School Name History
Location
3433 Firhill Drive, Abbotsford, BC
Opened
2002
The School
Eugene Reimer Middle School opened on September 3, 2002, with six hundred students in Grades 6-8. That first year, the electives offered by the school focused on fine arts, athletics, and technology. At its entry the building has a small theatre stage which is acoustically designed. The students use computers to design wood working projects that are constructed in the lab on the first floor. The school has a huge secondary-sized gymnasium.
In keeping with its namesake, Eugene Reimer, the school promotes character building so that, every year, in-depth focus is on one chosen character trait such as courage, empathy, integrity, respect, responsibility, and service.
Origin of the Name
The school was named after Eugene Reimer, an award-winning Paralympian and champion for disabled athletes. At the time the name was chosen, school names were generally based on famous Abbotsford residents, famous national figures, or place names. Eugene Reimer was a well-known local resident who rose to international prominence in the athletic world.
When the name was announced in April of 2002, the board chairman, John Smith, said, “Eugene was an incredible inspiration to me as a young athlete and he continues to inspire all who know him and/or his story.” Eugene spent his life working hard, being successful in his endeavours, and motivating other athletes. The long-term goals for the students at Eugene Reimer Middle School include preparing students for a lifetime of meaningful work, leadership, and serving others, just as Eugene Reimer did during his lifetime.
Eugene “Gene” Reimer (1940-2008)
Eugene Reimer was born on January 21, 1940, in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, but his family moved to Abbotsford when he was young. He was stricken with polio at age three and was left with limited use of his legs. He refused to let this stop him. As a child playing baseball with his six brothers and sisters, he would hit the ball, then “run” to first base on his hands and knees. At Centennial Pool, he would climb up the diving board ladder with his powerful arms, walk across the board on his hands, and then push off in a perfect dive. In the late 1960s, he became involved in wheelchair sports, participating in weightlifting, archery, swimming, basketball, volleyball, and track and field. From 1968 to his retirement from sports in 1980, Eugene dominated the field.
Reimer had a stellar athletic career, winning over fifty national and nine international gold medals. He represented Canada at four Paralympic Games (1968, 1972, 1976, 1980). At the 1972 Paralympics in Munich, Germany, he received gold medals in discus, pentathlon (setting world records!), and a silver medal for the 4 x 60 metre relay. That year he was honoured with Canada’s Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year Award, the first time someone with a disability had been chosen.
He was a pioneer in competitive sports for disabled athletes. He was also a role model for other disabled athletes such as Rick Hansen and played wheelchair basketball with both Hansen and Terry Fox. In 1972, Eugene Reimer was the first disabled athlete to be inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and in 1974, the first disabled athlete to receive the Order of Canada medal. In 1991, he was given the W. A. C. Bennett Award from the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2000, BC Disability Sports created the Eugene Reimer Award to recognize a British Columbian who “has made an outstanding contribution in the field of sport, recreation or physical education for persons with a disability.” Eugene received the first award! That year he was also inducted into the B.C. Sport Hall of Fame in the athlete category. In 2002, Eugene was inducted in the Terry Fox Hall of Fame. In 2003, he also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the University of the Fraser Valley convocation ceremonies. He was also named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Abbotsford Rotary Club.
In honour of his successful athletic career, the Abbotsford School Board named its newest middle school after Eugene Reimer. That year, Eugene chaired the 2002 B.C. Disability Games held in Abbotsford. In 2007, Reimer was awarded the Order of Abbotsford and named City of Abbotsford Citizen of the Year.
Eugene Reimer passed away June 9, 2008, after a brief illness at the age of 68. He will always be an inspiration to other athletes by demonstrating that one can triumph over adversity and make one’s life a success!
The Abbotsford School District graciously acknowledges the Abbotsford Retired Teachers Association for collecting the histories and stories of our schools as part of their "What's in a name?" 50th-anniversary project.