Four-way amputee a problem solver since birth
Nothing can get in the way of Tracy Schmitt’s abilities.
Also known as Unstoppable Tracy, the Toronto resident who is a four-way congenital amputee, meaning she was born with the defects she lives with, was at Boggio IDA Pharmacy in Port Colborne Monday to share her story with a small audience, part of March of Dimes Canada’s Opening Doors for Accessibility program.
A Paralympic trialist who won a bronze medal in downhill paraskiing, Schmitt has also climbed the Himalayan mountains, captained 110-foot-tall ships in the Atlantic, and written her book, “Unstoppable You,” published earlier this year.
As recently as last week, she repelled a 25-storey building in Toronto.
“I’ve problem solved every day since I was born,” she said in an interview.
She was manager of planning and integration for the 2015 Pan Am and Para-Pan Am games in Toronto and has spoken in 26 countries, including sharing the stage with Jane Fonda at the 2018 Women of Essence awards.
Before focusing her attention on leadership consultancy work and public speaking, Schmitt worked for Air Canada and Shoppers Drug Mart, as well as the St. Catharines museum while she was in Niagara attending Brock University.
Today, in her late 40s, she reflects back to her time as a child living in affordable housing, and the many struggles she had to deal with.
March of Dimes Canada played a pivotal role in her life at about the age of 30 with its home and vehicle-modification program, providing her with the means to have a much more comfortable lifestyle.
She said efforts being made by companies and municipalities to address accessibility needs are opening doors for people in many communities, but a weariness to do it properly seems to be a bit of an impediment, she feels.
“People are doing the best they can, but instead of embracing it they’re scared of doing it wrong,” she said.
Through the adversity she has faced her whole life, Schmitt has one message she wants to deliver to people at her talks, or to anyone who reads her book, or hears of her story somehow.
“If I can do it, you can do it. No excuses,” she said.