CBC Interview with Dan McGuire on "As It Happens" - Archived
December 16, 2020
Interviewer Amar Shah, Host Chris Howden

This is a 2014 Interview with Dan which was reprised on As It Happens following Dan's death. It was on the As It Happens site on December 16, 2020 as was the transcript below.
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Dan McGuire Interview (MP3) (2:44)

Transcript:

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DAN MCGUIRE

CHRIS HOWDEN: Dan McGuire didn't let anything slow him down, not even Parkinson's disease. Mr. McGuire was a veteran cyclist from Vancouver. Throughout his life, he'd cycled all across Canada. And in 2007, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's, he continued to ride. In fact, he upped the mileage. At 81 years old, he finished a 10,000 kilometre ride across Canada. Dan McGuire died on the weekend of COVID-19. He was 88. Back in 2013, Mr. McGuire began his ride at the Top of the World Highway in B.C. He started the trip out on his road bike. But as his Parkinson's progressed, he traded it in for a recumbent bike. The entire trip took him two summers to finish. In August of 2014, he had almost completed his trip to Cape Spear Lighthouse in Newfoundland. When he was on Prince Edward Island, Dan McGuire spoke with the CBC about why it was so important for him, even as Parkinson's made it difficult for him to talk.

DAN MCGUIRE: Well it's the feel of you riding wheels on the road and it's quiet.

AMAR SHAH: And this big journey that you're undertaking right now across the country, across Canada is to raise awareness for Parkinson's. Tell me a bit about that.

DAN MCGUIRE: Well, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2007. Parkinson's is a disease that takes balance -- my hand writing went all wrong and my speeches. My speech is really important. Cycling sort of helps keep everything going right. First of all it gives me strength. It keeps your muscles going. It gives strength and also purpose.

CHRIS HOWDEN: That was Dan McGuire speaking with CBC P.E.I reporter Amar Shah in 2014. Mr. McGuire died over the weekend of COVID-19. He was 88 years old.

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