Alex Nilsson, roller skier and Team Diabetes participant, receives Order of Canada
Alex Nilsson, with his wife Nicole, received the Order of Canada for roller skiing across Canada to raise awareness for diabetes prevention
Alex, who lives in Creston, British Columbia, has always believed in keeping physically fit and active, and felt good health would follow. Since his early childhood in Sweden, he was constantly running, kicking a soccer ball or cycling. Sports were always part of his life, and cross-country skiing was at the top of his list.
Now 75 years old, Alex vividly remembers the challenges he faced during his roller skiing cause. “The biggest challenges were the mountain passes in BC. I was grateful to have my training friend, Terje Munkerud, roller ski with me from Kelowna to Creston. The highest mountain was the Creston/Salmon summit - it was surreal to climb that summit! The road shoulders were another challenge, at times non-existent. The traffic was a constant concern – more so for my wife who followed me in an RV. She would say, ‘You have no idea what happens behind you!’ She insisted I wear flashing lights on my helmet and at my waist – I was like a Christmas tree on roller skis! Truckers were very courteous and we had lots of police officers and RCMPs checking me out. They were happy to see me head out of their territory!” Nilsson’s wife Nicole, a retired diabetes nurse educator adds: “This was certainly a team effort!”
Diabetes prevention was the cause that Alex and Nicole adopted. They were both aware of the large, growing numbers of people living with diabetes - just in the little community of Creston, BC. While there is no proven way to prevent type 1 diabetes, Alex and Nicole firmly believe that lifestyle changes can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. “My wife’s father died of complications from diabetes. That was a factor in our choice of cause. So we decided to take that message to Canada,” Alex explains. He further carried that message of hope and inspiration through his participation in the Boston Marathon in 2006 as a Team Diabetes participant.
Even prior to his roller ski adventure, Alex was always known for his dedication to community service. Just to name a few of his accomplishments in the community, Alex received the Queen’s Jubilee Award in 2002, Citizen of the Year for Creston in 2004 and the Freedom of the Municipality in 2005. With a psychiatric nursing background and as Creston’s Environmental Health Officer for 30 years, he demonstrates his continued commitment with his various contributions as a member of the Hospital Board, Health Council, Recreation Centre Board, Cresteramics and the Therapeutic Activation Program, now known as the Nilsson TAPS program.
In recognition of Alex’s service to the community and his roller skiing feat, he was awarded the Order of Canada on April 7, 2010, in Ottawa. “That was certainly the highest honour that I have received. I’m grateful to all the nominators and I plan to continue my volunteerism in the community,” Alex said. With pride, Nicole was at Alex’s side once again and she reiterated, “I strongly believe that more diabetes education is necessary to stop the epidemic numbers of people with diabetes. Alex and I made an effort to bring the cause out there. It’s very difficult to gauge how we did, but millions of people saw our RV logo and Alex on the road – here’s hoping that they went further then just wondering what we were promoting and people took a step towards a healthier lifestyle.”