him so much.
“We need to get out there, we need to show the world, it’s just not known,” he says. “I want to use whatever voice I have to get the word of Para sport out there.”
Turner is also involved with Operation Pegasus Jump, an annual event at the Campbell River Skydive Centre, which helps support the mental health of veterans, serving military members, and first responders. This year’s event starts on July 27.
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