Woman finds therapy in sailing

Woman finds therapy in sailing. Handicapped sailor and Disabled Sailing Association of Ontario member Nigist Sewnnet navigates the waters of Lake Ontario on Saturday, May 15. Staff photo/GILBERT NDIKUBWAYEZU

"I was so frustrated with life, really," she said, referring to the feeling of her early days in Canada. That was in 1993, only eight months after her arrival in the country when she had to undergo spinal surgery as a result of the polio she contracted at the age of four.

From then on, she's been using a wheelchair for all her movements. But those feelings have completely changed after she started sailing.

"I went back from frustration to normal again. It really is part of the therapy," she said. "At the beginning even the doctors were saying it might take me a while to recover, but when I went back for the check-up, they just couldn't believe the change."

Indeed, it was a very tough transition. The aftermath of the surgery and the depression she felt as a new immigrant had almost cost Sewnnet her life. She lost her natural colour and hair and was living in constant despair with no hope for a better life. Swennet, who would later become a computer programming graduate from Centennial College, only saw light coming into her life when, 11 years ago, she was introduced to a program teaching sailing to disabled people at Harbourfront.

"The first day I heard of them, that is the day I went and registered," she said, adding from that day on she would come to Harbourfront as many times as she could.

However she remembers it was tough in the first days of her sailing course to get used to heavy winds, as she was still feeling pain from the surgery.

But her endurance gradually paid off and today she is not only a good sailor, but a potential competitor in the sailing race on a national and international level.

On a relatively good weather day like Saturday, May 15 when the Disabled Sailing Association of Ontario (DSAO) launched its 2010 sailing season, Sewnnet arrived at 283B Queen's Quay West-Harbourfront early in the morning. Clad in a red life-jacket, sunglasses and wearing her distinctive smile, she carefully rolled her wheelchair down to the dock to board her boat for a quick ride in Lake Ontario.

It takes four aides to help her get into the boat. The same four people help her with detaching the boat from the dock, and give the boat a good push in the direction of the lake she wants to explore.

The boat has no engine. It functions depending on the wind.

"I just love this," she said, amid sailing manoeuvres. "Isn't water beautiful? I just love coming here and looking at the city in front of me."

Born and raised in Ethiopia, Sewnnet spent about five years in Italy, learning languages and history of modern arts and computer programming in Italian. She arrived in Canada in October 1992.

Currently, Sewnnet is the only female Canadian sailor in the Ontario Sailing Team in the 2.4 mR Paralympic class sailboat, and she'll be in Europe with her teammates later this year to represent Canada in a worldwide 2.4mR Paralympics.

DSAO believes the ability to sail enhances self-esteem and independence for people with mobility or other impairments, and gives them a chance to become involved in a social, recreational, rehabilitative and competitive life. There are about 100,000 disabled people in Toronto. For Sewnnet this program offers a unique opportunity to meet other people and a chance to give back.

"I became a volunteer and do companioning," she said. "I love to take out new sailors and teach them. It's great fun."