Limitless: Josh Vander Vies

When Josh Vander Vies came into the world 30 years ago, the doctors deemed his birth a ‘tragedy’. The infant was healthy but with had no legs and only remnants for arms.

But depending on the person, tragedy can be turned into triumph.

Today, as an athlete, Paralympian, motivational speaker, president of sports advocate organization AthletesCan, fundraiser and proud father, Josh Vander Vies adds to his growing string of successes and graduates with a UBC law degree.

An active member of the Canadian national boccia team, 2004 Paralympian, 2011 Parapan American Games individual bronze medalist and 2012 Paralympic doubles bronze medalist, Vander Vies was elected as Athlete Representative by the International Boccia Committee in 2006. He acted as Athlete Council Representation on the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) Board of Directors and chaired the CPC Athletes’ Council from 2008 to 2012.

Prior to coming to UBC as a Juris Doctor Candidate, Vander Vies earned an honours double major in Political Science and French from the University of Western Ontario.

Or as his website puts it: Born without arms, legs or limits.

He leaves UBC as an alumnus and with the respect and admiration of an entire campus.