Dr. Darrell Menard is Métis and served 40 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. He has an honours degree in Physical Education, a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, a Doctor of Medicine and a Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine Diploma in Sport Medicine.
  
Dr. Menard has been a competitive runner since 1969, and he is still competing at the age of 70. His sporting career highlights include: coaching and guide running at the 1980 Paralympic Games where he and Jacques Pilon won a Paralympic gold medal and set a world record for 1500 meters;  setting the Alberta native open marathon record in 1980; captaining the University of Alberta team to win the 1980 Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union’s National Cross- Country Championship; competing at five Military World Cross Country Championships; representing Canada in the 20K race walk at the 2007 Military World Games; winning numerous provincial championships, and finishing fourth in the 1976 Canadian Athletics Championships
running the 1500 meters in 3.49.6 – a time that remains the Canadian Forces record.   

In addition to his athletic achievements, Dr. Menard has provided sideline and clinic-based sport medicine care to athletes for 36 years. Over his career, he has employed his sport medicine skills and knowledge at 25 Major games including three North American Indigenous Games, five Military World Games, the 2001 World Athletics Championships, the 2010 U-17 Women’s World Cup, the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, the 2015 Parapan American Games, the 1980 and 2016 Canadian Paralympic teams and the 2012 Canadian Olympic Team.   

Dr. Menard continues to work as the Surgeon General’s Specialist advisor in sport medicine and is an adjunct professor in University of Ottawa School of Nursing where he teaches musculoskeletal examination skills to nurse practitioners. 

He is the author of the “Ask the Expert” article series and has his own sport medicine practice in Russell Ontario.  He has been named an officer in the Order of Military Merit and an officer in the Order of CISM. He has also been inducted into the Canadian Forces and the University of Alberta’s Sports Halls of Fame.

Photo: Canadian Forces