Drop Zone Round Two: Why This Rappeller Is Doing It Again

After completing her drop, Karlene poses with a sign saying “I did it!” at the base of the Hydro building.

Karlene Wiebe, the youngest of four, and a proud Deaf Manitoban, first did the Drop Zone in  2018 because she had a personal connection to Manitoba Possible, then known as Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, “I went to SMD pre-school, and when I became older, I went through the vocational program, got funding for school… I also got support through Manitoba Possible while doing driver’s ed.”

Now a pharmacy technician in Winnipeg, where she’s lived most of her life, Deaf and hard-of-hearing services have helped shape not only her life but that of her siblings. With a family of 6 and two Deaf sisters, finding her place in the world hasn’t always been easy. For a while, she shared, Karlene didn’t identify as Deaf and struggled with confidence in herself and her identity. Through community, partially created by those early-childhood programs at Manitoba Possible, Karlene embarked on a journey of self-acceptance and embracing her identity as a Deaf Manitoban.

A young Karlene poses for a photo at the SMD Deaf and Hard of Hearing pre-school in February 1998.

The First Drop

In 2018, Karlene was approached by Lisa, a Manitoba Possible Deaf and Heard of Hearing Services Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor who had worked alongside Karlene making her career goals possible, to do the Drop Zone. Karlene didn’t hesitate for one second - she was in.

Fast forward to the day of the event - Karlene was excited and feeling pretty good. She’d done a few practice rounds - as do all rappellers - and was ready to strap in. When she got to the top of the 272 foot tall Hydro Building, she took in the beauty of the surrounding Winnipeg downtown. “When you’re going down, it takes a while to get your momentum going. but then you kind of just glide. It goes pretty fast - I had to remind myself to enjoy it - it was like ‘ok, I don’t get to come down again!”

There were moments when Karlene paused and took in the views, and waved at friends and family below. She shares that her family thought this was pretty adventurous (and maybe a little crazy), but this event was right up the self-described adrenaline-seeker’s alley.

Karlene’s family was supportive of her fundraising for Manitoba Possible, where one of Karlene’s sisters had also received services through the vocational program, she elaborated, “[My older sister] was really proud of me for wanting to give back. As was a lot of my family!”

Why Manitobans Should Do Drop Zone 2022

Young Karlene in the 90s beside an SMD pre-school attendant.

When asked what she’d say to people thinking about doing the fundraiser, Karlene shared “It is so fun,” she laughs, “it’s something I think that people should do at least once - if you’re crazy enough like me, you can do it more than once,” she smiles. 

“It’s for a great cause, it’s really fun, and I actually met quite a few people!”

“They (Manitoba Possible) have given me a lot of resources and supports growing up, even to this day, I’m sure if I need resources for anything, they’d be more than willing to help.  Doing the Drop Zone is my way of saying thanks.”

“What better way to say thanks, and show my appreciation and gratitude than to give back - and it’s fun! You get to pick a song! I chose “Free Fallin,” and another person who rappelled the same day chose “Mama Mia” because of the line “here I go again” and it was her second time.”

This year, Karlene is thinking of selecting Sam Smith’s “Love Me More,” sharing that it resonated with her journey from internal stigma and shame around her hearing spectrum to proud Deaf Manitoban, sharing “as I got older, I became more comfortable with my own identity, now when people ask, I self identify as Deaf - I am part of the Deaf community, I use ASL…” adding that, like the song, she’s learning how to love herself.

How You Can Support Karlene & The Event

Manitobans who aren’t keen on rappelling but are interested in supporting the event can help Karlene reach and exceed her fundraising goal by visiting the Drop Zone Manitoba registration page and making a donation to her campaign. Karlene is close to her $1500 goal, having raised over $1000!

“People with disabilities are not burdens… we deserve equity - you know that comic with people peering over the fence? This event is one way that we can help provide those resources. [Manitoba Possible] helps to merge those gaps.”