Removing Visible and Invisible Barriers: Honorary Colonel Jim Kyte

December 22, 2022 - Defence Stories

Every December, the Defence Team comes together to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) (accessible only on the National Defence network) and year after year, we remain incredibly honoured and humbled by our guest speakers. IDPD 2022’s guest speaker, Honorary Colonel Jim Kyte with the 76 Communication Regiment, was certainly no exception.

Hosted annually by the Defence Champion for Persons with Disabilities, Chief Information Officer (CIO) Len Bastien, this year’s theme was “Removing Visible and Invisible Barriers”.     

Not only was IDPD held in-person at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) Carling, it was also broadcasted live online through MS Stream. We invite those that were not able to watch live or attend in-person to watch the recording (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website) and leave a comment! Photos of the IDPD 2022 are now available. 
The event featured a kiosk from Shared Services Canada along with numerous kiosks from across the department that focused on addressing every facet of disability from the physical, emotional, and cultural components to the technological and ergonomic considerations.

You Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover

“There are too many people that make decisions, quick decisions, about a person with a disability. You can’t judge a book by its cover. [...] Stop putting false filters on people, stop making quick judgements of what people can or cannot do because you think they have a disability,” encourages HCol Kyte.

As a result of a hereditary condition, his father, all four of his brothers, and himself have been hearing impaired from birth. While HCol Kyte has never experienced noise outside of that which his powerful hearing aids provide, he certainly has not let it hinder him.

He was the first, and to-date still the only, legally deaf hockey player to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), having played just shy of 600 games between the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators and many other teams. This is an incredible feat considering that in 1975, of the nearly 30,000 kids that played minor hockey in Ontario, only 15 (or 0.05%) would end up playing even a single season in the NHL.

HCol Kyte would go on to play fourteen seasons in total.

“Everybody on this earth is given [and is] born with a set of skills and it’s up to you to do the best you can with the skillset that you’re given,” says HCol Kyte.

Seeking help

In 1997, his NHL career came to a sudden, unfortunate end due to a major car crash resulting in a severe concussion which would impact him for years to come. Between the head injury, then later being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, and one of his children diagnosed with autism, he was at a loss.

HCol Kyte was honest, open and vulnerable with the audience by sharing just how deeply he struggled with depression in the years that would follow. His only regret was not seeking professional mental health assistance earlier on.

However, instead of letting his mental health crisis define him, he instead became an outspoken advocate of mental health and addressing disabilities in all forms, including the stigma that is perceived with seeking help.

“I’d like you to stop thinking that [poor] mental health is something that you can just snap out of. You need to know and understand that it is real and it is complex. And I’d like you to stop thinking that you are alone. I’d like you to seek help. Don’t be shy. You’re only hurting yourself and those around you,” advised HCol Kyte.

Removing Barriers both Visible and Invisible

“You have pushed through more barriers than most of us will ever see in our lifetime. Our job now is to understand the challenges and to remove those barriers,” said Len Bastien.

After his presentation, HCol Kyte met with the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre, as well as the CAF Chief Warrant Officer, Chief Petty Officer First Class Gilles Grégoire, in addition to the Chief of Staff (Chief Information Office), Rear-Admiral Luciano Carosielli to discuss his presentation.

Honorary Colonel Kyte is the living embodiment of not letting your disability define you; to not letting preconceived notions of your abilities by others define you; to not letting stigma prevent you from seeking the help that you may require.

We thank HCol Kyte for showing us his authentic self and for showing each and every one of us how to remove barriers, both visible and invisible.