Ever since he was a little kid, Charb was always very active. He used to love running around, exploring, and chasing his older sister Rachel. Some of his fondest memories were of hiking with his cousins Guy and Joe in Hubbards, N.S. In Jr. High, Charb channeled all of his active energy into sports. In grade seven he began playing soccer, rugby and wrestling. Charbel also was into canoeing and kayaking for many years. Around the same time he got into sports, Charb also started lifting weights and continued to do so until the accident.

Charbel wrestled all throughout Jr. High and high school. He was team captain for two years in grades 11 and 12. Charb loved wrestling because it required so much strength, agility and stamina. Charb had a natural talent for wrestling and was soon the star wrestler at his school, winning many tournaments including Nova Scotia Provincials and the Atlantic Canada Regional Championships. Charb went all the way to placing second in the Canadian Nationals in grade 11. When Charb was wrestling he was totally focused and in the zone, he was always prepared mentally for the match against even the strongest opponent. Charb had hoped to wrestle in university but a knee and elbow injury kept him from doing so. During his time at Kings-Edgehill, Charb won athlete of the year almost every single year (at least for as many years as I can remember!)

Charb also played on the Kings-Edgehill School soccer and rugby teams and won many provincial and regional titles with the teams. Charb became somewhat of a rugby fanatic during his last two years at Kings, and traveled with the team to Ireland to play! Just before the accident Charb was considering moving to New Zealand to train in the hopes of becoming a professional rugby player.

Charb could often be found reading bodybuilding magazines or working out in his home gym, where he would sometimes bench press as much as 245lbs! Charb was very serious about getting in shape and staying fit for life. Exercise and sports were his passions. In fact, the night of his accident he was returning home from writing an exam to become a personal trainer so that he could work at the new Kings-Edgehill School gym. Charb’s passion for sports and his fearless attitude earned him the name Maximus after one of his favorite gladiators.

From the time he was young, Charb loved to draw. He used to spend hours in his room drawing pictures of sharks, monsters and all things powerful. Most of Charb’s drawings as he grew older were of bodybuilders or orcs and other characters from his favorite computer game Warcraft. Not only did Charb like to draw these characters, he also gave them personal attributes and strengths.

For Charb physical and mental strength were the most important thing. He always strove for perfection in what he did and he put 100% effort into looking, feeling and being the best that he could be. We believe that it is because of this mentality that Charbel is still with us today. We heard time and time again from medical professionals that most people would not have survived the accident, but Charb’s mental and physical strength have helped him to survive and continue surviving against all odds. It is his ability to overcome challenges and to fight with every last effort he has, that will bring him further and further along the road to recovery. If anyone can do it, it’s Maximus.

To everyone that knows him, Charb is a very special individual. As for his family, we’ve seen him at the best and worst of times, but Charbel is an incredibly sensitive and caring individual despite his physical strength and sculpted exterior. Despite all of his athletic accomplishments, Charb was humble about his success because he believed that he could always achieve more with time, training, and determination. Charb believed in keeping to himself and working through his problems on his own.
Charb has many wonderful friends that he has known for many years, and that have continued to show up at home and at the hospital bringing news of their adventures in university or travels, and reminding Charb of all the crazy times they spent together. There are also teachers and coaches from Kings-Edgehill that have continued to come to the hospital week after week to encourage Charbel and to inspire him along on in his recovery. We want to thank them all, they know who they are, and ask them to keep on coming whenever they can because Charbel needs all the support and encouragement that he can get. And we know he loves all of their visits and reliving the fun times in the past.