"In choosing
to risk, we all have the capacity to live fuller, more gratifying
lives" - Carl Hiebert
Carl's a great friend and inspiration to
us at Tamarack. He has written four best selling books
that express his love for Canada and the community of Waterloo
Region that he calls home.
"This Land I Love" is a loving
portrait of Waterloo Region and "Us Little People"
highlights the importance of community life and children among
the old order Mennonite community.
His new book on the Grand River pays tribute
to the heritage river in his community and the inspiring "Gift
of Wings" beautifully showcases the wonderful country
and landscape we share.
Carl's photographs and words are a celebration
of community and a celebration of life.
We are honoured Carl has donated the use
of his photographs for our website.
Find out more about Carl and his work at
his website: http://www.giftofwings.ca.
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Across the country ordinary Canadians are
doing extraordinary things to help others.
Carl Hiebert wants to celebrate their stories
in a new book. All proceeds from book sales will support the
work of Canadian charities involved in HIV/AIDS relief in
Africa.
Exceptional Canadians is a non-profit project
led by Carl, a well-known aviator, photographer, and bestselling
author of a Gift of Wings and other books.
“The most joyful, centered people I
know are typically those who are making a difference in this
world,” Carl writes.
“Exceptional Canadians is an attempt
to celebrate those men, women and children who do make a difference.”
We think Carl’s pretty exceptional
too. He has been a great friend and inspiration to us at Tamarack
and we are honoured that he has donated the use of many of
his photographs for our website.
You can submit a story about an Exceptional
Canadian you know by visiting the project’s website.
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The phone rang at 8:30 p.m. on a Friday night.
It was Carl Hiebert, "Hey Paul, do you want to go flying?"
I gulped. I wanted to say no, I almost said no, but something
stopped me. I said yes. I could not say no to Carl.
Carl is one of the most remarkable people
I know. Years ago, he broke his back in a hang gliding accident
and has been confined to a wheelchair since then.
You'd expect such an experience to break
a soul, but in Carl it seemed to ignite a desire to dare life.
Though in constant pain, he lives life with
more energy and spirit than any other person I know. Carl
is the first person to fly across Canada in an ultra light
airplane, is author of a handful of best selling books, a
motivational speaker and philanthropist.
To engage with Carl is to face life. Each
interaction with him is to recognize possibilities and embrace
opportunity.
"No" isn't a word often used by
or around Carl.
We went flying the next morning. Taking off
from a farmer's field felt very much like riding in the sidecar
of a motorcycle.
Flying above the treetops with Carl confidently
in control, filled me with a calm and contentment I seldom
feel.
It was glorious! The stunning beauty distracted
me and I was filled with incredible joy.
To say that Carl writes books is not completely
accurate. His books are filled with photos, many from 500
feet in the air, that give one a true eagle-eyed view of the
world.
Carl's become very comfortable flying and
taking photos at the same time. As he pointed at fields transformed
by light and crop patterns, he would lean over, half falling
out of the plane, and take a photograph. His hands left the
controls to use his camera and as he shifted his weight the
ultralight dipped to create the overall effect of a free fall.
My heart pounded and my body turned cold
as I searched for something to hold on to.
Death! It is always far away, but how easily
one can bring it to reality when living in fear. All I could
think about as the ultralight dipped was "What if..?"
The fear was so intense and irrational that
I lost all sense of place and time. I was exhilarated and
wanted to stay in the air for as long as possible. I was scared
and wanted to be on the ground. Frozen in fear, joy, hope
and despair. And then... a deep realization - I am alive and
I want to live.
As we touched the ground with the ease and
grace of a bird I knew that I had received a gift - the gift
of now, the joy of wanting what I have, the peace of knowing
that I want to really live.
Thanks Carl!
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