The Town of Renfrew proudly celebrated the life and achievements of hometown athlete Louis Mulvihill this afternoon with the official unveiling of a new, permanent sledge hockey exhibit at the myFM Centre BEI Arena.

The event, held at 12:00 PM on April 10, brought together members of the community for a heartfelt celebration, featuring moving tributes from MPP Billy Denault, Mayor Tom Sidney, and Glenn Charron, Museum & Archive Specialist for the Town of Renfrew, who all spoke to Lou’s remarkable journey and his lasting impact on sledge hockey in Canada.

Born and raised in Renfrew, Lou is the son of Dr. Lou and Dorothy Mulvihill. A graduate of Renfrew Collegiate Institute, he was an accomplished runner in cross-country and track before a motorcycle accident in 1978 left him a paraplegic. Refusing to let adversity define him, Lou continued his education in Ottawa, where he rediscovered his love of sports through wheelchair basketball and distance racing - becoming the first wheelchair participant in the National Capital Marathon.

In 1987, he was introduced to sledge hockey at a demonstration in Ottawa, a moment that would change the course of his athletic career. “The thing that got me with that was the gliding,” Lou recalled. “It gave me a sense of freedom… I just wanted to keep going.”

Lou went on to play with the Ottawa Sledgehammers, represent Team Canada at the 1996 World Championship and the 2002 Salt Lake City Paralympics, and continued playing competitively until his retirement in 2003.

Among his many remarkable achievements, Lou also played a key role in advancing sledge hockey equipment, even going so far as to design and build his own sticks to enhance performance and improve the overall speed and efficiency of the game.

The new exhibit, made possible through Lou’s generous donation of personal artifacts to the Renfrew & District Historical & Museum Society, highlights key moments from his athletic career and contributions to the growth of sledge hockey across Canada and beyond.

Attendees at today’s event had the opportunity to view the exhibit, hear stories from Lou’s incredible journey, and reflect on the evolution of adaptive sport. 

“Today we have the honour of recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Lou- a proud Renfrew native and graduate of RCI - who has made his mark on the local and national stage in the sport of sledge hockey,” said Mayor Tom Sidney. “It’s especially meaningful that this exhibit finds its home right here in the BEI Ice Pad - the heart of sledge hockey in Renfrew. We are fortunate to have this incredible facility in our town, a place where athletes of all abilities can come together to compete, train, and grow in the spirit of sport and community.”

The Louis Mulvihill Sledge Hockey Exhibit is now a permanent fixture at the BEI Arena, recognized as a sledge hockey inclusive facility and a hub for adaptive sport in the region.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to explore the exhibit and be inspired by Lou’s incredible legacy - on the ice and beyond.

For more information, please contact: 

Hannah MacMillan

Communications & Engagement Coordinator

Town of Renfrew

613-432-4848 ext. 117 

hmacmillan@renfrew.ca