Staff
Our people make the difference.
Bonnie Cummings-Vickaryous, A! Executive Director; and Melissa Turbuck, A! Program Coordinator, have been essential to the vision, work and community that is Astonished! We are grateful to have Emma Hancock join us as Interim Program Coordinator for 2021 during Melissa Turbuck’s maternity leave.
Bonnie Cummings-Vickaryous
Executive Director
We are delighted to have Bonnie on the Astonished! team of Board Members, staff, volunteers, Core Members, and friends. Bonnie brings her research and teaching skills, experience with another young non-profit organization, Creative Options Regina, a deep commitment to inclusion, and great excitement about the work and vision of Astonished! In December 2019 Bonnie successfully defended her dissertation for a Masters of Science Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina. She also teaches as a sessional lecturer at the University.
Bonnie could likely organize a blizzard and seems to be able to keep many balls in the air at the same time and get them eventually to settle in good places. An Astonished! day for Bonnie can include recruiting, supporting and training volunteers; consulting with the A! Board of Connectors; providing input to the provincial government disAbility strategy; designing posters; communicating with the A! community; all before breakfast.
Melissa Turbuck
Program Coordinator
Melissa Turbuck joined the A! team in August 2019.
She writes:
I grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan, but moved to South Africa in 2013 while waiting for my husband’s immigration process to come to Canada. I began taking classes through correspondence from the University of Regina while living in South Africa and moved back to Regina in August of 2015. After a lot of hard work and support from my husband and family I completed my Social Work degree in December 2018.
While growing up on my quiet bay in Regina, my neighbour who is an individual with a disAbility inspired me to seek a life of being inspired by others and sparked my interest and love for this field of work. My experience in the disAbility community includes working as an Educational Assistant in Fort Qu’Appelle, as a counselor at Summer Program for Special Children, volunteering at Queensburgh Cheshire Home in South Africa, and completing a major practicum at Creative Options Regina. Through these organizations I have gained knowledge and experience in a culture of person-centeredness and continue to be a lifelong learner.
Some of the things I enjoy doing are playing and watching sports, spending time with my family and friends, traveling, watching movies, and spending my summers in Waskesiu!
Thanks for being so welcoming and accepting me into the Astonished! Family!
Mel and her husband Corne welcomed baby Nile into their family in late 2020. Mel will return from her maternity leave in late 2021
Emma Hancock
Interim Program Coordinator
Emma Hancock joined the A! team in November 2020.
She writes:
I loved Astonished! so much, I just couldn’t leave! After finishing my fieldwork in August, I had a long two month wait before getting to come back but this time with a new role - Interim Program Coordinator. Melissa has been working hard to teach me her ways so that I can try to fill her shoes while she’s getting to know baby Nile! I am looking forward to getting to work with Astonished! in this new light, focusing my time on program planning, and planning social events. All while getting to hangout with some of my favourite people!
I was born in North Battleford but have lived in Regina for most of my life. After starting my fieldwork In April, I found out that I went to the same school as three of our Student Researchers throughout my school years - Kennen in Grenfell, Avery at LeBoldus, and Kelsey in university! It’s a small world! Outside of Astonished! I coach competitive swimming with Flatland Swimming. I have 19 young and eager swimmers that I have the pleasure of learning from every day. Person-centeredness is a concept that I believe in both at Astonished! as well as when developing my young athletes.
We are delighted to have Emma join the team in her new role as Interim Program Coordinator, covering Mel’s maternity leave. Welcome Emma!
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