'She was a force against ableism': Tributes pour in after sudden death of former Paralympian Arley McNeney
CTV
B.C.-born former Paralympian Arley McNeney died suddenly last week, her family revealed Tuesday.
B.C.-born former Paralympian Arley McNeney died suddenly last week, her family revealed Tuesday.
She’s being remembered as a passionate advocate for social justice, equality, accessibility and inclusion—as well as a devoted mother to her daughter Dottie.
“I can’t put words to the love Arley has for Dot,” Denver McNeney wrote in a tweet announcing his sister’s death.
Born in New Westminster, McNeney, who also went by Arley Cruthers, played for Canada’s national wheelchair basketball team from 2001 to 2007—winning two World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2004 Paralympics.
She later went on to win two U.S. national championships with the women's varsity wheelchair basketball team at the University of Illinois, where she earned a master of fine arts degree in creative writing.
McNeney has written two novels, worked as a communications consultant for several wheelchair organizations, and taught communications at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s business school for over seven years.
“Arley accomplished an amazing amount in her 40 years, but Arley believed that the measure of a person was how they lifted up those around them,” Denver McNeney said.
