A year after traumatic crash took her leg, Nicole Kieley returns to Mount Pearl chambers as deputy mayor

Mount Pearl Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley returned to council chambers Tuesday, a year after losing her leg after being struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. (Curtis Hicks/CBC)

A year to the day after a harrowing crash that took Nicole Kieley's leg and nearly killed her, she's walking back into Mount Pearl's council chambers as the city's deputy mayor.

Her recovery was a long one, filled with setbacks and frustration, but she returned to full service for the city Tuesday.

"I'm doing really good. It's been quite a year and today has been a fantastic day," Kieley told CBC News.

"I've spent today really celebrating this milestone. You never know with a milestone. Sometimes it can be difficult.… I woke up today, the first thought was, 'I'm feeling good, I'm feeling great and grateful.'"

Kieley was struck by a car while standing in front of the Shoppers Drug Mart on LeMarchant Road in St. John's in May 2023. The car continued through the front window of the pharmacy, pinning Kieley underneath for about an hour.

Before returning to her seat as an elected official, Kieley went for a walk around Power's Pond in Mount Pearl in the morning, using her prosthetic leg and hiking poles to get her around the loop. Blue skies and a warm day lent themselves to her big return to public service.

She said hundreds of people are to thank for her survival from the crash, through her recovery and getting her life back on track.

Kieley was brought up to speed during her first council meeting back. (Curtis Hicks/CBC)

Strangers along the trail during her walk Tuesday morning shared words of encouragement and support.

"Even that sort of stuff just helps you," she said.

"I really thought about that today, the people who helped me on my journey."

A steward to the city

Mayor Dave Aker was the first to welcome her back.

"We've really missed you, your voice is important and valued and we're so glad to see you," Aker said during Tuesday's public council meeting, followed by a round of applause.

"I know you arrive here with all that energy you had before you left."

Kieley's recovery was long, but she says returning to work for the City of Mount Pearl was the celebration she had been waiting for. (Submitted by Nicole Kieley)

Kieley said those who told her they couldn't wait for her to come back were the fuel that got her there, but she did have some self-doubt, with part of her wondering, "Will I ever get back?" she said.

"And that's normal," she said. "Normal thoughts of where you're to and having doubts and being in a place where it's like I'm physically exhausted or mentally going through post-traumatic stress or depression."

She said Tuesday was an important day in her recovery.

"That's incredible to feel that and to know that you're finally there," she said.

"Just getting back into the swing of things, being a steward for the city, getting into conversations and getting into what I love best, which is debate and good conversations, and knowing that I've got the mindset back."

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