Founders of Disability Activism in Canada

Our online disability advocacy takes many of its ideas from a bold history of protesting and the human rights movement. Just before this recent Remembrance Day (2025), I came across an article written by a historian-in-residence at Western University, Eric Story, that taught me more of our lost history. These stories are integral to the growth and advocacy for wounded veterans, injured workers, people with disabilities and those who identify as neurodivergent brought together in unity under one banner. 

Soldiers McDougall and Hincks are two disability rights activists and heroes forgotten by time but now remembered in great detail by Story. He ties period able-bodied policies into a story of truth, resilience and nation-wide disability community building, something that is now happening again with this digital age, as we collect online and demand respect and access. 

Newspaper clipping with text. "George Hinks and Marshall McDougall will make long hike. Both Men Lost Leg During Great War. Will Support Themselves on the Road by Giving Entertainments."
Image credit: Calgary Daily Herald

Both of these soldiers lost one of their legs in separate battles from 1915 to 1918 and took it upon themselves to bring awareness to the bustling industrial era, where people with disabilities were considered ‘unproductive members of society,’ Story says in an interview with CBC. To create more conversation and increase awareness, Marshall McDougall and George Hincks hiked 30 kilometers a day, reaching over 2,000 km before they ended their 60-day journey of awareness. 

Their spirited journey gathered people with disabilities from around Canada and eventually led to the creation of multiple disability support and advocacy groups like the Amputations Association of the Great War in 1920, known as the War Amps Society today. Disabled veterans, advocates, heroes and elders must be remembered as a step towards equity that began the virtual activism we are taking part in right now. 

We now build links in the chain, adding to the groundwork others have left for us and preparing for those who come after us. Check out our website for a link to Eric Story’s article “How two Canadian war amputees hiked 2,000 kilometers and shaped disability rights activism” from The Conversation. 

To become more active in digital advocacy, see our quick workbook in this issue and seek out your local Terry Fox runs or food bank drives to help those in need. There are people in society today who still hold true the virtues of these two heroes George Hincks and Marshall McDougall: Will you be one of them?

Written by Mitchell Tremblay (Co-Editor)

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