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Check out what’s been going on in our world!
This ‘Heart Tree’ from Ideas from the Forest blog is a beautiful image to represent the Astonished! Community on Valentine’s Day. Many hearts all flourishing from one tree. This February newsletter shows some of the places our hearts are creating inclusion, fun, and possibility. We are so happy to have you as part of the Astonished! Heart Tree. Click here for newsletter ………
Champagne, Delicious Appetizers, Entertainment by The Bromantics, Silent Auction, and Raffle Table. Tickets $75, or $450 for a table of six. Email Bonnie Cummings-Vickaryous
Saturday March 11th, 2017
St. Martin’s Parish Hall
4720 Castle Road, Regina SK
Champagne, Fundraising,
& Entertainment by The Bromantics
6:30 p.m.
Appetizer Service 7:30 p.m.
Cash Bar
“Paying it forward,” a phrase thought to have originated in 1916, the same year G. Murray Forbes was born, is a great phrase to describe the result of G. Murray, Edna and Athol Forbes’ vision in establishing a charitable fund at the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation.
Murray and Edna Forbes were long time residents of Regina, and were active and generous in their various community activities. Now, through the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, the G. Murray and Edna Forbes Foundation is carrying on that generous work.
For over 45 years the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation has helped good people do great things! Astonished Inc. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, which is a public foundation serving the people of South Saskatchewan. The foundation builds permanently endowed charitable funds for the changing need and opportunities of the community and provides grants to eligible charitable organizations in culture, health, education, environment, recreation and social service sectors.
We are pleased to announce that the G. Murray and Edna Forbes Foundation Fund at the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation has generously donated $10,000 to Astonished! As our motto says, we truly are Better Together!
We are delighted that The Jaleta Pacers have chosen Astonished! as their charitable recipient of the 2017 Royal Regina Road Race. The race will take place on Saturday morning May 13th at the RCMP Depot. The race options are: 10 KM run, 5 KM run, 5 KM wheelchair, 5 KM walk, and the Mini Mountie (10 and under) 1 KM Run. The Royal Road Race is a family event that promotes wellness and the sport of running.
If you love the challenge of a race, have always wanted to run, walk, or wheel parts of the RCMP Depot that are normally closed off to the public, and also want to support Astonished!, check out the registration details here
When registering participants also have the option to make a donation to Astonished! Individuals who are not participating in the race can pledge a racer who is participating or donate directly to Astonished! Click here for details
If racing is not your thing but you would like to be part of the 2017 Royal Regina Road Race and also support Astonished! you can volunteer directly with the 2017 Royal Regina Road Race by clicking here OR volunteer to be part of the Astonished! crew by e-mailing Katherine Taylor.
I’ve been one of Rebekah’s friends for 14 years, and have been a friend of Astonished! since it was a gleam in Ruth’s eye. Sometimes I simply witness from my home in Winnipeg (thank goodness for Facebook), other times I’ve been able to join the Student Researchers at the pub after an afternoon’s work, or to come to an Annual Meeting.
Last Thursday Rebekah invited me to the PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) celebration for Kennen, Kaitlyn, Kelsey, Sean, Avery and herself. What an eye and heart-opening afternoon! I loved the unique ways in which each of the Student Researchers and their companion or volunteer presented the rich variety of directions in which their unique PATHS had taken them. They ranged from formal Power Point presentations, to informal questions and answers conversations. Again and again, the accountability for each step/wheel roll of the PATH was obvious, and the strengths and abilities of each person shone through. It was clear to me that the PATHS have direction and purpose. They are leading in a direction determined by the Student Researcher with the support of Astonished! team.
I was also struck by the respectful and attentive listening as a presenter was talking. No-one was waiting for “my turn”. This was a community – celebrating the achievements of every member with a real sense of pride in each other.
The party afterwards was wonderful too – good food and good company. Thank you for your invitation, Rebekah. This was a great way to start my Saskatchewan stay.
Barbara Barnett
“This is real, it matters.” This is what we heard from University of Regina students who participated in the 2nd annual Astonished! Walk and Roll on Saturday December 3rd, 2016. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Persons with DisAbilities. The UN theme for 2016 is Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want. One of the 17 goals is laying the foundation for a future of greater inclusion for persons with disAbilities, which is a perfect description of the work of Astonished!
The Walk and Roll originated with students in Dr.Brenda Rossow Kimball’s class Kin 342 (Developmental DisAbility and Well Being) and Astonished! staff. This year A! Student Researchers and Core Members, University of Regina students and faculty in the faculties of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Social Work, Arts, and Nursing, and friends and family members created 18 teams with 73 team members.
Thank you to all the Walk and Roll teams and their many supporters for their great work promoting the creative social inclusion of Astonished! while raising funds to support our ongoing work. Each team applied their own unique approaches; including a three band event at The Owl, maxing social media, door-to-door visits, bake sales, and promotion at sports events. Thank you to our sponsors; The Kinesiology and Health Students Society, The Pump Roadhouse, and The Owl. Together we raised over $20,000 (10% of our annual budget). To see photos of the event……
We work in inclusive community to address barriers facing young adults with complex physical disAbilities (core members) by creating opportunities for teaching and learning, social, recreational and cultural engagement, and for employment and housing.
The Big Sky Centre for Learning and Being Astonished Inc.
University of Regina
3737 Wascana Parkway
Regina, SK S4S 0A2
Phone:
Bonnie Cummings-Vickaryous, Executive Director, 306-737-9560
E-mail:
BCV@beingastonished.com