Our Story is Far From Over
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By Jolanta Lapiak
My first step onto Canadian soil occurred when my parents and I emigrated from Poland via Austria. After we exited the plane, I looked at the huge Canada flag hanging above at the airport. At that moment at the age of 8 during the Trudeau era, I pondered myself, “What will my life be like right from this point on in Edmonton; what future awaits?” We were given a completely brand new life right here in Edmonton.
In no time, I was swimming with the Olympian Swim Club (and later with the Keyano Swim Club) with great coaches from Becky Smith to Dennis Pursley. My teammates and I traveled often for our competitive meets from local to international. Half a decade later, I ran with the 1988 Olympic Torch for a kilometer near Edmonton/Leduc. I also had the chance to hold the Stanley Cup (boy, it was heavy), proudly over my head, when the Oilers won it and visited my school. Little did I know these opportunities were given in our new life in this city.
After I earned a BFA and a MFA degree, I returned unintentionally and now practice as a media-based literary artist, ASL poet, photographer and performance artist here in Edmonton, the City of Champions. I taught courses in the ASL Studies and ASL Interpretation programs through Lakeland College at the University of Alberta. I also run a prominent ASL site (www.handspeak.com) in my home office here.
Even though I departed Edmonton many times for various reasons from studies to long travels, Edmonton keeps bringing me back here, a home base. It is somehow like a hub. Today I am about to settle down with the love of my life, who is a firefighter with the City of Edmonton and a true native of this great country. Together we are making a home and a life here in Edmonton. Our story is far from over. There will be many more chapters to explore and to write.
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