Have you seen this painting in the NSC lobby beside the elevator?
If so, please know that it was created by one of our Able Sailors, John Mazurek. The boat is an Able Sail Martin 16 (coincidentally #16).
Many people at the club know John or have seen him wheeling his chair around since he likes to frequent the club, especially on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
You no doubt wonder how John could have created such a painting; well, he painted it over five weeks using a brush clipped to his hat! Such skill and determination. Roger Barker kindly had John’s painting placed in a lovely frame.
John was born in Canada in January 1963 to immigrant parents.
His father came from Poland, while his mother came from an area of Germany that later became part of Poland. John has had cerebral palsy since birth and lived at home with his mother until he moved into a coop in 2004. On the day before COVID-19 struck, he moved into the Perley Health Centre. (John has a good memory!)
When he was younger, John volunteered for ComputerWise, a computer-based workplace for people with disabilities. For winter recreation, starting in 1989, John skied downhill at the Edelweiss ski hill. He even skied at Whistler in 1994!
John first started sailing in 1996 with the Able Sail program at NSC. He left sailing for a period but then returned in 2023, although he was seen around the club before then. Always wanting to race, he was most pleased to race in his first regatta, the 2024 National Capital Cup. As the first race started, John called back to me that he didn’t want to win! That struck me odd until I realized he was just so happy to be in the race!
What does John like about our club?
The people, dining and the views – especially the people. He surely likes racing in the Martin 16s, but it is the people in the Able Sail program—both the Sailors and the Companions—that he enjoys. He made it clear that he likes parties, so he is looking forward to the year-end party for the Able Sail group!
With his pleasant personality, John is a pleasure to be around—and I have learned from him. It is encouraging to hear Kayleigh York of the Perley Health Centre say that the sailing program truly brings him so much joy!
John Brooks
July 2024