Weightlifter Stephen Jesso wins gold at national championships and has his sights set on competing for the world power lifting crown.

The Scarborough weightlifter is blind and trains at world-renown fitness centre Variety Village near his home. Jesso no longer needs to prove to anyone that he can accomplish a great deal without his eyes.

Born with sight in one eye, Jesso lost all vision at the age of 13 after being hit in the face during a pick-up game of basketball. Surgery could not fix the damage caused to his retina. The six-foot Jesso, who weighs almost 400 pounds, decided not to bathe in sympathy, but instead get on with his life. Today he is Canada's top power lifter.

Just back from winning a gold medal at the national championship in St. John's, Nfld., in the 300 kilogram class where he also set records in the squat, bench press, deadlift and overall categories, Jesso is enamoured at his ability to beat able-bodied challengers for the title.

But Jesso says “forget the celebrations; the win was just another step in my desire to become the No. 1 guy in this sport in the world.”

He already owns the world power lifting records for blind athletes, but Jesso, feisty and determined, said that was not good enough. Jesso is planning to be in Stockholm for the world championships in June.

Jesso, with a training plan set for the next 30 weeks, doesn't take too lightly that his body weight is seen by others as one of epic proportions. "I go through periods of bulking, eat eight eggs for breakfast, then all you can eat Sushi at lunch," said Jesso, admitting his weight size is considered unhealthy by some. "But, I am no walking time bomb. I wear 5XL pants and you won't see me buying the fashionable Versace clothes. Look, there's a perception that if you're not a trimmed dude, you're frowned upon. A guy my size burns 100 calories just by getting off a couch," he smiles.

"I have spent so many years being who I am, super cautious, very picky and never show-boating my strength," said Jesso. "When I am done in Sweden, there will be just a bit of a breathing time and then it'll be time to focus on the 2015 Pan Am Games when I can go after gold right here in Toronto."

Our 5th Annual Walk Roll Run & Fun Fall Fair fundraising event will be here soon - Sunday, October 30. Money raised helps fund vital programs at Variety Village for people with disabilities and their families.

Come out and help support people with disabilities while achieving your own personal best! Wear your Halloween costume and join the Zombie walk! And be sure to join us for the Fun Fall Fair in the Fieldhouse after Walk Roll Run. Register online now at www.walkrollrun.ca.

New this year is the Fun Fall Fair!!! 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. Bring the kids. Bring the grandparents and the neighbours. Have some howling Halloween fun and start your Holiday shopping early. Lots of fun activities for the whole family! Haunted House, Farmer’s Market, Kids’ Activities, Crafter’s Market, Pie Baking Contest, Best Costume Contest, Pumpkin Patch, Kids’ Halloween Loot Bags, food and loads of fun, fun, fun!

The nutrition and health industry is flooded with various fad diets and programs that promise to create unbelievable results in a very short time. Often, the desired results are seen. But are these wonder loss is fat permanent? No they are not.

The first and probably most popular fat loss program in use today is the "Atkins Diet". Next in line may be the popular diet "The Zone" diet. And another diet that has become all the rage is through the "Bernstein Clinics." Read what Certified Fitness Trainer and Sports Nutrition Specialist from Variety Village, Bobby Bonner, has to say about them and get a take on his philosophy… "slow gains are permanent gains" in our September Newsletter.

 

A self-appointed Private in the Variety Village Army, Terry Carson is a face that most know at Variety Village.

Terry has been a part of Variety Village for the past 11 years! In that time he has served as a member of our maintenance staff, volunteered and participated in many of the various sporting events held at the Village.

Terry is a man of many talents. He plays in the Scarborough Cyclones Ringette League where he is an aggressive goalscorer. He also likes five-pin bowling. His greatest joy is helping with the gardening at home. Terry also enjoys going to his cottage where he swims in the lake all day and goes out on the various boats that they have there.

An avid movie buff, Terry says that his favorite movies are the recent Transformers films. Bumblebee is his favorite character.

The Employer Champion Award program was established by the Provincial Partnership Council (PPC) to recognize employers in communities across Ontario that demonstrate outstanding dedication and commitment to providing meaningful work experiences for local high school students. The Passport to Prosperity campaign, supported by the PPC, encourages Ontario employers to provide experiential learning opportunities for high school students.

"By providing valuable workplace experiences to high school students, these Employer Champions are helping young Ontarians make some of the most important decisions in life, including setting career goals and choosing what type of postsecondary education and training to pursue," said Leona dombrowsky, Minister of Education. "School-work partnerships are critical to boosting student achievement and helping more students graduate."

"I applaud the work of Variety Village for giving young people and important insight into the skills and experience essential to finding work in today's economy," said John Milloy, Minister of training. Colleges and Universities. "Helping students learn about careers, and the education and training necessary for success will help build the skilled workforce Ontario needs."

Variety Village, a world recognized charitable facility providing integrated sports, life skills and learning programs, has provided students with meaningful experiential learning opportunities for nearly three decades.

"Our cooperative education program began in 1983 with a handful of students, and we've grown to support a robust program of forty to sixty students annually," said Archie Allison, director, Access and Awareness, Variety Village.

"Over those 28 years, our experiential learning programs have fostered a culture of inclusivity. We encourage students to try and understand the challenges and barriers facing individuals with disabilities in order to better support their strengths, interests and to achieve success.

While at Variety Village, students are taught to ensure that individuals of all abilities have equal and accessible opportunities to become active and contributing members of the community and to develop and learn physical fitness and social skills.