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Melanie Elizabeth

@eml.ward

3K

followers

2017

following

📍Toronto

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Fun time at my families annual Thanksgiving dinner ! ❤️❤️ by @eml.ward

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6 days ago

Ready to kickstart my fitness journey on January 5! I'm excited to share my progress, workouts, and healthy eats with you all. Hoping for some motivation and support along the way as I work towards regaining my pre-COVID fitness level. by @eml.ward

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10 months ago

Sat July 2 .. Haven’t paddled an OC in 10 years and first time in an OC-6. We paddled from Sunnyside to Center Island and back.. total was 15km! Was fun seeing some old paddling friends also so that was a huge surprise! I thought we would be out an Hour but it was a huge paddle event 🤣🤣🤣. Was a lot of fun!

I had my go pro but it never turned on I don’t think. So never took video !

Big thanks to @wandering__will for organizing and to @louis.low.77377 for taking us out!!

📸 @wandering__will (except for the first one) first photo @louis.low.77377 taken in Sunnyside Paddling Club by @eml.ward

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4 years ago

I’m about to be vulnerable, so if personal posts make you uncomfortable, feel free to scroll on by. I’m not here to perform perfection—I’m here to be real. I’d rather be authentic than fake 🙂😘

I’m watching Season 5 of Below Deck Med, and Hannah’s firing hit me hard. She was let go after having Valium on board—medication for her panic attacks. Captain Sandy even mentioned Hannah hyperventilating in the middle of the night. So clearly, this wasn’t just about the meds. It was about the stigma.

I’ve had anxiety attacks too. They’ve happened in public, at work, and once—painfully—in the middle of a pub. I was blamed, told to “stop it,” and then asked to tip more because my friend hadn’t. I was humiliated. And I’ve carried that moment with me.

Mental health is still treated differently. If you break a leg, people rush to help. But if your mind is hurting? You’re met with judgment, criticism, or silence.

This episode reminded me how far we still have to go. Anxiety isn’t weakness. Panic isn’t drama. And medication isn’t shameful.

To anyone who’s ever felt misunderstood in their struggle: I see you. You’re not alone. And you don’t have to apologize for how your body responds to stress. by @eml.ward

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a year ago

May was full of a lot of ups and downs for me but I did have many good times. Attached are a few of the photos.
▪️ Kinky Boots
▪️ changed my hair colour
▪️ My bday dinner
▪️ my bday party (I forgot to take photos so only have 1 )
▪️ rooftop bbq
▪️ Annual Lane Way garage Sale by @eml.ward

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5 months ago

I’ve travelled alone, eaten alone, gone to concerts alone, lived alone, even watched movies alone. For the longest time I thought this was just… normal. Turns out a lot of people never do any of these things by themselves.

I used to wait for company. Wait for someone to be free. Wait for the perfect timing. But if I kept waiting, I would’ve missed every adventure that shaped me.

So here’s your reminder: stop putting your life on hold.
Go. Do the thing. Take the trip. Eat the meal. See the show.

You only get one life, and the clock doesn’t pause just because you’re waiting.

Choose the adventure now..before the moment passes. by @eml.ward

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7 months ago

Im three months into my new role, and today I received the nicest surprise — a $25 reward to donate to a charity of my choice through the companies giving portal.

For me, the choice was obvious: Jumpstart.

I spent eight years at Canadian Tire, and during that time I volunteered with Jumpstart in so many different ways. I’ve seen firsthand the impact this charity has on kids and communities across the country. Some of my favourite memories include:

▪️Visiting a school in Regent Park to donate sporting equipment

▪️Serving lunch to camp kids at MLS Launchpad

▪️Helping at a Jumpstart golf tournament (and somehow ending up playing floor hockey with Jennifer Botterill — now a Hockey Hall of Famer!)

▪️Spending every year in Aurora supporting the Jumpstart Games as a team lead or games host

▪️Helped lead the Employee for Jumpstart campaign and the annual poker tournament, helping raise over $100,000

For those who may not know, 100% of proceeds go directly to the charity. No overhead. No deductions. Just pure impact. And because I’ve met the kids and seen the programs up close, this charity will always be close to my heart.

So thank you to my amazing company , for this small but meaningful token. Any little bit truly helps — and this one made my day. by @eml.ward

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9 months ago

Yesterday's white elephant pajama brunch at my friend's place was everything! Loving that I got to meet more of my neighbours since we all live in the same building. What a great way to wrap up the year, felt so needed! ❤️ by @eml.ward

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10 months ago

It’s been one year, and I miss my sweet boy so much. He wasn’t well and declined so quickly, and the loss still feels heavy. He brought endless love into my life—curling up on my back when I slept, settling into my lap when I sat on the couch. As anyone who’s lived with cats knows, you don’t own them—they own you. His personality was larger than life, and he filled my days with joy.

The day I had to make the heartbreaking decision to let him go was one of the hardest moments I’ve ever faced. The compassion and gentleness of the vet will stay with me forever; they gave him dignity and surrounded him with love in his final moments. It reminded me of an episode of The Pitt, where the same care was shown at the end of life—except for a human.

I think about welcoming two bonded cats someday, but I’m not sure I’m ready yet. For now, I hold onto the memories of my boy, the love he gave, and the way he made my world brighter. by @eml.ward

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a year ago

✨ Celebrating a Childfree Life of Adventure and Purpose ✨

I’ve gone skydiving at 14,000 ft in Vegas, zip lining in Costa Rica, repelling down trees, white water rafting and cliff jumping in Ottawa, dune bashing in Dubai, snorkeling with sea turtles in Mexico… I’ve traveled to Dubai, London, Costa Rica, and beyond. I’ve been to concerts, and even competed in dragon boating.

I’ve also volunteered for the Toronto International Film Festival, PanAm/Parapan Am Games, Jumpstart, World Junior Hockey Championships — and I’m currently waiting to be accepted for FIFA 2026.

On top of that, I’ve built a great career with solid benefits. Choosing to be childfree has given me the freedom to explore, to invest in myself, and to live life on my own terms.

Yes, I’ve had a slump these past few years, but I’m pulling myself out of it. And I don’t need to defend my choices — my life is full, adventurous, and deeply meaningful. by @eml.ward

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a year ago

My new tattoo!! I love it!!! Was nervous at first bc it’s always hard to tell how the final product will look but @raindog_tattooist is a creative genius! Honestly. He is very good and not just in the tattoo but also his professionalism and how he makes his client comfortable. I totally recommend him. He works out of Drop The Ink at bloor and Bathurst.

This is the second tat he has done. I also asked him@about doing Dickie’s paw print and he can do that also. ❤️❤️❤️

And people have asked me about pain? I am the worst to have that question asked lmao it didn’t hurt me at all. But everyone’s pain threshold is different.. by @eml.ward

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a year ago

This week marks 20 years of friendship w this dude by @eml.ward

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2 years ago