It was one of those rare times where Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie could enter a room, sit back, relax and watch someone else face questions from the local media.

Everyone in the room, including Fentie, had their eyes and ears glued to the man who sat beside him. Not a politician higher up on the Canadian scale, not some oil big wig and not a famous professional athlete, but one of Canada's most respected and inspirational advocates.

At the age of 15, Rick Hansen was involved in a car crash which left him a paraplegic. In the spring of 1985, Hansen wheeled the circumference of the earth to raise awareness and funds for spinal cord injury.

It took him two years and 40,000 kilometres, but he returned home to Vancouver having raised over $26 million and won the hearts of millions of people around the world in the process.

That would have been enough for most people, but Hansen certainly didn't stop there. Now the President and CEO of the Rick Hansen Man In Motion Foundation, he has helped raise more than $178 million towards spinal injury programs and initiatives in Canada.

Wheels in Motion is now an annual fundraising event held in communities across Canada, and since its inception in 2003 has raised more than $3.6 million.

Just as important, Hansen and his foundation have raised awareness to the issue and inspired those with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities.

He travels the country to meet with stakeholders and politicians, in hopes of making even more progress and removing more barriers.

'It's a thrill to be back here,' smiled Hansen, who was in Whitehorse for just one day Wednesday, but still managed to get a quick look around parts of the city.

'The last time I was here was 10 years ago. It's encouraging to see there's been some significant progress in terms of accessibility for people with disabilities.

'We're trying to encourage people to remove barriers that don't have to be there.'

Hansen met with Fentie, Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers and several other government members on Wednesday, before meeting with local citizens who are affected by disabilities at the Work Place Diversity Employment Office, in order to get a better feel for the territory, its people and the issues they face.

The Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation will celebrate it's 20th anniversary between now and May of next year, so the main focus right now, he said, is talking about what can be done next.

'I'm asking them to give me a sense of where we need to go in the next five years. We need to make sure we connect the country. Often, we don't share information and knowledge and we don't benefit from that experience.

'We need to get people to continue to sustain on an annual basis, that awareness.'

Fentie acknowledged there are always improvements which can be made from the government's side and said he looks forward to Hansen's response about the Yukon in that regard.

'It's important that we express to Yukoners how honoured we are to have Rick visit us and what an inspiration Rick is to all of us,' Fentie stated.

'I think we have to continue to improve. Our work place diversity office is an example of the progress already being made. A lot of the initiatives that Rick and his foundation work on, the objective is to do exactly that.

'This will not end. It's one step at a time. Maybe one day, the technology will be there to really make a big difference to those who suffer spinal cord injuries.'

Hansen recalled, at this time 20 years ago, he would have been wheeling back from Japan, on his way to Miami, Florida. But, he pointed out, it was not his destination at the end of 40,000 km, it was only the beginning.

'It's all about setting new goals and chasing down dreams, about making progress. You have to be able to take the little steps along the way.'

Asked what keeps him motivated to go forward, Hansen pointed to several inspiring factors in his life, including his wife and three daughters.

'They're 16, 14 and just about 11. Of course, that's a great learning lesson as well,' he laughed. 'Also, I love the great outdoors. Those are things that allow me to sustain the long push.'

Hansen said the foundation is pretty much halfway to achieving their goals, which is amazing progress. He pointed to Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan, who is paraplegic, representing Canada in raising the Olympic flag in Torino as a sign that the world is changing for the better.

'That symbol wasn't just about really the flag. It was about what does this country stand for. Here's a mayor who's providing hope for people across the world.'

Over the next five years, Hansen hopes that kind of support will continue and his foundation can help bring people together and create a sense of hope and optimism.

'(Those with physical disabilities) don't need to be cured in order to be whole as human beings,' he stated. 'With more support, anything is possible.'