Elisabeth Walker-Young is a retired

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

Paralympic swimmer Para swimming is an adaptation of the sport of swimming (sport), swimming for athletes with disability, disabilities. Para swimmers compete at the Swimming at the Summer Paralympics, Summer Paralympic Games and at other sports competitions through ...

, an assistant

chef de mission In diplomatic usage, head of mission (HOM) or chief of mission (COM) from the French "chef de mission diplomatique" (CMD) is the head of a diplomatic representation, such as an ambassador, high commissioner, nuncio, chargé d'affaires, permanen ...

at the

2012 Summer Paralympics The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international Multi-sport event, multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Sum ...

and a former chef de mission for the Canadian team at the

2015 Parapan American Games The 2015 Parapan American Games, officially the V Parapan American Games and commonly known as the Toronto 2015 ParaPan-Am Games, were a major international multi-sport event for Disabled sports, athletes with disabilities, celebrated in the tra ...

. She received an

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

in 2018 because of her services to the sport within the Paralympic movement at the age of 41. In 2014, Walker-Young was inducted into the

Canadian Disability Hall of Fame The Canadian Disability Hall of Fame (formerly the Terry Fox Hall of Fame), recognizes "outstanding Canadians who have made extraordinary contributions to enriching the quality of life for people with physical disabilities". It is run by the Canadi ...

. Walker-Young was born without arms but has some fingers at the end of her arms. Elizabeth and her twin sister Rebekah were born in Saskatoon. They were adopted. She moved to Toronto, Ontario at a young age. They attended Gabrielle Roy and lived in Toronto Community Housing at Queen and Jones. Elizabeth received support from Easter Seals and was their ambassador as a child. Her sister Rebekah is a childhood leukemia survivor. Elizabeth's mom worked as a crossing guard.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker-Young, Elisabeth 1977 births Living people Swimmers from Toronto Paralympic swimmers for Canada Swimmers at the 1992 Summer Paralympics Swimmers at the 1996 Summer Paralympics Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Paralympics Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 1996 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2000 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2004 Summer Paralympics Canadian Disability Hall of Fame Paralympic medalists in swimming Paralympic gold medalists for Canada Paralympic silver medalists for Canada Paralympic bronze medalists for Canada Canadian female medley swimmers Medalists at the World Para Swimming Championships Canadian female butterfly swimmers S7-classified para swimmers 21st-century Canadian sportswomen 20th-century Canadian sportswomen