I truly believe I have the best workspace in our Calgary office. From my desk, I get to watch the life and energy of our community come and go, and I’m always fascinated by the people I see. Call me nosy, but it’s this curiosity that fuels me.
One day, I glanced up from my computer and noticed Holly working out in the NRC. What struck me wasn’t just her focus but the sheer strength and endurance she showed on the arm bicycle. I was so impressed that I stopped what I was doing and went over to meet her.
There’s something remarkable about Holly’s story, especially given the world she once thrived in. I mean, how often do you meet a woman who’s been a professional jockey? For Holly, that wasn’t just a career, it was a passion that defined much of her life.
Holly's life has always been fueled by passion, resilience, and reinvention. From an early age, she fell in love with horses, and by the time she was 16, she had found her calling as a jockey. For two decades, Holly lived the thrilling, fast-paced life of the racetrack, rising with the dawn and riding through the exhilaration of race-day afternoons. Her family cheered her on; her father was especially supportive, even though her mother had always imagined her becoming a lawyer. But racing horses was in Holly’s blood, and she pursued it with all the dedication she could muster.
Then, at the age of 36, Holly’s world turned upside down. During what should have been a routine morning ride as a favour to the trainer, the horse she was riding got spooked and reared up. Holly was thrown from the saddle, and the fall left her with a C4, C5, C6 incomplete spinal cord injury. In an instant, the life she had known vanished.
At the time living in Ontario, Holly was faced with the monumental task of relearning how to navigate a world that now seemed vastly different. Despite the overwhelming challenges, she remained a devoted and busy mom to her two sons, who continue to be a central part of her life. Unfortunately, the strain took a toll on her marriage, which eventually fell apart, leaving Holly to face an uncertain future while adjusting to life in a wheelchair.
But even in the face of such hardships, Holly’s indomitable spirit refused to falter. Her love for her children, her drive to rebuild, and her resilience became her guiding lights. In 2007, Holly received support from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), allowing her to purchase and move into a house adapted to her new physical needs. This home became her sanctuary, offering a foundation of stability and independence.
However, Holly’s story didn’t end there. True to form, she reinvented herself once again. Her competitive spirit found a new outlet in para-cycling. Starting with hand bike racing, Holly quickly rose through the ranks, competing at high levels and even making the Ontario team with dreams of representing Canada in the Tokyo Paralympics. But her journey, as ever, was marked by hurdles. In 2018, Holly suffered a stroke, resulting in aphasia and vision loss, robbing her of her ability to drive. Yet even in the face of these new obstacles, Holly pushed forward, adapting to her changing circumstances with the same determination that had always carried her through.
In 2021, Holly made the move to Calgary, and while her life has taken on a new rhythm, she continues to forge ahead. She tells me she misses the freedom to travel on a whim, and communication can be challenging with aphasia. But Holly is not one to let life’s difficulties keep her down. She remains a devoted mom to her two sons, she’s made new friends through SCI-AB and finds joy in sports like basketball and rugby. And in true Holly fashion, she keeps her dreams big—her sights are set on the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028.
And let's not forget about Holly's furry companions who bring light and laughter into her days; there’s Cricket the cat and Finnigan, an energetic and rambunctious miniature Dachshund, who keeps Holly on her toes while he moves through the playful side of puppyhood.
What makes Holly’s journey so heartwarming isn’t just her resilience, but the way she continues to embrace life with open arms, finding purpose, connection, and joy even when the road is rough. Whether it’s in her dedication to para-cycling, her meaningful relationships, or simply the quiet moments spent with her furry companion, Holly embodies the beauty of living fully, no matter the challenges. Her story is a powerful reminder that with passion, perseverance, and a little reinvention, we can all rise above life’s toughest obstacles.
~ The image accompanying this article was painted for Holly by Craig Wonnacott
