Krystian, who lives in Kamloops, was just six years old the first time he attended an Easter Seals Camp. The first time he arrived on the site, camp felt big, unfamiliar, and overwhelming. He had a support worker with him, but he wasn’t ready yet and returned home early. Still, something about camp stayed with him.
A few years later, he decided to try again. This time, he arrived with his older brother, Jeffery, and everything felt different. Camp wasn’t just a place to visit; it was a place where he could belong. Surrounded by people who focused on what he could do, Krystian began to open up. He laughed more, tried new things, and found confidence in moments that once felt out of reach.
He came back year after year, eventually joining the Leader in Training program at Easter Seals Camp in Squamish. It was there, in an environment built on encouragement and possibility, that something clicked. Krystian began to see a future shaped by his own interests and abilities.
That mattered, especially because the messages he had heard growing up were very different.
As a child, doctors and support workers told Krystian he would never be able to read or write due to his developmental disability. Those words could have defined his path, but Easter Seals camp had shown him another way to see himself. Camp gave him a space to explore, to build confidence, grow, and to see what he was capable of.
The lessons gained from camp stuck with him.
Before long, Krystian was speaking at community events, sharing his knowledge about disability awareness and internet safety. He earned a certificate in internet safety and began developing his voice as an advocate. Still, he wanted something more, something he could truly call his own.
When university wasn’t an option, he didn’t stop. Instead, he turned to community resources. With support from New Horizons Professional Support Services Inc. and Community Futures Thompson Country, he learned how to write articles, manage a website, seek advertising, and run a small publication.
In September 2013, he launched the Kamloops Self Advocate Newsletter.
Today, at 36 years old, Krystian continues to grow that work. His newsletter, shared through email, print, and online, highlights local resources, personal stories, interviews with public figures who live with disabilities, and positive, community-driven content. It’s informative, engaging, and rooted in a belief that everyone has something valuable to share.
Want to follow Krystian’s work and hear more stories from his community? Visit his website and subscribe to the Kamloops Self Advocate Newsletter to stay connected.
