Alvin Law
Born Without Arms, He Is Living Proof That Removing The Word ‘can’t From Your Vocabulary Is Something To Which We Can All Aspire.
Alvin Law’s storytelling ability and his accomplishments have made him a popular speaker. Alvin was born without arms in 1960 as the result of the morning sickness medication Thalidomide. He is a certified speaking professional, has shared his story in more than 7,500 events on five continents, is a best-selling author, is in two Halls of fame, has won an Emmy, and was in television shows and films.
He says that how you think changes our minds and bodies to winning battles. His book is Alvin Laws of Life…5 Steps to Successfully Overcome Anything. He is in the Canadian Professional Speakers and the Canadian Disability Foundation Halls of Fame.
He won an Emmy for a short feature film on ABC and played a role in the hit show The X Files. He was also in a film by director Harmony Korine called Julien…Donkey Boy. Alvin is also a world class multi-instrument player. Besides all that, Alvin has participated in more than 100 telethons, helping to raise more than $225,000,000 for charity.
Alvin has been the subject of several documentaries in Canada and always uses his story to reach people personally, getting them to change their negative stories, to stop making excuses, and to make new choices.
His humour, musical performances and storytelling that is included in his presentations connects with attendees personally.
Change The Label – Yes, I Can: 5 Steps to Successfully Overcome Anything
Focus: team-building, employee engagement, employee appreciation/motivation
Format: opening or closing keynote; half-day workshop; breakout session
“We all have obstacles in life. It is ultimately the choices we make that determine whether they block our path to success, or strengthen us on our journey. We don’t need to be defined by past labels, we can change or discard them.”
After seeing Alvin deliver his keynote speeches, audiences come away realizing “All of us have something that handicaps us. We all have problems and issues we deal with everyday. It’s how we respond to these issues that counts. We need to focus on what we do have, not what we don’t have.”
In over 30 years of professional speaking, Alvin has never told his story exactly the same way twice. Although Alvin’s circumstances are unique, his story is universal. It’s easy for him to craft an experience that is relevant to your organization’s audience…so they walk away having heard the message you need them to hear.
Alvin will tailor his talk to your audience and situation, and can give his presentation a title that aligns with your specific event. We’re happy to work with you. Contact us, and tell us your story.
Safety Counts Because Everybody Counts
Alvin Law has been challenging perceptions and attitudes his entire life. He is actually one of Canada’s first “Thalidomide Babies”. This description was tied to a drug from the early 1960’s used to treat morning-sickness in expectant women. The drug company claimed it was safe; the testing process was almost non-existent; and the result was thousands of lives irreversibly damaged by something that could have easily been prevented. But that was then.
Focus on safety in the workplace has been around a long time but it still faces resistance by some workers as being a “waste of time” or something else cooked up by the human resources department to get in the way of my job.
Well, if you ask Alvin Law, maybe the Good Old Days weren’t really so good. We live in a new and uncharted world where things like our attitude towards our job really matters and Alvin Law should know. He may not be a safety expert but he is certified in life, one that hasn’t always been easy.
Alvin has no arms. He was also written off by experts who said he would have no quality of life. But today, he is married, a dad, and owns a communications company that has taken him to five continents where he has spoken to over two million people. His message is simple…attitude makes a difference and he is living proof. He is so much more than a predictable story of overcoming challenges.
When Alvin is in the room, he has an incredibly energy but his presence also exhibits a harsh reality…he has no arms! It is a reminder to all who attend his safety sessions that life is not bulletproof. It is frail, and it is valuable.
Alvin uses the stories of his life to contrast the failures and success of humanity. Some stories are truly sad but that’s not what people remember about Alvin. They will never forget that although life can be tragic, it doesn’t have to be and as to safety…maybe it is a good idea after all.
“I just wanted to send you a short note to tell you how wonderful you were as a keynote speaker at the conference which was held in Toronto. I have to admit that I have been going to the Million Dollar Round Table for many years, and have not heard a speaker like you, who motivated an audience to the degree that you did that evening. To be born with no arms, and to maintain the attitude that you’ve done over the years, is absolutely remarkable. You have certainly turned your handicap into an asset for you, and this message should be heard by all people throughout the world.”
Manulife Conference
“I wanted to thank you for the excellent presentation at the Husky Safety Summit. Your story and open presence on the stage was inspirational in many ways. As a Safety hand for 30 years, it is very refreshing to see a presentation that was able to hit home with all in attendance.”
Safety Advisor, Husky Energy
“Alvin did an exceptional job opening the Fraser Valley Economic Summit. He was entertaining, inspiring, and made his message relevant to the theme of the day. The delegates loved him, and the organizing committee was thrilled with what he brought to the event. I can’t imagine anyone who would have done a better job opening our event and setting the tone for the day!”
