Zosia Ettenberg, the 91原创 businesswoman who founded the non-profit Pos-Abilities to advocate for and help people with disabilities, has died at the age of 79.

Ettenberg, who passed away on April 5, contracted polio when she was just six months old, and dealt with the physical challenges that caused for her throughout her life.

She attended McGill University in Montreal and received a BA in physiotherapy, working in the field for many years and serving as president of the Ontario Physiotherapy Association and as a director with the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.

She moved to 91原创 in 1985 to work as director of rehab services at 91原创 Memorial Hospital. She soon began advocating for local residents outside of her job as well, lobbying to bring the HandyDart service to the community.

By 2001, Ettenberg had become a wheelchair user due to her childhood polio. 

In 2010, she co-founded Pos-Abilities, which she led through to this year. Just before her death, the association announced that it was shutting down due to funding challenges and difficulties finding volunteers.

During its 15 years, Pos-Abilities ran a number of programs, including helping people get personal assistive devices 鈥� including wheelchairs, crutches, and other devices to help them move around freely. Pos-Abilities estimated that it saved the province $3 million through the years by helping people access the devices without going through provincial programs.

It ran accessibility audits for local businesses, to help them make their premises friendlier to everyone in the community.

Pos-Abilities also ran the Try On A Disability program for many years, setting up displays that showed people what it might be like to do common tasks while blind, deaf, or using a wheelchair. Where there was space available, the event included a wheelchair obstacle course. Local politicians were often invited to take part, with the hope they would garner an understanding of the challenges faced everyday by people living with disabilities, and bring that awareness to decisions being made at the council table.

An anniversary event for the society in 2021 prompted 91原创 Township to buy a wheelchair stage ramp for the first time.

91原创 City Mayor Nathan Pachal paid tribute to Ettenberg at a recent event honouring volunteers, just before she passed away.

"She's done a whole lot for accessibility in our community," Pachal said, running through a list of the Pos-Abilities efforts.

He thanked Ettenberg, the Pos-Abilities board, and all their volunteers throughout the years for their work.

Township Mayor Eric Woodward also spoke of her impact after learning of her death.

"Having known her for many years, I was touched by her unwavering and passionate advocacy for people with accessibility challenges, which she herself personally faced," Woodward said. "It鈥檚 because of her work over many decades, and others inspired by her, that we are all as aware of accessibility issues today as we are, from beeping crosswalks to more accessible parking stalls and everything in between. She will be missed throughout in the 91原创s."

Ettenberg was married for 22 years, but lost her husband 20 years ago. She is survived by one of two adopted sons, after her youngest passed away unexpectedly in 2021.

She survived breast cancer in 2005 and wrote about the experience in the book Cancer 鈥� I Won!

Ettenberg continued taking up new pastimes into her senior years, including wheelchair curling and boccia, competing at tournaments in 91原创 and across the country.

A celebration of life for Ettenberg will be held on Sunday, May 4, at 2 p.m. at South 91原创 Church, at 20098 22 Ave.