Curt Minard
Electrocuted With 14,400 Volts Of Electricity. Went On To Become A Paralympian Snowboarder, And National Standing Amputee Hockey Athlete.
Canadian athlete Curt Minard inspires audiences throughout Canada as a motivational and safety speaker. He is a living example of how a worst nightmare can be turned into a dream. He lives by the motto “results are limitless if you believe in yourself.”
He had started a new job in British Columbia when his life was changed Sept. 13, 2008. He was working with his crew on a 25,000-volt power line. A co-worker made contact with an energized 14,400-volt power line and the electricity found Curt to ground. The electricity was 500 percent more than a human can survive and Curt’s body was being burned alive from the inside.
A quick response by onlookers and medical teams helped him survive but he had two other near death incidents while in the burn unit.
Curt started on a path of living a healthier and active lifestyle and that led him to the ice. He always had a passion for hockey and spent time relearning it with a prosthetic attachment. He worked hard and never gave up.
He had months of intense training for a comeback. Curt was invited to the National Amputee Hockey selection camp in Toronto, Ontario where he competed with between 60 to 70 amputees. He represented Canada on the 2012 Canadian National Amputee Hockey Team. They won the World Championships in Tampere, Finland and were crowned with the Golden Title.
That inspired Curt to try para snowboarding in 2016 and was invited to compete in the NorAM Cup and World Cup’s at the Big White. He won two gold medals there and placed sixth and seventh in World Cup events. He then went on to take bold in the Para Upper Limb Category in the 2016 Speed Nationals in Quebec. He was also on the national team for Canada Snowboard in 2016 and finished 6th overall in the world.
Curt inspires and motivates people from all over Canada with his overcoming attitude and determination. He is the right person to talk about the importance of safety and how to overcome any obstacle to become limitless.
From Tragedy to Triumph!
In September of 2008, Curt was involved in a electrical contact accident. That warm fall day began seemingly like any other, yet a series of missed barriers led to Curt being electrocuted with 14,400 volts of electricity. Curt’s body struggled to hold on, after 5 amps of electricity had forged their path of destruction. However, his will to survive was much stronger. With insurmountable odds against him, Curt was determined not only to survive such a tragedy, but also to thrive. Curt’s story and his determination to conquer the odds are as impactful as they are inspirational! Curt’s narrative of his journey from being able bodied to an individual with different abilities is inspirational and entertaining. Curt shows how one man’s worst nightmare can become another’s dream.
Not only does Curt believe in pushing personal limits of inner determination, it also empowers work environments of the importance in safety, in the hopes to save just one life or accident in the workplace.
“Curt was fantastic. We had so many positive comments in our feedback form. He was very easy to work with as well…such an inspiration.” Arlene – School Division
“The presentation really hit home. To have a powerline technician delivering such a strong message, one that everyone relates to, has created a heightened awareness amongst SaskPower employees. The message you provide fits into SaskPower’s strategy and direction to ensure barriers are identified in all hazard and risk assessments. Ensuring everyone is responsible for their own safety and the importance to speak up when they identify an issue with a procedure is a huge message and you drove that point home numerous times throughout your presentation. Family and safety come first. Great Message! ”
SaskPower
”In my 30 years in the Electrical Utility Sector I’ve never seen a more well received presentation by our staff. Curt’s candor made for an incredibly powerful message and his ability to create an honest dialogue between himself and his audience made it even more meaningful. I would strongly encourage you to have Curt deliver his message to your staff. You will not be disappointed!
EnWin
“I have had the great opportunity to attend the presentation twice now, and I am still very moved by Curt and his story. I think any company that wants to drive home a Safety Message to it’s employees, should book a presentation. It will be well worth it. I am friends with Curt’s father and he is usually present at Curt’s local presentations, and even hearing the impact on the family, I still can’t imagine the pain and anguish. Curt is truly inspiring!!
Weyburn Safety Supervisor
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