2021 Faces of Wellness program honourees

When Candice Janzen’s first child was eight weeks old, she experienced Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), spending two weeks in the NICU before they were told she could be taken home. Sadly, due to the lack of oxygen caused by SIDS she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and cortical blindness. Candice was unable to go back to work after her maternity leave ended due to her daughter’s complete dependence and daily therapy to help her growth and development.

Candice’s daughter is now eight years old. She can walk using her walker, see lights, shadows and colours. She is funny, smart and incredibly beautiful. Candice says that her daughter has taught her more in her short life than she had learned in her lifetime prior to being a mother.

To support others who had gone through similar experiences, Candice began a non-profit called the Children’s Disability Support Network, which helps families with children who have disabilities to connect with resources, support and information.

Candice’s mission is to help as many parents be the biggest advocates for their children and for them to know that they’re not alone. Her next passion project is an inclusive, accessible and adapted indoor play park for all children with all abilities called I Can Play 2. This will feature specialized equipment (wheelchair swings, harnesses for extra support, ramps to different areas, lifts, electric adult sized change tables in the washrooms and more) alongside common play structures so peers, siblings and new friends call all play together in a safe, inclusive environment.

“I don’t want anyone else to feel alone or to struggle in the areas that I did, knowing it’s something that can be fixed by having one place to go where you can easily find what you’re looking for and things you didn’t even know you needed.”

—Candice Janzen.

Chelsea Calverley has always put the needs of others first, volunteering for local, youth sports non-profits and helping family and friends. But it was always at the expense of her own needs.

Chelsea experienced abuse both as a child and later as an adult.

Over the last year and a half, she has fought to overcome multiple challenges on her path to restoring her health—not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. In 2019, she completed counseling for trauma and began introspection on how she could regain her health further.

She ended up leaving a long-term, toxic marriage and since May 2020, she lost 85 pounds through exercise, nutrition and learning how to practice self-care. Chelsea also returned to university with the goal of becoming a clinical psychologist.

Chelsea’s impact on the community and her circle has been larger than anticipated. She has inspired her family and friends to take their health seriously. She has also advocated for her son, who has a disability, to provide him with access to resources that will improve his quality of life.

“I want to use my experiences in life to be a supporter for others, in particular the LGBTQ+ community and those who may have a difficult time finding support in a non-judgmental setting. Even on the days when life feels overwhelming, I make mindful choices to get active, meditate and read. I encourage others to be authentic too.”

—Chelsea Calverley

Before she was 40, Cheryl Whitelaw was by all measures successful. She had a leadership role as a Dean in a college, the opportunity to influence and impact post-secondary education and was encouraged to prepare herself to step into an executive role as vice-president.

But Cheryl was also perpetually exhausted, battling a stiff and painful back and showing the classic signs of burnout. After losing her father, she silently battled depression and a concern that her genetic heritage of Multiple Sclerosis, which afflicted her mother and several other relatives, might be passed on to her given the ongoing levels of stress she faced. That was 13 years ago.

Since then, Cheryl changed her life entirely. She changed jobs and in 2013 began training Aikido at Abundant Peace Internal Martial Arts school—quickly falling in love with it. From 2013 to 2020, she trained with Sensei Brad Schultz as well as other top-notch Aikido teachers in North America. Her goal was to become a Being-in-Movement practitioner at the Columbus Centre for Movement Studies.