From his early experiences navigating life with Cerebral Palsy to his triumphs as an adult who enjoys skiing, biking, and many other adventures, Matthew’s story is both uplifting and relatable. His ability to speak openly and intimately about his life—while infusing the talk with humour and clever remarks—created an engaging and memorable experience for everyone in the audience.
Matthew’s warmth and authenticity were immediately apparent, and he skillfully tailored his message to suit the diverse audience. Whether through light-hearted anecdotes or powerful insights, he created an atmosphere where everyone felt connected to his message. His ability to adapt and make his talk resonate with a specific sector speaks to his exceptional communication skills and understanding of his audience.
What truly sets Matthew apart is not just his personal resilience but also his infectious enthusiasm, dry humour, and passion for life. I have no doubt that Matthew Corkum would be an outstanding keynote speaker for any event.

Emily Griffiths, Project Manager, Tourism HR Canada

“We had the honour of having Matt present to our employees about disability inclusion in the workplace, and it was nothing short of transformative. Matt’s approach was engaging, informative, and inspiring. He not only shared his lived experience of disability, he also provided us with valuable insights for fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. His expertise and passion was evident throughout, and we left the session feeling more empowered to take actionable steps towards disability inclusion. Matt truly made a lasting impact on our team, and we are grateful for the knowledge and perspective he shared with us.”

–Tina Johnson-Adams (she/her), Sr Advisor, HR Programs & Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility

“Matthew was a consummate professional but extremely easy to communicate and collaborate with. He brought power, energy and hilarity, whilst moving our participants to tears. He is a great orator, delivering his powerful message of reality, positivity and optimism. I cannot recommend Matthew highly enough as a keynote speaker.”

Jade Berrill, Take Me Outside

“Matt Corkum exceeded our expectations as a guest speaker at our staff event, leaving a lasting impact on our team.”

Rebecca Strand-Bowman, VP, Philanthropy & Chief Development Officer | Calgary Health Foundation

“Matthew has presented in the Population Health Course at the Cumming School of Medicine numerous times to up to 170 medical students and in unscripted, full-class question-and-answer sessions. He brings a uniquely personal perspective that always remains on target. He delivers his message with his wonderful blend of humor, humility and insight.”

Murray Lee, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Calgary & Family Doctor

“We chose Matthew Corkum as one of our keynote speakers, his message was both topical and powerful, we felt that he would challenge our biases around physical disabilities in life and the workplace.
Matthew surpassed our highest expectations as he delivered a thoughtful compelling
presentation!”

Roy Prevost, Speaker Coordinator, Rotary 5040 District Conference

” I was first introduced to Matt during my first year of medical school at the Cumming School of Medicine as he was presenting to our class about his journey through disability. This speech was timely and nothing short of remarkable. He inspired myself and 160 fellow classmates at the earliest stage of our medical career. He shared insight and perspective through a lens that very few of us could prior appreciate and I am grateful for that.”

“Dr Matthew Corkum is a talented speaker that clearly communicates his life experience and how clinicians can adjust their practice to better create an environment that is welcoming. I learned how this can aid in developing a stronger therapeutic alliance with my patient, which I feel will help my patients with disabilities to better reach their goals and help us both see their level of ability.”

Christian Boivin | Physiotherapist, DPT, BSc

“Matt provided excellent insight to the various barriers he has experienced within the health care system and provided, clear, applicable feedback that I can incorporate into my professional practice. He helped improve my tool kit on how to better support individuals with differing levels of ability both as a physiotherapist and within my personal life.”

Gina Rolf (Physiotherapy intern, MScPT)

“It was truly an honour to work with and get to know Matthew better. He was well organized and professional in all communications. His keynote was the favourite of our three day conference. His comedic timing, engaging personality, and willingness to be vulnerable and honest about the barriers he faced growing up made this the highlight of most attendees’ week. There is no doubt we plan on working with Matt again in the future.” – Lora Church,  Executive Director, Nova Scotia Community Living Organizations