SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — The Late Kathleen Heddle

Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to Kathleen Heddle.

On January 11, 2021, this amazing Olympian Kathleen Heddle died of cancer at the young age of 55. This is such a tragic loss for Canada and for my home province of British Columbia.

Kathleen Heddle was born in Trail, B.C. Her family moved to Vancouver while she was still a baby. While attending the University of British Columbia, she became a rower. She, along with her rowing partner Marnie McBean, won two Olympic gold medals in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona in the pairs and in the eights. Again, at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, they won gold in the double sculls, which is a 2,000-metre competition that they led from beginning to end. They are the only Canadian athletes to have won three gold medals in the summer Olympic Games. They also won silver in the 1994 World Championship in rowing.

A fierce competitor, Kathleen Heddle faced her greatest challenge in battling for years against breast and lymph node cancer, and later, melanoma and brain cancer.

My dear colleagues, there is an inspiring quote from Kathleen that I would like to share with you: “How is it that amongst some of the worst days ever, you can experience some of the best?”

With this thought, I would like to remember this very special British Columbian and proud Canadian who has been described as a person of great resolve and even greater personal integrity.

Kathleen is survived by her husband, Mike Bryden, whom she married in October 2000. They have two teenage children: Lyndsey who studies at the University of British Columbia, a member of the rowing team there; and her son Mac.

To all who knew her, our deepest condolences. Thank you. Meegwetch.