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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
His winning spirit is hardly an illusion
Magician, public speaker ignores hurdles, excels
BORIS.MINKEVICH@FREEPRESS.MB.CA U of M student Chris Loewen has not allowed being born deaf to hold him back. (BORIS MINKEVICH)
No, learning to be a magician isn't really on the curriculum of your typical Bible college.
At least, not as a major.
Nor is becoming an accomplished public speaker the raison d'être of the University of Manitoba's agriculture courses.
But Chris Loewen's time in school has helped make him a popular amateur magician with a comedic patter, and a national award-winning public speaker -- an outstanding public speaker who learned to talk after being born profoundly deaf.
His parents "chose to raise me as a speaking child" rather than have him learn sign language, the 23-year-old Loewen said in an interview at the Central Speech and Hearing Centre in south Winnipeg. May is Speech and Hearing Month.
While Loewen recalled that learning words was not that difficult, "It was difficult to differentiate between the different sounds.
"I was very blessed to be in Hanover School Division," said Loewen, whose family lives on a hobby farm near Steinbach. I was given disability services," including a teacher's aide, and amplifying devices for his teachers.
Loewen went to school in Blumenort and Steinbach, switching to Steinbach Christian High School in Grade 11, and then going to Bible college in Alberta for two years before enrolling at the U of M this past September.
He received a cochlear implant in Grade 7, which greatly improved his ability to hear amplified sounds.
"In high school, I hated being on stage, I hated being in front of the class," he said.
But that's when he started dabbling in card tricks. At Bible college, he not only came under the tutelage of a fellow magician, but took a public speaking course.
Which brings us to the U of M, and 75 agriculture students who had to produce research papers and deliver a verbal presentation in class a few weeks ago.
Loewen received the top mark.
His professor videotaped his presentation on rural depopulation, and entered Loewen in a national public speaking competition for university agriculture students from more than 20 universities across Canada. He came third.
"It didn't come as a surprise. I'm very confident in what I do," Loewen said with a smile.
He performs card tricks and illusions at birthday parties, and entertains children at the family sessions organized at the speech and hearing centre.
"There came a point I suddenly realized this is a gift I have, to entertain people and make them laugh," said Loewen.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 20, 2009 B6
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