Alumnus of the Year 2001

Kirby Kranabetter, M.A.
(Past.St. - Pastoral Care Health Care Services) 93

Kirby Kranabetter was born July 21, 1960 in Trail, British Columbia. His father was a travelling salesman, moving Kirby and his eight siblings throughout B.C. and Canada before finally settling in the Okanagan Valley. After graduating from business college in 1980, Kirby worked as an administrator with the CIBC for three years. Dissatisfied with a banking career, he left the bank in March of 1983 with plans to return to university in September. He did attend school that fall, but in a wheel-chair. He had broken his neck in a diving accident on April 14th, leaving him a quadriplegic.

Kirby’s search for meaning became much more immediate as he struggled with both the physical and emotional wounds of the accident. Over the next 5 years Kirby worked towards establishing his independence as well as completing his studies. In 1989 he received an honours degree in Psychology and French from the University of Saskatchewan. As a gift to himself he moved to Quebec City to continue his studies in French and once again to live independently. That year was a watershed year for Kirby as he finally felt “human” again. That year he also saw a brochure from Saint Paul University describing its Masters Program in Pastoral Studies. While Kirby believed that psychology was part of the secret to understanding human nature, he felt that the spiritual component, which Saint Paul University offered, completed the picture.

In 1993 Kirby obtained his MA in Pastoral Studies, specializing in the Health Care stream. Later that year, in July, he began working as the Coordinator of Pastoral Services at Elisabeth Bruyere Health Centre, part of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa Health Services.

Saint Paul University had a final gift for Kirby. He met his future wife Danielle at Saint Paul, while helping out with a research project in 1995. They were married in 1996 and have a two year-old son, Matthew.

Kirby’s love of sports played an important role in his physical therapy, which then led to a career in wheelchair rugby. In 1995, while playing on the Saskatchewan provincial team during his studies, he was chosen as a member of the Canadian National team. Later that year the team won a silver medal at the World Championships in Switzerland. In 1996 his team won another silver medal at the Atlanta Paralympics. 1998 saw a bronze medal at the World Championships in Toronto. Kirby recently returned from the Sydney 2000 Paralympics where his team placed 4th.

Kirby truly exemplifies this year’s campus theme — Grads Make a Living Making a Difference.

September 2001