Other people might not consider Bronwyn Berg and Hal Bennett lucky.
Berg and Bennett would disagree.
They consider themselves lucky to be able to open an inclusive new business in a new town, providing accessible service to people who need it. They are lucky to have found each other.
And they are lucky to have once needed the same wheelchair.
Berg, 50 and Bennett, 48, both had life-changing experiences. Berg sustained a brain injury six years ago that resulted in a seizure, movement and balance disorder. Bennett underwent a kidney transplant six years ago and leg amputations a year later due to infections.
Berg had been studying creative writing at the UBC campus in Kelowna. Bennett was just out of hospital and living in Kamloops. They had each been wheelchair shopping and fell in love with the same chair. It can take a long time for a custom-fit wheelchair to arrive, so the company allowed them to share the chair as a loaner.
含羞草研究社淢y publishing career was just taking off, but I was unable to give literary readings without the loaner chair, which a mysterious guy in Kamloops got 含羞草研究社榮tealing,含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 noted Berg.
When they met for the first time, they recognized each other through the wheelchair he was 含羞草研究社渟tealing.含羞草研究社�
Bennett was instantly interested in Berg. She was interested in remaining single. They claim it took Berg four months to give him her phone number, though they talked on Facebook Messenger regularly.
含羞草研究社淲e were going through the same thing at the time, adjusting to living in a world not designed for us. It was a very bonding experience,含羞草研究社� Berg said. 含羞草研究社淎ll went from there, we became best friends and then we became a couple.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淪he含羞草研究社檚 a breath of fresh air, that含羞草研究社檚 for sure,含羞草研究社� said Bennett. 含羞草研究社淵ou know when you meet someone there含羞草研究社檚 more here.含羞草研究社�
They lived together for about a year in Kelowna before coming to Chemainus to launch the Clover (as in 含羞草研究社榝our-leaf clover,含羞草研究社� get it) Clothing Co. They opened the store 含羞草研究社� which also includes some new clothing 含羞草研究社� at the Chemainus Public Market on Aug. 1, securing one of the last two available market spaces.
含羞草研究社淲ho opens a store during a pandemic?含羞草研究社� Berg queried. 含羞草研究社淲e do. I definitely felt like Chemainus needed a consignment store.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淧eople love to go treasure hunting so there含羞草研究社檚 a bit of that as well. We含羞草研究社檝e been talking about doing a consignment shop for years. It wasn含羞草研究社檛 the right timing and I was basically housebound for five years.含羞草研究社�
They stumbled upon the opportunity almost by accident, driving around Vancouver Island and being impressed by the accessibility of Chemainus.
含羞草研究社淲hy are there ramps everywhere?含羞草研究社� Berg said with delight. 含羞草研究社淲e felt like we were in Disneyland. Aside from a few stores, everything含羞草研究社檚 accessible.含羞草研究社�
And there含羞草研究社檚 also the aspect of turning up something special for shoppers.
含羞草研究社淎 lot of disabled people struggle financially,含羞草研究社� Berg indicated. 含羞草研究社淎nd yet many consignment stores aren含羞草研究社檛 wheelchair accessible. We are passionate about accessibility. We wouldn含羞草研究社檛 do it unless we could have a location that was inclusive to everyone. The Chemainus Public Market was a unique opportunity. They already had a flat entrance, automatic door openers and an accessible bathroom. All that we added was a wheelchair accessible change room.
They含羞草研究社檝e been through a lot, but finding each other has helped endure the difficult days and prepare them for this new chapter.
含羞草研究社淚t was very life-altering,含羞草研究社� Berg said of her injury. 含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 lots of grieving that needs to be done, but then you get to a point of acceptance. People see the wheelchair and feel sad. I含羞草研究社檓 not the least bit sad about the wheelchair. Before I had the wheelchair I was crawling around and gripping walls.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 definitely a survivor,含羞草研究社� she added. 含羞草研究社淗al and I don含羞草研究社檛 feel bad about our lives. We definitely have challenges. I can含羞草研究社檛 work every day and had to give up my academic pursuits and career as a writer.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e extremely lucky to have found each other. It can be a very isolating life. To go through disability with a partner is amazing. Our disabilities are different. We含羞草研究社檙e able to care for each other without it ever being a burden. We never treat each other like we含羞草研究社檙e a burden.含羞草研究社�
Bennett was a Type 1 diabetic from the age of three. Complications from the diabetes eventually killed his kidneys. He went on dialysis 11 years ago and eventually had the transplant. The amputations of his legs below both knees were required five years ago.
He still uses a wheelchair as well, but the incredible improvements made over the years can be seen in his prosthetics, with ease of movement and different components used in their construction like carbon fibre.
含羞草研究社淢y attitude tends to be fairly productive,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 hate the word 含羞草研究社榩ositive.含羞草研究社� I like to see the wonder in things and live for the moment. If I含羞草研究社檓 not at the store, I含羞草研究社檓 on the slopes.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淲e feel lucky to have found a town that has been so accessible, a business where we can offer an inclusive experience,含羞草研究社� Berg said. 含羞草研究社淎nd we含羞草研究社檙e lucky to have found each other.含羞草研究社�
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