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.
鈥淢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 鈥榮tealing,鈥欌�� noted Berg.
When they met for the first time, they recognized each other through the wheelchair he was 鈥渟tealing.鈥�
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.
鈥淲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,鈥� Berg said. 鈥淎ll went from there, we became best friends and then we became a couple.鈥�
鈥淪he鈥檚 a breath of fresh air, that鈥檚 for sure,鈥� said Bennett. 鈥淵ou know when you meet someone there鈥檚 more here.鈥�
They lived together for about a year in Kelowna before coming to Chemainus to launch the Clover (as in 鈥榝our-leaf clover,鈥� get it) Clothing Co. They opened the store 鈥� which also includes some new clothing 鈥� at the Chemainus Public Market on Aug. 1, securing one of the last two available market spaces.
鈥淲ho opens a store during a pandemic?鈥� Berg queried. 鈥淲e do. I definitely felt like Chemainus needed a consignment store.鈥�
鈥淧eople love to go treasure hunting so there鈥檚 a bit of that as well. We鈥檝e been talking about doing a consignment shop for years. It wasn鈥檛 the right timing and I was basically housebound for five years.鈥�
They stumbled upon the opportunity almost by accident, driving around Vancouver Island and being impressed by the accessibility of Chemainus.
鈥淲hy are there ramps everywhere?鈥� Berg said with delight. 鈥淲e felt like we were in Disneyland. Aside from a few stores, everything鈥檚 accessible.鈥�
And there鈥檚 also the aspect of turning up something special for shoppers.
鈥淎 lot of disabled people struggle financially,鈥� Berg indicated. 鈥淎nd yet many consignment stores aren鈥檛 wheelchair accessible. We are passionate about accessibility. We wouldn鈥檛 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鈥檝e been through a lot, but finding each other has helped endure the difficult days and prepare them for this new chapter.
鈥淚t was very life-altering,鈥� Berg said of her injury. 鈥淭here鈥檚 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鈥檓 not the least bit sad about the wheelchair. Before I had the wheelchair I was crawling around and gripping walls.
鈥淚鈥檓 definitely a survivor,鈥� she added. 鈥淗al and I don鈥檛 feel bad about our lives. We definitely have challenges. I can鈥檛 work every day and had to give up my academic pursuits and career as a writer.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙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鈥檙e able to care for each other without it ever being a burden. We never treat each other like we鈥檙e a burden.鈥�
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.
鈥淢y attitude tends to be fairly productive,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 hate the word 鈥榩ositive.鈥� I like to see the wonder in things and live for the moment. If I鈥檓 not at the store, I鈥檓 on the slopes.鈥�
鈥淲e feel lucky to have found a town that has been so accessible, a business where we can offer an inclusive experience,鈥� Berg said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e lucky to have found each other.鈥�
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