Janka Liska — The Freshwater Mermaid
“I love that my kids grew up and I stayed!” Janka Liska tells me with a laugh, sunlight catching the sparkle in her eye. That playful energy—equal parts joy, strength, and wonder—is what has earned her the nickname “Janka the Freshwater Mermaid.” And once you’ve met her, it just fits.
Janka was born and raised right here in Sarnia, the daughter of Slovak immigrants. She and her two siblings—an older brother and sister—are first-generation Canadians. “I went to St. Benedict’s for elementary, then Northern for high school,” she says, recalling her roots with fondness. For the past sixteen years, she’s worked at Canada Post, and she’s also a proud mom to two teenage daughters.
But behind the uniform and daily routines is a woman who swims with a tail and brings a bit of magic to the shores of Lake Huron.
“I’ve always been a water person,” Janka explains. “My dad had sailboats at the yacht club, so we were always around the water. I loved swimming—and I’ve always loved mermaids.”
Years ago, when her daughters were small, she bought them mermaid tails to play in the water. Then she discovered that they made adult tails too. “So, I got one for myself,” she grins. “And then my kids grew up and stopped doing it—but I didn’t!”
What started as a playful hobby quickly turned into something more. Janka began filming underwater videos and snapping mermaid selfies, sharing them on social media just for fun. “I like to spread positivity and joy,” she says. “I didn’t plan for any of this to grow—but now I have 8,000 followers on Facebook! I don’t even know how that happened. I just post pics and videos.”
Before settling back in Sarnia, Janka spent two years in the Caribbean, working on the beach renting chairs and umbrellas. “But this is home,” she says, speaking warmly about her return to the blue waters of Lake Huron.
For the past six summers, she’s been a fixture in the local waters, tail and all. In the winter, she practices in indoor pools, often filming her dives with a GoPro. “It’s harder than people think,” she says. “It takes a lot of breath, and a lot of strength. But I love it. It makes me feel like I’m the most powerful woman in the world. It makes me feel pretty. It makes me feel strong.”
She doesn’t just swim for herself, though. Every year, Janka appears as a mermaid at an event at the riding club, swimming with the kids and bringing the magic to life. She’s also the organizer behind Witches in the Bay, a whimsical event where paddleboarders and kayakers, dressed in witch costumes, gather at Centennial Park. The event is not just about fun—participants also donate to a local charity.
Whether she’s diving under waves or organizing paddle parades, Janka brings something special to Sarnia: the reminder that you’re never too old to believe in magic—or to be it.
“I think it’s important to stay connected to joy,” she says, pausing for a moment, as if letting the thought settle. “And maybe inspire others to find theirs too.”
With her bright smile, infectious laugh, and unmistakable tail, Janka Liska swims through life as only a true Freshwater Mermaid can—on her own wave, and always with heart.
"Humans of Sarnia" founder Art Connolly is a man fuelled by curiosity and a passion for connecting with people in Sarnia. Inspired by the renowned “Humans of New York” series, with a camera in hand, he captures the very essence of the individuals he encounters, preserving their stories through his lens. Follow his series on Instagram and Facebook.