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.

害羞草研究所淢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 害羞草研究所榮tealing,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 noted Berg.

When they met for the first time, they recognized each other through the wheelchair he was 害羞草研究所渟tealing.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淲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,害羞草研究所� Berg said. 害羞草研究所淎ll went from there, we became best friends and then we became a couple.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 a breath of fresh air, that害羞草研究所檚 for sure,害羞草研究所� said Bennett. 害羞草研究所淵ou know when you meet someone there害羞草研究所檚 more here.害羞草研究所�

They lived together for about a year in Kelowna before coming to Chemainus to launch the Clover (as in 害羞草研究所榝our-leaf clover,害羞草研究所� get it) Clothing Co. They opened the store 害羞草研究所� which also includes some new clothing 害羞草研究所� at the Chemainus Public Market on Aug. 1, securing one of the last two available market spaces.

害羞草研究所淲ho opens a store during a pandemic?害羞草研究所� Berg queried. 害羞草研究所淲e do. I definitely felt like Chemainus needed a consignment store.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淧eople love to go treasure hunting so there害羞草研究所檚 a bit of that as well. We害羞草研究所檝e been talking about doing a consignment shop for years. It wasn害羞草研究所檛 the right timing and I was basically housebound for five years.害羞草研究所�

They stumbled upon the opportunity almost by accident, driving around Vancouver Island and being impressed by the accessibility of Chemainus.

害羞草研究所淲hy are there ramps everywhere?害羞草研究所� Berg said with delight. 害羞草研究所淲e felt like we were in Disneyland. Aside from a few stores, everything害羞草研究所檚 accessible.害羞草研究所�

And there害羞草研究所檚 also the aspect of turning up something special for shoppers.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of disabled people struggle financially,害羞草研究所� Berg indicated. 害羞草研究所淎nd yet many consignment stores aren害羞草研究所檛 wheelchair accessible. We are passionate about accessibility. We wouldn害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所檝e been through a lot, but finding each other has helped endure the difficult days and prepare them for this new chapter.

害羞草研究所淚t was very life-altering,害羞草研究所� Berg said of her injury. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檓 not the least bit sad about the wheelchair. Before I had the wheelchair I was crawling around and gripping walls.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 definitely a survivor,害羞草研究所� she added. 害羞草研究所淗al and I don害羞草研究所檛 feel bad about our lives. We definitely have challenges. I can害羞草研究所檛 work every day and had to give up my academic pursuits and career as a writer.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙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害羞草研究所檙e able to care for each other without it ever being a burden. We never treat each other like we害羞草研究所檙e a burden.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淢y attitude tends to be fairly productive,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 hate the word 害羞草研究所榩ositive.害羞草研究所� I like to see the wonder in things and live for the moment. If I害羞草研究所檓 not at the store, I害羞草研究所檓 on the slopes.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e feel lucky to have found a town that has been so accessible, a business where we can offer an inclusive experience,害羞草研究所� Berg said. 害羞草研究所淎nd we害羞草研究所檙e lucky to have found each other.害羞草研究所�

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