My parents came to Calgary Alberta from the Czech Republic in 1968 only leaving a letter for my grandmother to find after she had fled. My mother was only 21, married to my father and unknowingly already pregnant with my sister who was born in 1969. I came along July 2nd 1971.
My mother was a very strong independent woman who quickly learned the language and left my abusive father by the time I was only 2 years old.
I would not be the person I am today without having learned so much from the woman who is my hero. She raised my sister and I on her own until my late teens.
Having grown up with a single mother I learned to be very independent. I did laundry, cooking and cleaning at a young age. Soon after I learned how to use tools and fix and repair things as well. I was a regular little Tinker Bell but very much a tomboy who refused to wear a dress!
In May 1981, we sold almost all of our belongings and drove from Calgary to Ottawa to start a new life. I was allowed to pack one paper-sized box of my favourite possessions and toys.
I was always the compassionate social butterfly who strugged through school.
I really had to focus to study for anything school related.
I dropped out of highschool two years in a row for 2 completely different reasons. Once the parental pressure of doing well wasn’t upon me and I learned how to study and do well on my own, I achieved many awards and graduated as valedictorian.
I was a manager at McDonald’s shortly after turning 17 and never had to complete the 6-month training program because my store manager believed I had already nailed it without opening a book! She was another woman I looked up to.
At 18, I did a full time co-op placement at Mr. Lube and finally had the chance to tinker in cars! I absorbed as much as I could and received an award from the Ottawa Carleton District School Board after receiving a final mark of 98%.
I changed all my spark plugs and filters on my own. Was able to McGivor a pair of panthose into an engine belt to get the car home at 1am after driving staff home from a closing shift at McDonald’s. I was in Tinker Bell heaven!
I also worked on all my motorcycle’s. I started riding at 15 and had my license and first Street bike at 21.
I was an army cadet from 13-17 and went on many adventures. I did everything from shooting competitions at the ranges to marching every Remembrance Day at either Parliament or a local cenotaph.
At 33, I become a mother for the first time and my world was so full! Less than 2 years later I decided that I would not raise my daughter with her alcoholic father and left. Two years later, I decided to fulfill my dreams and college education of law enforcement. I trained for 3 solid months. I hadn’t exercised in probably 15 years and had just quit smoking after almost 20 years.
I did however complete the written and physical exams without penalty. I was 17 seconds short on my finish time which I was informed was nothing as it took most 2-3 attempts before passing.
I would train harder and do the test again in 6months. However that didn’t happen.
Mitch, my high school crush at 14, happened! We decided when my maternity leave ended that I wouldn’t go back to my job of 13 years building tracking devices for wildlife researchers and would join him in our family business of cars!
All of a sudden I found a new freedom and happiness. I was able to help people around me and within the community. I was able to teach women about basic car maintenance and how to be independent.
I joined forces with Nikki Laframbois and we taught women how to change tires, boost cars and check fluids. The difference between regular and synthetic oil, also all season and winter tires. I loved sharing this and empowering women to not just drive but to own and maintain their cars.
I joined Nikki and other women at the race track and fulfilled a life long dream of racing! It was like being all grown up and a kid all over again!
A year ago, Sue Norton and her daughter Jenn Wood invited me to join their company Pink Tiger. I love it!! You can still work the family business of cars but also get to do good deeds through our event planning business.
To sum it all up, I’ve lead an interesting life, with interesting people. I’m not afraid to take risks. I love being a mom. I love supporting people and helping them achieve their goals and dreams. I love animals and nature. I take ever challenge head on with a few deep breaths and always perservere.
Who inspires you in your life and why?
My mom inspires me because she has always found a way to achieve and move forward. She taught me to grab the bull by the horns and not to let go until I was ready.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you have had to overcome in your life?
My biggest challenges always included change and moving forward. It was learning to accept things I couldn’t change. Deciding to close our OK Tire store was a huge challenge as I had put my heart and soul into it. Accepting that it wasn’t profitable and having to let 90% of our staff go was ultimately one of the most difficult.
What did you do to move through them? What did you learn?
I accepted that no matter how hard you work and put into something will not always make it successful. It doesn’t mean you are not successful, it means what you have chosen isn’t and you must move that energy onto something that can be.
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of myself as a human. I’ve always stayed true to myself and never allowed myself to be swayed. I stand up for myself and those around me. I like the person I see in the mirror and don’t care what others may think. I have a kind heart and have learned to finally say no! That is a big one for me, saying no and not feeling guilty about it.
What do you want younger women to know?
I want younger woman to know that nothing is too hard if you want it bad enough. Follow your dreams and stay true to yourself. I want them to look at what is best for them and go for it!
What does living fully mean to you?
Living fully means being grounded no matter where I am in life. It means taking risks and sharing with others. It means looking in the mirror at night before bed and feeling good about myself as a human. It means being thankful and grateful for all that I have and those that I share my life with.
Favourite quote?
Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up.
