Peter Zacharias has a long history with Manitoba Possible, formerly Society for Manitobans with Disabilities (SMD). Serving as Board Chair since September 2019, Peter first became involved with the organization through the Manitoba Wheelchair Program.

Born in 1949, Peter was diagnosed with Polio at age 3. “It’s a virus that affects your muscles, bone tissues, ligaments and for lack of a better term, they dry up. One muscle or tendon might be affected and the opposite ‘say leg or arm’ may not be.” For Peter, this meant the loss of muscle tone in both his legs and left arm. “My chest cavity is all bent out of shape and lungs aren’t exactly 100% but they’ve done remarkably well,” he adds.

Growing up in Altona, Manitoba in the 1950’s meant limited access to services. In the late 50s, he was connected with Manitoba Possible, and through that relationship, he started to break down the barriers that prevented his full participation in society.

“The first wheelchair I received was a manual one,” says Peter.  Wheelchairs were basic in those days, so the local blacksmith and Peter’s dad innovated; “They put bicycle wheels on it and the blacksmith made the frame off quarter-inch angle iron… I could go anywhere with that thing. It was heavy but boy, was it solid,” he jokes.

After high school, Peter received financial assistance from Manitoba Possible to complete his two-year Electronics Technology diploma through Red River College. With the support of Manitoba Possible's employment program, he landed a job as an Aging Specialist for a government agency.

“We looked at fish scales under a microscope to determine their age,” he says. “What’s interesting is they actually have age rings similar to a tree trunk,” Peter explains. “Our job was to count the age rings on the fish and develop aging techniques so we could report our findings to the commercial fishing department as it would relate to quotas.”

Advancing in his field, Peter moved onto lab work, and it was there that he discovered an anomaly in the aging structures of fish In three of Manitoba’s northern lakes. “There were considerable differences in the age structures of each. One sample told me a fish was four years old and another sample from the same fish suggested it was six years old.”

Peter went to his supervisor who said, “You’re right -  look into this.” He laughs, “So, that’s what I did. When you’re providing commercial fishing quotas and fisherman are basing that on the size and age of the fish, there was this huge discrepancy in information.”

Peter ended up presenting his findings at the Great Plains Conference in Cody, Wyoming, and then going on to assist in the setup of another aging analysis lab in White Horse, Yukon. Eventually, he made his way into data program management. “I took care of all the commercial fishing in Manitoba,” he adds. “It was all done on a computer system and I was in control of all the licensing.”

Peter’s road to success was not without its challenges - one barrier Peter experienced was the ability to earn a fair living wage. “When I first started working, I wasn’t even getting paid minimum wage and eventually, we had Biologists bring us field samples, water samples, flow rate samples, you name it and we were doing everything,” he states. “What we got hired to do and what we ended up doing was totally different, so we put in a grievance and our employer bumped us up a pay level.”

The employment rate for persons with disabilities is only 59% compared to persons without disabilities at 80% (Stats Canada, 2017). Manitoba Possible's Employment Preparation Centre and Vocational Rehabilitation Program work to eliminate barriers to employment for persons with disabilities.

Peter’s history and interactions with Manitoba Possible took a special turn that forever impacted his life in a positive way. At a time when the organization shared offices with the Manitoba League of the Physically Handicapped (MLPH), Peter and his soon to be wife were introduced. “Ruby and I actually crossed paths when we were both being interviews for positions at MLPH”, he reminisces.

“We’ve been married 43 years and have four children and six grandchildren,” says Ruby proudly. “Peter has been a normal dad in that he coached winning baseball teams, coached soccer, was a scout leader, went camping, towed the kids on the lake in the Whiteshell, and taught them how to waterski, kneeboard and go tubing.”

In 2011, Peter joined Manitoba Possible’’s Board of Directors. “In some way, shape or form, Manitoba Possiblehas always been part of our lives,” he states. During a Board tour of the programs and offices, he noticed the enthusiasm that all levels of staff demonstrated when sharing with them what they did at the organization. “When I reflect back to when I was a client, I thought ‘yeah, that’s what I received,” he says with a smile. “It happens every day and these people do this all the time. It’s truly special and inspiring.”

Peter is currently the Chair of the Board and has been humbled by the opportunity to give back to an organization that has supported he and his family over the years. “It’s been a wonderful experience working with such committed people on the Manitoba Possible board and with staff to do our part to eliminate barriers” he says.

Peter and Ruby still enjoy camping in Pinawa and last year celebrated his 70th birthday. “Years ago, Peter’s parents were told by doctors that he wouldn’t live to his 20’s,” Ruby says. “Well, we had 100 people come to the party last year and it was wonderful” she boasts.