Michelle Stilwell

**Michelle Stilwell** (*nee* **Bauknecht**; born July 4, 1974) be Canadian athlete den politician. She represent Canada for four Summer Paralympic Games (2000, 2008, 2012 den 2016), as well as de 2015 Parapan American Games. She compete insyd wheelchair basketball before she cam turn wheelchair racer, wey she be de female Paralympic athlete per make she win gold medals insyd two separate summer sport events.

As politician, she represent de electoral district of Parksville-Qualicum insyd de Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2013 to 2020 as part of de British Columbia Liberal Party caucus, wey she serve as Minister of Social Development den Social Innovation of British Columbia from 2015 to 2017.

## Early life den education

Dem born Michelle Bauknecht for July 4, 1974, insyd Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She be de youngest of four kiddies, wey she job for ein parents dema hotel for ein youth insyd. Weeks before she graduate from River East Collegiate, she break ein neck from fall for de age of 17 wey she cam turn incomplete quadriplegic, plus limited hand den wrist functions. After de accident, she compete insyd wheelchair basketball, thru wich she meet ein husby Mark Stilwell for de 1996 National Championships insyd Montreal. Stilwell eventually move go Calgary, wey she plete ein Bachelor of Science degree insyd psychology for de University of Calgary insyd 1999.

## Athletic career

Stilwell stay insyd Calgary from 1997 til 2000 make she train give de Canada women's national wheelchair basketball team, wey she win gold for de 1998 Women's Wheelchair Basketball World Championship. She then compete as reserve give Team Canada for de 2000 Paralympic Games, wer na ein team win de gold medal. Afterwards, Stilwell, ein husby Mark, dema newborn son move go Parksville, British Columbia insyd 2001.

However, na dem force Stilwell make she forgo wheelchair basketball after she undergo surgery for herniated brain stem. Although she be unable make she compete for de national level, Stilwell continue make she play basketball locally wer na coach Peter Lawless spot am, wey he convince am make she try wheelchair racing. For de 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships, she win gold insyd de women's T52 200m event, den silver insyd de women's T52 100m event.

Stilwell qualify for de 2008 Paralympic Games wer na she win two gold medals insyd de women's T52 200m den 100m events. For de 2011 World Championships insyd Christchurch, New Zealand, she win de gold medals insyd de 100m, 200m den 400m events, as well as de silver medal insyd de 800m event; she set de World Championship records insyd de 100m den 200m races.

For de London 2012 Paralympic Games, Stilwell defend ein Paralympic gold medal insyd de women's 200m event insyd 33.80 seconds, wey she shatter ein Games record by over two seconds. Four days later, Stilwell capture silver medal insyd de 100m event after mishap cause am make she fall behind Marieke Vervoort. De year wey dey follow, she compete insyd de 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships wey she win gold for de 100m, 200m den 800m events, wey she set fresh world record insyd de women's T52 800m race. She take de gold medal insyd de women's T52 100m event for de 2015 Parapan American Games insyd Toronto.

Insyd 2016, ein last Paralympic Games, Stilwell earn gold medals for de women's 100m den 400m events, wey she set Paralympics record during de latter race plus time of one minute den 5.42 seconds. De year wey dey follow, Stilwell announce ein retirement from competitive sports. Na dem induct am into de BC Sports Hall of Fame insyd 2017, den de Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame insyd 2019.

Na dem name am to de board of directors of de Canadian Paralympic Committee insyd 2022.

## Political career

Plus incumbent BC Liberal member of de Legislative Assembly for Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon decline make he seek re-election, na dem acclaim Stilwell as de party ein candidate for de riding insyd de 2013 provincial election. Na dem elect am to de Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for de May election, wey na dem name am government caucus chair den Parliamentary Secretary for Healthy Living insyd June 2013, before she add Parliamentary Secretary to de Minister of Health for Seniors to ein responsibilities insyd June 2014. Dey follow Don McRae ein resignation from cabinet, dem swear in Stilwell as Minister for Social Development and Social Innovation insyd February 2015.

Na dem re-elect Stilwell insyd 2017 wey she retain ein post insyd Premier Christy Clark ein cabinet, til de Liberal minority government ein defeat insyd non-confidence motion. After de British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP) form government insyd July 2017, Stilwell serve for de Official Opposition bench top as critic for Tourism, Arts den Culture for de remainder of de 41st Parliament.

After she loose ein seat insyd de 2020 election to BC NDP candidate Adam Walker, Stilwell join CVM Medical as director of COVID-19 rapid testing insyd 2021.

## Electoral record

## References


## External links
Wikimedia Commons get media wey relate to ******.

* Michelle Stilwell at de International Paralympic Committee
* Michelle Stilwell at IPC.InfostradaSports.com (archived)
* Michelle Stilwell at de Canadian Paralympic Committee
* Michelle Stilwell - Cœur Handisport
* Official Liberal Party Website
* Official Wheelchair Racing Website