Our Latest News
Check out what’s been going on in our world!
Check out what’s been going on in our world!
Pascal Erickson – Just Saying…….
I graduated from Campbell Collegiate in 2005. Since April 12th 2007 I have been conducting my life from Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina. People say I am an excellent conductor, organizing and scheduling things I want in my life. I love music, especially country and rock. My dad and I are regulars at the Craven Country Music Jamboree. Recently, my sister Jennifer and I rocked at the Nickelback concert in Saskatoon (photo of Jennifer and Pascal).
Some of my favourite things are chocolate, photography, painting, reading medical text books, researching on the web, visiting with friends, Camp Easter Seal, playing cribbage, Astonished! events, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. I have a serious case of ‘Rider Pride’. I keep connected to my family and friends, my music, and my Internet research though my iPad and iPhone. They are always on my chair tray.
Some of my favourite Astonished! events include the Halloween Howl and the annual Fundraising event. Both have great food, drink, and music, all things I love.
Because I spend a long time in my power chair, and this can be uncomfortable, my perfect day begins between 9:30 and 10:00 with breakfast in bed. With the assistance of Wascana staff I get ready for my day. I need this support but adjusting to the lack of privacy in a large institution can be challenging. I find it frustrating when staff and other residents think they know everything about me.
I am currently working with the recreation coordinator at Wascana to come up with a volunteer placement that would bring together several of my interests.
I often say ‘just saying’ and several people in the Astonished! community have adopted this phrase.
The Next Chapter Book Club Facilitators, Morgan Campbell, Courtney Keith, Ashelee Longmore, Ella McIntyre, Janelle Thompson and Lindsay Torrie accept the Circle of Friends Award a the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards gala. (Photo: CTV)
Congratulations to Ella McIntyre, A! program staff, for recognition of her volunteer work with the Regina and District Association for Community Living Next Chapter Book Club. Ella is one of six women, book club facilitators, who received the YWCA Women of Distinction award in the Circle of Friends category. To read more
It is amazing how much chaos you can create through lies, deceit, and not checking your facts. Astonished! Core Members and friends witnessed just such chaos first hand. As guests of the Regina Little Theatre, they attended the dress rehearsal of Much Ado About Nothing. This was William Shakespeare with a twist. It is mind boggling to even begin to learn all your lines for such a performance and the actors carried it off without a hitch. Thank you to the Regina Little Theatre for sharing the evening with us.
Do you love people, technology, literacy, and learning? This could be the summer job for you. This is the third year for the Astonished Summer Literacy program and we are proud of the knowledge and skills we have developed together. The summer literacy program is designed to meet the specific strengths, dreams, and needs of the Core Members who participate in the program.
Astonished! is currently looking for a summer student to work with the Astonished! Program Coordinator to plan, implement, and evaluate our summer literacy program. This literacy program is open to all Astonished! Core Members and participation is limited to approximately 8 Core Members. The summer position would start the week of June 1st and would conclude the last week of August. Click here for job description and application. All applications due by April 24, 2015
What do you get when you take one Student Researcher, three Engineering students, two metal fabricators, and team them together in a design project? You get shared knowledge and expertise, you also get a remote control cup holder that works on a power wheel chair.
Fourth year Engineering students Marco Vargas, Mashari Alsulleman, and I.B. Alayyaf, and Astonished! Student Researcher Avery Ottenbreit (above photo), and Ian Matt and Mike McCormick of Anlin Welding and Steel Fabrication of Regina, created a unique remote control cup holder for Avery’s power chair.
Marco, Mashari, I.B., and Avery presented the design at the University of Regina’s annual Project Day. Click here to learn more about the process and the presentation. Thanks everyone for your shared work.
Edges and horizons have always fascinated me, lines that divide and lines that define. I live near the edge of the Astonished community. Long time friends have been midwives of this amazing vision. I listen from afar, and occasionally visit to receive stories of the struggles, the joys, the spirit and energy of this movement.
The Big Sky Centre for Learning and Being Astonished! How I love this name. Born from fierce love and passionate justice-making, Astonished continues to inspire awe and wonder. With a deep desire to create life-giving community, work and play for adult young people with complex physical disAbilities, this inclusive community is flourishing. It is enabling edges and horizons to shift and move and dance. The spirit shines in the photos on the website, the blogs, the stories online. It is abundantly clear that “dreams are being dreamed, strengths are being explored and the young adults with complex physical disAbilities are leading us all to a more authentically inclusive society”.
In the being/ the faces of all involved, but especially those of the core members, there is such an expression of groundedness and purpose. It is such a basic human need to know our place, to take our place and be affirmed in it. This is happening! And everyone who has been touched by Astonished is being encouraged to push edges, expand horizons and go further and deeper than we could ever have imagined.
This is why I have been a supporter of Astonished and will continue to be a cheerleader of this beautiful community.
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