An Air Canada passenger who relies on a wheelchair says flight crew staff from the airline dropped him on the airplane floor during his last two flights with them.
White Rock comedian Ryan Lachance, who often travels for his comedy shows, said in the wake of recent stories about how passengers with wheelchairs have been treated by the airline, he felt it was time to share his own experiences.
害羞草研究所淚 wanted to give a voice to people who have to go through things like this害羞草研究所� if I have the courage to bring my story out there, they might do the same, and things might change,害羞草研究所� Lachance said.
Last month, Canada害羞草研究所檚 chief accessibility officer and South Surrey resident Stephanie Cadieux, who relies on a wheelchair, was stranded in Vancouver when her wheelchair was left in Toronto.
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On Oct. 30, there were more stories in the news about a man with cerebral palsy who was reportedly, forced to drag himself off an Air Canada flight in front of dozens of passengers and airline staff in Las Vegas.
Since birth, Lachance has lived with quadspastic cerebral palsy, which limits the use of all four of his limbs and also his speech, and he must use a motorized wheelchair.
When he flew to Penticton in 2022 to do a comedy show, he said the airline was understaffed and 害羞草研究所渘ot really trained害羞草研究所� on how to pick him up properly.
害羞草研究所淭hey were transferring me from my airplane seat to what害羞草研究所檚 called an aisle chair 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 kind of like a miniature wheelchair on wheels, that they put you on to wheel you out of the aircraft 害羞草研究所� and they lost grip of me,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚 was trying to instruct them on what to do because I害羞草研究所檝e travelled numerous times害羞草研究所� I bruised my back and I bruised my butt and I was in quite a bit of pain and I was there to deliver a show.害羞草研究所�
He didn害羞草研究所檛 report anything the first time, he said, because he just wanted to move on from the dehumanizing experience.
But it happened again when, after performing at a comedy festival in Halifax May 2023, he was travelling back to Vancouver on an Air Canda flight.
Lachance, who is accompanied by a care assistant and uses an eagle lift to help him move from his airplane seat into the aisle chair, said staff didn害羞草研究所檛 listen when he and his care assistant explained he needed the eagle lift and instead, tried to do the job themselves, again, dropping him in the process.
害羞草研究所淚 had bruises all over my body. I had to be on bed rest for four days. It was a lot more painful, and a lot more awkward, and it involved a lot more people and a lot more time. It was awful,害羞草研究所� the comedian said.
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His past two experiences did not make him feel good.
害羞草研究所�(I felt) put on display. It makes me extremely gun-shy to travel, even though I have to travel for work. It makes me afraid to fly. I want to expand my career to other parts of the country and the world.害羞草研究所�
The airline did offer him $500 in flight credits after he filed a formal complaint, he said, but he doesn害羞草研究所檛 feel that害羞草研究所檚 enough.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 been no, 害羞草研究所榃e screwed up, we害羞草研究所檙e sorry.害羞草研究所� At this point, I want the president of Air Canada to apologize on behalf of the company 害羞草研究所� not just to me, but to everybody else that this has happened to. You害羞草研究所檙e not doing things right,害羞草研究所� Lachance said.
害羞草研究所淚 want them to fix their plane protocols, first of all, and train their staff with the proper way to transfer people and the proper way to use the equipment. I want to feel comfortable flying.害羞草研究所�
The Peace Arch News has reached out to Air Canada for comment.
A poker tournament to benefit Lachance has been organized by his friends. It happens Sunday, Nov. 19 at 12:30 p.m. at the Crescent Beach Legion.It happens Sunday, Nov. 19 at 12:30 p.m. at the Crescent Beach Legion.
Despite his most recent experiences, the comedian害羞草研究所檚 sense of humour is still intact.
Asked what he害羞草研究所檚 going to do, he had quip ready, lightning-quick.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 going to try WestJet next time.害羞草研究所�
- with a file from Tom Zillich
