Wild Ride

In 2023, I was hit by a TTC bus and told I'd never walk without a cane. I thought my thrill-seeking days were over

- BRAD ARSENEAU

I WAS BORN IN 1971, the youngest of three boys, in Saint John, New Brunswick. My father was bipolar; he self-medicated with alcohol and emotionally abused my mother. When I was 11, my mom left to protect herself. After that, my dad would come and go. But, for the most part, my brothers and I fended for ourselves.

In high school, I got into BMX biking. I was naturally athletic and always willing to take big risks for a trick. A bruise, a sprain, even a broken bone-which happened more than oncedidn't deter me. After graduating, I briefly attended university on a full bursary before flunking out because I blew the money on partying. For a few years, I spent my time cycling, thrillseeking and hanging out with my girlfriend, Laurie.

By 1992, what started as a hobby had become a serious pursuit. I partnered with one of my brothers and a friend to open a bike repair shop.

At the same time, I decided to go back to school and enrolled in the business program at the University of New Brunswick. Within two years, our shop became one of the biggest of its kind in the province. It paid for my tuition.

In 1996, I moved to Toronto with Laurie to work at a consulting firm-but I never stopped chasing my next hit of adrenalin. On my time off, I would ice climb and mountain climb, travelling to Khumbu, the Andes and Yosemite.