The first of these will be Ljiljana Ljubisic (pictured), who represented Canada at five Paralympic Games in goalball and athletics, winning six medals during a career in which she also became the first blind athlete to spin with a discus.

AthletesCAN executive director Jasmine Northcott said: "Lilo [Ljubisic] has played a central role in ensuring the voice of Paralympic athletes is present at decision making tables nationally and internationally.

"As the longest serving AthletesCAN board member, Lilo played a key part in shaping the early years of AthletesCAN, and as a member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes' Council, laid the foundation for the athlete voice at the international level."

Clayton Gerein won seven gold medals in a glorious career in athletics, having previously competed in swimming and wheelchair rugby.

Lisa Franks, a Paralympian in athletics and wheelchair basketball, said of Gerein: "Clayton introduced me to wheelchair racing, and coached me while I competed on the Canadian team.

"Both as an athlete and a coach, he offered a unique wealth of knowledge.

"His dedication to sport was an example to follow, he completed each training cycle with precision and truly loved competition."

Eighteen-times gold medal winner Michael Edgson (pictured) is also set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, having set nine world records during his career as a swimmer.

Edgson was the first Para-swimmer to be inducted into Swimming Canada's Circle of Excellence, and he spoke of his pride at being nominated.

"I am honoured and privileged to be part of the Paralympic Movement from the 1980s and see it grow to what it has become today," he said.

"I am proud of how our Canadian Paralympians compete on the world stage and of the vast improvements made at the grassroots parasport level.

"I am flattered to receive this appointment to the Hall, and to take on the responsibility that this privilege entails."

Dr Earl Church is also going into the Hall of Fame in the coaching category, having already enjoyed an impressive athletics coaching career before moving into Paralympics.

He coached during four Games and a number of World Championships, and helped the likes of Joanne Berdan to claim medals at the highest level.

"I know that there are many outstanding coaches who deserve this opportunity so I am both humbled and honoured to receive this award," Church said.

"To be inducted into the Paralympic Hall of Fame is really special."

The final selection is Senator Joyce Fairbairn, who was nominated in the builder category, having represented the Canadian Government at the Nagano 1998 Paralympic Winter Games, after which she founded the "Friends of the Paralympics" organisation to raise money for the Canadian Paralympic Committee and its athletes.

She was the first chairperson of what became the Canadian Paralympic Foundation, and said that her trip to Nagano had changed her life forever.

"This is where I met a group of the most outstanding athletes and ambassadors for our country that I have ever known," Fairbairn explained.

"I then decided to make championing the Paralympic Movement one my life ambitions.

"Fourteen years and seven Paralympics later, I am truly honoured and humbled to be recognised for this association."

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