Hall of Fame

It was only fitting that the wheelchair athletics section of the Parasports Québec Hall of Fame be named in honour of André Viger (1952–2006). Through his achievements, he became a true legend across Canada.

He also revolutionized the sport by becoming the first athlete to use a three-wheel racing wheelchair similar to those used today. His performances in the Montréal Marathon brought significant visibility to wheelchair athletics and inspired generations of athletes who followed.

The first André Viger Award was presented in January 2000.

The Parasports Québec Hall of Fame – André Viger Section recognizes the accomplishments of an athlete, a wheelchair athletics professional (including volunteers, coaches, and other contributors), or a prominent individual whose exceptional efforts have advanced the development and promotion of wheelchair athletics.

A leading figure in the history of wheelchair basketball in Canada, Bill Hepburn (1915–2003) founded and became president of the Montréal Wheelchair Wonders in 1951. At a time when amputees and people with paraplegia were viewed largely through a lens of sympathy and pity, he set out to change public perceptions through sport.

In 1953, Bill succeeded in sending his team to the Stoke Mandeville Games, making them the first Canadian team to compete in an international sporting event for athletes with disabilities. He repeated this achievement in 1954 and 1955. The team was later inducted into the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association Hall of Fame.

Bill Hepburn was also closely associated with the creation of the first women’s wheelchair basketball team in Canada—and possibly in the world—the Wheelchair Wonderettes.

Between 1973 and 1990, he arranged several exhibition games with the legendary Harlem Globetrotters. A true pioneer of Canadian wheelchair basketball, Bill Hepburn made an exceptional contribution to the history of the sport in Canada.

The Bill Hepburn Award has been presented annually since 1992. In 2014, it became the Parasports Québec Hall of Fame – Bill Hepburn Section.

Coming soon

A pioneer, athlete, and coach, Errol Paillé quite literally introduced wheelchair rugby to Québec.

While attending an athletics competition in 1978, he witnessed a demonstration of murderball, the original name of wheelchair rugby. Inspired by the sport, he brought the discipline—originally developed in Manitoba—to Québec.

Deeply committed to its success, he devoted countless hours and efforts to building and developing the sport’s organizational structure throughout the province. By encouraging athletes to participate in this innovative and exciting sport, he played a key role in promoting the full inclusion of people with quadriplegia within the sporting community.

The Errol Paillé Award was first presented to its namesake in 1995. Since 2014, it has been transformed into the Parasports Québec Hall of Fame – Errol Paillé Section.

An outstanding athlete, volunteer, coach, and builder, Robert Lefebvre Sr. left an indelible mark on wheelchair sports in Québec and across Canada.

As an athlete, he participated in virtually every major sporting event in Canada from the 1950s through to the most recent Défi sportif. A member of the country’s first wheelchair basketball team, the Wheelchair Wonders, he also made a lasting impact as a coach and organizer, helping shape the development of wheelchair sports from coast to coast.

While some athletes credit him with introducing them to the Montréal Wheelchair Basketball League, which he founded, others regard him as the driving force behind the growth and popularity of sports for people with physical disabilities in Québec.

He founded numerous organizations dedicated to promoting and expanding opportunities for physical activity, recreation, and competitive sport for participants of all ages. He was among the first to bring together large numbers of people to discover and try sports such as athletics, swimming, and wheelchair basketball.

In 1999, Robert Lefebvre retired after 49 years of active involvement in sport, including a distinguished career in wheelchair basketball. He celebrated his 50th anniversary in sport in 2000 as an organizer rather than a competitor. Even after leaving the court, he remained an influential voice in the development of wheelchair sports until his passing in 2005.

Parasports Québec awarded its first multisport award to Robert Lefebvre Sr. in 1999. The award recognizes individuals for their exceptional contributions to wheelchair sport and honours remarkable achievements and accomplishments. Since 2014, the Robert Lefebvre Award has evolved into the Parasports Québec Hall of Fame – Robert Lefebvre Section.