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Episode 3
Olympics, Paralympics, and Changing Lives Through Sport
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Meet our Guest: David Legg
About David
David Legg is Professor of Sport Management and Adapted Physical Activity at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada. Dr. Legg has also been a visiting or adjunct scholar at seven other Universities around the globe. His research centres on the Paralympic movement and primarily the legacy of the Games.
As a volunteer, David has served as President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, board member for the 2015 Pan Parapan American Games in Toronto, the International Paralympic Committee’s Sport Science Committee, and as President of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity. He is currently the Founder and Chair of the Calgary Adapted Hub Powered by Jumpstart, a board member for Commonwealth Sport Canada, board member for the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) and incoming Chair of the Calgary Sport and Major Event Committee. As a consultant, David worked with the Calgary BidCo for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 2030 Alberta Commonwealth Games bid and with Hockey Canada and the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation.
In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Legg has received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medals, University of Alberta Alumni Honour Award, King Clancy Award from the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons, and Gary McPherson Leadership Award from the Province of Alberta. David has also been named to Calgary's Top 40/40 and has been inducted into Alberta's Sports Hall of Fame.
- David Legg’s career and impact: David Legg, a Mount Royal University professor since 1998, teaches adapted physical activity and sport management and has played a foundational role in the Paralympic movement in Canada and internationally, including serving as President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
- Origins of his advocacy for disability sport: His commitment to inclusion and accessibility is deeply personal, shaped by his father’s disability and his mother’s strong advocacy, as well as mentorship from Dr. Robert Steadward, founding president of the International Paralympic Committee.
- Student-centred teaching philosophy: Legg emphasizes meaningful relationships with students through personal interaction, innovative assessment methods, and experiential learning, which he sees as a defining strength of Mount Royal University and a driver of long-term alumni connections.
- Inclusive sport and campus accessibility: His courses challenge students to view sport, recreation, and everyday spaces through an accessibility lens, while Mount Royal is highlighted as a national leader in inclusive recreation, wheelchair sport programs, and disability-focused campus initiatives.
- Canada’s leadership in disability sport: Canada is portrayed as an early and ongoing world leader in Paralympic and disability sport due to strong governance, investment, and influential figures such as Terry Fox, Rick Hansen, and Dr. Frank Hayden.
- Future vision and broader impact: Legg sees sport as a powerful tool for social inclusion, normalization of disability, and infrastructure development, and he is actively involved in future projects such as building an accessible field house in Calgary and researching the social value of sport nationwide.
Listen to Always Blue with Tim Rahilly: An MRU Alumni Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube Podcasts.
The views expressed by the host and speakers reflect their personal experiences and perspectives, and are not representative of Mount Royal University or the Office of Alumni Relations.
Have questions about Big Ideas? Contact alumni@mtroyal.ca