feature Takin’ it to the Streets The story of Paul Poirier, DC D r. Paul Poirier looks invincible strad-dling his cherished chopper. Like a modern-day easy rider decked in black leather riding jacket and chaps, at six feet, three inches, and tipping the scales at 290 pounds, he’s certainly an imposing figure. There are many reasons this Cornwall, Ontario, DC merits the moniker of Chiro-practic Man of Steel, not least of which is the chrome-trimmed V-Max muscle bike he zips around town and countryside on. He has built Earthway Family Chiropractic (www. drpaulpoirier.com) into a thriving practice; he is a teacher of anatomy and physiology at St. Lawrence College; and he is an active member of the Canadian Chiropractic Asso-ciation, the Quebec Chiropractic Association and the International Chiropractic Associa-Dr. Paul Poirier, poised atop his V-Max, tion. On top of all this, he’s raising three en-before the first ride for brain cancer awareness held in Corwall, Ontario ergetic kids with his wife, Ginny. in 2010. Foremost, Poirier is a powerhouse of re-solve because of the implacable foe he has been battling for much of his adult life: brain cancer. After a succession of surgeries over the past 15 years, he remains determined to beat it. And he wants to help others affected by the disease. He is doing this by revving up the campaign he founded in 2010: Bikers Against Brain Cancer. The organization thundered to its very first fundraising ride last October with more than 50 cyclists tally-ing more than $3,000 in donations. It was only the beginning of what Poirier hopes will become an international awareness campaign and fundraiser. Jack Kohane is a Toronto-based freelance journalist who writes for several national health-care magazines and the National Post newspaper. THE MAN A native of Cornwall, Ontario, Dr. Poirier first attended Carleton University and, then, received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life Chiropractic College West in San Francisco. “I was in my final lap of training and close to graduating chiropractic college when I had a seizure while playing tennis one California morning in April 1995,” recalls Poirier, who was 30 at the time. “Paramedics took me to the hospital where I was diagnosed with a mixed glioma (Grade II).” Despite the shock, he now sees the seizure as a blessing. “If I hadn’t collapsed, it may have been months before the malignant growth was discovered.” Poirier returned to Canada to have the tumour removed. Six weeks later, he was back in the Golden State. “I couldn’t just sit around on the sidelines of life, throwing myself an eternal pity party,” nods Poirier. He dove into his studies with gusto, graduating the following year. It was soon after his first surgery in 1995 that he met Ginny. “Being I was still in school at the time, we dated long distance for two years,” he chuckles. But in February 1997 he had another seizure, blacking out while driving his car at a railroad crossing near Ottawa. He was struck by a train rolling at 100 km/hour. www.canadianchiropractor.ca Jack Kohane 32 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | APRIL 2011
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