2023 Donor Story
Honouring Brad Hornung, A Champion of Accessibility and Resilience
The legacy of alumnus Dr. Brad Hornung will live on at the University of Regina through the new Brad Hornung Accommodations Test Centre, renamed in his honour in November 2022. The Centre offers a safe, secure, and supervised environment for students who require accommodations while writing exams, tests, and quizzes for in-person, for-credit courses.
“Following Brad’s death, we had to decide what to do with the funds remaining in the Brad Hornung Foundation,” said Leanne Wright, Brad Hornung’s sister. Brad died from cancer at the age of 52 in 2022. “We are so proud that Brad’s name will be associated with a centre that provides assistance to so many who are in need.
“Considering this money was provided to Brad by the wonderful people of Regina and Saskatchewan – and considering both Brad’s educational journey and love of athletics – we thought a perfect fit would be to establish some things that would continue Brad’s legacy at the University of Regina.”
The Hornung family has also created the Brad Hornung Legacy Fund at the University of Regina to support the acquisition of accessible fitness equipment and created two endowed Cougars’ hockey scholarships of approximately $1,500. Every fall, these funds will support one player from each of the Cougars’ women’s hockey team and Cougars’ men’s hockey team.
A talented forward with plans to go pro, Brad was playing for his hometown WHL Regina Pats when his life changed course. In 1987, during a game against the Moose Jaw Warriors he suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic.
Ever resilient, Brad went on to enroll at the U of R, where he was one of the first students to require extensive accommodations.
Dr. Stephen King, senior researcher in the U of R Office of the President and emcee of the event to name the Centre earlier this year, was a student alongside Hornung in the early ‘90s and took notes for them both. They became lifelong friends.
There is no one I know who has overcome greater adversity in life with such courage, grace, and optimism – and no one I know who sets a better example for our students.
Hornung graduated from Campion College with a bachelor of arts in history in 1996. Additionally, the University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree in 2018, recognizing his courage and perseverance.
“Brad was clearly passionate about creating a more accessible campus for the students who came after him,” said University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jeff Keshen. “The establishment of the Brad Hornung Accommodations Test Centre is not just a testament to those efforts – it’s our commitment to continue them.”
“The Brad Hornung Accommodations Test Centre is improving our students’ lives,” said Jeffery Raymond, Director of Student Wellness. “And it will continue to do so for years to come.”
Learn more about The Brad Hornung Accommodations Test Centre.