All Posts – Page 22 – The Big Sky Centre for Learning and Being Astonished Inc.

Ryan Matheison

August 1, 2015/2 Comments/in Core Member

You might say I was a bit of a rover in my early years. I was born in Saskatoon and then moved to Cudworth, Regina, Balgonie, Regina, Pense, and back to Regina, where I finally settled down. I attended school in most of these places, but spent my final few high school years at Michael A. Riffel High School. After graduating in 2006, I took a few years off and then went to work at Cosmo, where I currently spend my days.

Towards the end of my high school years, I moved into Cheshire Homes where I reside in my “green and white” man cave. This should give you a strong clue about my favourite activity. I am a sports animal who attends Rider games, Pats games, and Red Sox games whenever I get the chance. When I’m not at games, I’m watching games on TV.

I am a core member of Astonished! and attend most of their social events . This summer I am attending my first ever Astonished Literacy Camp. I am the only guy camper, which is pretty sweet. I also attend Friendship Club and BeLonging gatherings when there’s no football or hockey games to watch. In my very limited free time, I listen to country music, watch funny movies, eat pizza, and dream about going to camp. I would live at Camp Easter Seal if they’d let me! My favourite people are my girlfriend Kayla, who also works at Cosmo, and my godmother Margaret, who I visit in Cudworth whenever I get the chance. My friends describe me as an open-minded, good-natured, and honest guy, optimistic even when the Riders are losing and camp is over for the summer.

Drift Racing – Part two

July 28, 2015/0 Comments/in Events

In a previous blog blog, we mentioned that the Drop Dead Drift Corporation was holding a fundraiser for Astonished! on July 26.

An update:

We have to say, they came, they saw, they conquered AND overwhelmed us with their generosity!Here, is a truly great group of people looking to get involved and give back to the community. The day was awesome – the races were entertaining, the people were lovely and even the weather cooperated! Everyone from Astonished! had a lot of fun and we could tell that everyone else was having a lot of fun, too. To round out the day, Drop Dead Drift made a donation of $5000 to Astonished!

To our Drop Dead Drift contact Kaylah Zahara and the Drop Dead Drift Guys -the core 4 are Austin Phillips, Justin Schiller, Jon Tougas and Kolton Ryan – as well as all the organizers, participants, volunteers, and spectators, THANK YOU! We cannot say enough great things about you. The same goes for Travis Fehler, Kyle Zimmer, and Dave Rushinko, who partnered with Drop Dead Drift to make the weekend possible. You are all so good. It is because of generous donations like these, that we are able to continue to engage in meaningful research and offer innovative services for young adults with complex physical disAbilities. It makes all the difference.

We encourage everyone out there looking for something interesting to do to check out a Drop Dead Drift event!

https://www.facebook.com/DropDeadDrift?fref=ts

*This picture is A! Core Member Kennen Dorgan out for a few laps with her brother Reed and Jessie-Joe Curtis with Odd Man Out Performance of Regina!

Jake Sawa

July 24, 2015/0 Comments/in Social Club

There are so many things to love about our association with the University of Regina. We love it when students come to Astonished! with ideas of how we can partner together. Jake Sawa, U of R Kinesiology grad, came to us last summer with the idea of creating the A! Dance Project. Jake learned some of his moves with Lazylegz Patuelli and created many of his own. Each month we have danced with Jake, strengthen our community, and gained new confidence in our own unique responses to the beat. Last evening was our last official dance time with Jake. He is off to study medicine at the University of Saskatoon. We will miss him and we know he will be a fabulous doctor. Jake brought listening, respect, fun, skill, and the ability to adapt to changing situations to the A! Dance project. All of this will carry him well in his future. Thank you Jake!

Photo- Ryan and Jake catch the beat.

Summer Adventures

July 7, 2015/0 Comments/in E-newsletter

Summer is often a time for trying new things, changing the routine. In this newsletter we are highlighting some of the Astonished! summer adventures. This includes big news from James, Bonnie, and Lauren (photo above). Click here to read more……

Photo by Tanys Rae Photography

Brian, Rebekah, and Joy Lindenbach

June 30, 2015/0 Comments/in Donor of the Month

Remember Maslow (or perhaps this is your first encounter with him)? 40 years ago, when I took my nursing degree, we had a class in Human Psychology which taught Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. For some reason, that class stands out in my memories and over the years I frequently thought about this theory. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory of human motivation and was extended to include observations of humans’ innate curiosity.

Life can be very busy just meeting our physiological and safety needs. We need air, water, food and metabolic requirements for survival, along with clothing, shelter, personal and financial security and adequate health and well-being. But we all know there is more to life than these basics. Life is richer as we experience and offer love. Life is richer when we offer and experience belonging in our homes and in society. Maslow’s theory suggests that the hierarchies of needs are interrelated, rather than sharply separated, and human needs extend from sustenance to group membership and justice.

We will be celebrating Rebekah’s 25th birthday this summer! As we reflect on the passing of a quarter of a century, we are so grateful to the community of Astonished! Rebekah, her peers/core members, student researchers, staff, family, volunteers, and friends of Astonished! have had and continue to experience an opportunity to know love, belonging, and self-actualization . What a gift! The Big Sky Center for Learning and Being Astonished! has and continues to change all our lives, it’s quite the ‘ride’! We want to extend your HEARTFELT THANK YOU to EVERYONE who supports Astonished! in all the numerous ways. We are better together! (Joy Lindenbach for Joy, Brian, and Rebekah).

THANK YOU Joy, Brian, and Rebekah

83% of our annual budget comes from individual donations.

Joy and Brian donate monthly through our pre-authorized debit donor option.
Rebekah makes a cash donation twice a year.
To learn more about our donor options……..

Drift Racing

June 25, 2015/0 Comments/in Events

You never know where your connection with Astonished! will take you. Have you ever been to a drift race? While she was a student at the University of Regina, Kaylah Zahara, Drop Dead Drift Team Manager, was introduced to Astonished! by A! Student Researcher Avery Ottenbreit.

Recently Kaylah came to us with the proposal that the Drop Dead Drift Corporation hold a fundraiser for Astonished! on Sunday, July 26, 2015.

Drop Dead Drift has two pro-am drivers who complete in the Spec-D Series in Edmonton, Alberta. They take cars around corners at close to 100 km/hr sideway! It is exhilarating to watch and to go for a ride! Drop Dead Drift Corp has numerous events at Kings Park Speedway throughout the summer. Be sure to check them out on Facebook.

Drop Dead Drift Corp will be accepting Donations for Astonished! at the gate. Donations of $15.00 and above are eligible for a tax receipt. Proceeds from the day will go to Astonished! Kings Park Speedway is about 10 km northeast of Regina, on Inland Drive, just north of the Tor Hill and Murray Golf Courses (click link for map). Gates open at 11 am. The day ends when the drivers run out of tires!!! Gate Fee: $10.00/person 10 and under free!

If this seems like an event you want to experience come join us.

Photo by Tony Koch

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Ryan Matheison

Drift Racing – Part two

Brian, Rebekah, and Joy Lindenbach

Drift Racing

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