Alliance Public & Government Relations
“I wanted to extend my sincere thanks to you for the incredible and powerful presentation that you gave at the 2010 CAAR Convention. Having lived in Saskatchewan since the mid-seventies, I have had the opportunity to see you at many events and have personally witnessed the change of a gangly, awkward youth with, as you would state yourself, a very bad mullet, to a man who can speak with conviction and power about overcoming adversity and truly making a difference in the world we live in.
My career allows me to hear from many motivational speakers, all of whom deliver a message that one can certainly garner a message or some type of self improvement from, but is has been a long time since I have had the privilege to not only be entertained but to hear from someone who bears no malice towards anyone, blames no one for their own personal situation but delivers a simple message of how anyone can truly make a difference in this life.”
Bayer Crop Science
Corporations
ACTION International
Alberta Geometrics Group
Alberta Learning Corporate Services
All-Weather Windows
AMJ Campbell Van Lines
Arizona Machinery Company
BASF
Bata Shoes
Boardwalk Rental Community
Booster Juice
Brandt Tractor
Canadian National Railway
Canadian Western Agribition
Capervco Limited Partnership
Carstar Automotive
Casino Regina
Cisco Systems Canada
Community Futures Development Corporation
COPIC Companies
CUMIS Group
Dauphin Broadcasting Corporation
Direct West
Elliott Lake Northshore Corporation
Enrich International
Far West Equipment Dealers
Husky Energy
Hydro Ottawa
IED Limited Partnership
IKON
IWA Forest Industry Ltd
Kronos
Lincoln Electric Company
National Staff Development Council
Oxford Properties Group
Parklane Homes
Pfizer
Polygon Homes
Puratone Corp.
RIS Resource Information Systems Inc
Royal LePage Real Estate
SAP Canada
Saskatchewan Housing Corporation
School Plant Officials Society of Alberta
Shoppers Home Health Care
South Calgary Café Inc.
Station Forces Child Care Corporation
Sun Media Corporation
Telus Corporation
Thai Life Insurance Company
Transcanada Pipelines
United Van Lines
Weyerhaeuser Canada
Associations
1199 Child Care Corporation
Adoption Options
Alberta Association of Municipal Districts & Counties
Alberta Cattle Feeders Association
Alberta Congress Board
Alberta Forest Products Association
Alberta Home Builders Association
Alberta Human Resources Association
Alberta Recreation and Parks Association
AMBUCS
Amity Good Will Industries
APEX/World Council of Service Clubs
Association for Community Living
Association for Manitoba Municipalities
Association of Alberta Co-op Seed Cleaning Plants
Association of Canadian Search, Employment & Staff
Association of Municipal Clerks & Treasurers
BC Association of Broadcasters
British International Greenskeepers Association
Building Owners and Managers Association
Calgary Co-Op Association Ltd.
Calgary Crime Stoppers Association
Canada West Equipment Dealers Associaiton
Canadian Air Services Association
Canadian Association of Career Educators & Employers
Canadian Association of Nephrology Nurses
Canadian Association of Rehab Professionals BC Society
Canadian Construction Association
Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Assoc
Canadian Golf Superintendants Association
Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating
Canadian Life & Health Insurance Association
Canadian Management Centre
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Canadian Society of Civil Engineers
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Central Alberta Family Day Home Association
Community Futures Network Society of Alberta
Credit Union Managers Association
Credit Union Professional’s Association
Easter Seals Society
Gyro Club of Calgary
Heavy Duty Distributor Council
Home Builders Association
Human Resources Association of London
International Association of LIONS Clubs
International Bison Conference
Kenora Association for Community Living
LeLeche League International
London Access Awareness Conference
Manitoba Heavy Construction Association
Manitoba Hotel Association
Mine Safety & Health Administration Association
Ontario Hospital Association
Ontario Municipal Social Services Association
Ontario Private Campground Association
Ontario Sewer & Watermain Construction Association
Organization of Small Urban Municipalities
Peterborough Ad and Sales Association
Purchasing Mgmt Association of Canada
Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington
Saskatchewan Abilities Council
Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association
Shuswap Training and Employment Program
Small Business Club of Niagara
South Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre
St. Albert Association for People with Disabilities
St. Thomas More Lawyer’s Guild of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Ltd
United Way of Burlington, Hamilton, Wentworth
Volunteer Programs Association Ft Saskatchewan
Windsor Advisory Council On Disability Issues
Education
Abbotsford Tech Centre
Alberta 4-H Selections Program
Alberta School Board Association
American Association for Employment In Education
Arlington Heights School District #25
BC Student Leadership Conference
Brunswick County Schools
Calgary Catholic School District
Calgary Teachers Convention
Canadian Student Leadership Conference
Canadian University College
College of Staten Island
Coquitlam Principals and Vice Principals Association
Costal Parents Actively Sharing Conference
Dalhousie University
Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board
DuPage Interagency Council on Early Intervention
Educational Computing Network of Ontario
Eisenhower Centre Inc.
Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario
Fraser Valley Adventist Academy
Frontier School Division
Galt Collegiate Institute
Hanover Teachers Association
Herzing College
High School Principal Association of PEI
Illinois Association of Student Councils
Illinois State Board of Education
Institute for Inclusive Education
Jostens
Kappa Delta Pi
Lesser Slave Lake Forest Education Society
Manitoba Association of School Trustees
Manitoba Student Leadership Conference
Michigan Association of Student Councils
Mississippi Department of Education
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Moose Jaw Teachers Convention
Morgan County Board of Education
Mount Royal College
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Nebraska Department of Education
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Newfoundland Student Leadership Conference
North Battleford Teachers Convention
North Central Edmonton Teachers Convention
Northern Caribbean University
Ontario Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
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Ontario Student Leadership Conference
PEI Teachers Convention
Quebec Association of School Administrators
Red Deer College
Renfrew Educational Services
Round Rock District Student Council Conference
SADD Conference
Saskatchewan Provincial Student Leadership Conference
Saskatchewan Valley Teachers Association
Sault Ste. Marie District Separate School Board
School District of Onalaska
Southwestern Adventist University
The American School Foundation of Guadalajara
Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board
Transcona-Springfield School Division
University of Manitoba
University of Memphis
University of New Brunswick
University of Saskatchewan
University of Wisconsin
Vancouver Catholic School Board
Washington State Student Conference
Westwind School Division
Wisconsin Association of Student Councils
Government
American Society of Military Comptrollers
Canada Customs & Revenue Agency
Canada Employment & Immigration Union
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Canada School of Public Service
Catholic Social Services
City of Edmonton
City of Thunder Bay
Community Futures Development Corporation
Conferences & Special Events School of Public Service
Cree Social Services Namaska
Department of Justice
Department of Public Works & Government Services
HRDC Office for Disability Issues
Human Resources Development Canada
Indian & Northern Affairs
Industry Canada
Ministry of Family Services
National Institute of Disability Mgmt & Research
National Parole Board
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Ontario Police Services
Orangeville & District Chamber of Commerce
Public Service Commission of Canada
Public Works & Government Services Canada
Region of Peel Children’s Services
Sarnia Lambton Training Board
Statistics Canada
Toronto Metro Social Services
Transportation Agency of Canada
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariate
Veteran Affairs Canada
Health Care
ACMS District Health Council
Alberta Health Records Association
American Nephrology Nurses Association
Assistive Technology Partners
Bloorview MacMillan Children’s Centre
Bonnyville Health Unit
Calgary Healthy Start Alliance
Canadian Society of Hospitals
Capital Care Group
CF Foundation
Columbia Rehabilitation Centre
Community Care Access Centre
Deer Valley Dental Clinic
Disability Resource Network
Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre
Extendicare Canada
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc.
Middlesex-London Health Unit
Partnerships In Assistive Technology Association
Phizer & Boehringer Ingelheim
Regina & District Dental Society
Society of Urologic Nurses & Associates
St. Joseph Hospital and Home
Sudbury Regional Hospital
Wisconsin Rehabilitation & Transition Conference
Financial & Insurance Institutions
Appraisal Institute of Canada
Assente Financial Management
AuGanne Inc
Bank of Montreal
Brightside Financial
BTR Financial Planning Inc
Canadian Association of Insurance & Financial Planners
Canadian Western Financial Planners Ltd.
Capitol Management
Credit Union Central of Alberta
Credit Union Central of Saskatchewan
DBO Dunwoody
Edmonton Life Underwriters Association
Equion Financial
Fortress Equity Management Inc.
Fundex Investments Inc
Henry Hicks & Associates
Hurdman & Associates
Insurance Corporation of BC
Investment Planning Council of Canada
Investors Group
Kofin Financial
Life Underwriters Association of London
Lifetime Financial Planning
Manulife Financial
Manulife Securites
Maude Financial Inc.
Mennonite Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Murrick Insurance Services
Nova Scotia Co-operative Council
Ontario Mutual Insurance Association
Richmond Savings & Credit Union
Scotia Bank
Spectrum Financial Services
Sunquest Meetings & Incentives (Client TD Cd)
TD Asset Management
TD Canada Trust
TD Canada Trust – Special Events and Production
TD Waterhouse
Tercyn Capital Inc.
Walker Planning Associa