Friday, July 2, 2010

In Canada, wheelchair-using soldier denied elevator ride

From UPI:

EDMONTON, Alberta -- The director of Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, has apologized to a wheelchair-bound Canadian soldier who was refused an elevator ride.

Kurtis Gaucher's fiancee, Tarama Poloway, told the Edmonton Sun the military amputee had to hobble down about 65 stairs Monday after they were denied elevator service. She said stadium staff told them they were too late to use the elevator to join other families on the field.

Gaucher, Poloway and their 5-month-old daughter had attended an event at the stadium honoring Canada's Winter Olympic gold medalists and military heroes.

"My fiance is one of those military heroes," she said. "I was scared he would fall because he doesn't have very good balance."

Gaucher suffered an amputation when he was injured in Afghanistan in November and has difficulty walking.