Our Latest News
Check out what’s been going on in our world!
Check out what’s been going on in our world!
We are delighted that Jessica Opdahl chose Astonished! for her Health Studies field placement (Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies). Jessica is in her final year of Health Studies and hopes Occupational Therapy will be in her future. As part of her Health Studies degree Jessica has taken five courses in Indigenous Health Studies. This has helped her see health care and the wider world from different perspectives.
Jessica loves exploring unfamiliar places, whether in Canada, North America, or different continents. This past summer she travelled in Asia, spending time in the Philippines, Bali, and Vietnam. Although shy by nature, she likes to challenge herself, and sometimes travels on her own. In Asia, she was grateful for the opportunity to met new people, visit places unlike anything she had ever seen before, get through moments of culture shock, and carry many images of beauty and diversity into her daily life.
Jessica is getting comfortable with the Astonished! community, figuring out where she fits and what she can contribute. She is excited to learn, be involved with, and see what happens throughout her field placement. We look forward to discovering this together. Welcome Jessica.
Did you know the chicken dance was composed in the 1950’s in Switzerland? And even more surprising, did you know many of the Astonished! community can rock the chicken dance? Under the guidance of teacher and choreographer, MacKenzie Drumm, Astonished! hosts the A! Dance Project several times a year. On Thursday evening, July 27th, we rocked it in the dance studio at the Riddell Centre, University of Regina. The chicken dance was a surprise introduction, in the midst of pop, country, hip-hop and other music. Thanks MacKenzie for leading the A! Dance Project in an evening of dance fun, and thanks to the Community Initiatives Fund for your support of the A! Dance Project. And of course the chicken dance must be followed by late-lunch! To see more photos from the evening………
We are happy to welcome Jill Dempsey and Alix Norum, our 2017 summer students in the A! Summer Literacy program.
Jill Dempsey is going into her second year of Arts Education at the University of Regina, with a concentration in visual arts. However, this will be her sixth year in post secondary. She completed a general studies diploma in Psychology and Sociology from, Lethbridge College. Jill was born in Regina then moved to Lethbridge, Alberta. She hopes to one day be an Art Therapist! To learn more about Jill…..
“I have a passion to help people, including myself, learn and enjoy learning. I think this is a fantastic opportunity for me and for A! Summer Literacy Students to be challenged and encouraged to succeed. I hope to become an art therapist and this is a chance for me to to put some theory into practice. I want to become more aware of the Ability in DisAbility. To every endeavour I bring my spunk.” (Jill Dempsey)
Alix Norum is going into her fourth year of Therapeutic Recreation in the Kinesiology faculty. She spent the past two summers at Camp Easter Seal as a camp counsellor and program counsellor and she is very excited to be the chapter president for Best Buddies at the University of Regina for the 2017-2018 school year. She is originally from Tisdale and enjoys spending her free time at her cabin at Greenwater Lake Provincial Park both in the summer and winter. To learn more about Alix ………
“I am excited to get to know the A! Summer Literacy Students. I look forward to learning about their hopes and dreams, and supporting them in achieving their literacy goals. I like trying new things. I bring my patience, listening skills, and my enthusiasm, and look forward to working with the Core Members of Astonished, the program coordinator, and varying volunteers.” (Alix Norum)
Welcome Jill and Alix.
Thank you to the Saskatchewan Community Initiatives Fund and to HRSDC Canada Summer Job granting program for their support of the A! Summer Literacy program.
PHOTO: Jill Dempsey and Alix Norum
When Lois Adams completed her long and successful career at the University of Regina she developed a generous, thoughtful, forward-thinking way to direct the funds remaining in her Accountable Professional Expense Account (APEA). Lois requested that an Astonished! Student Research FOAPAL be created. FOAPAL is the acronym used to identify the Fund, Organization, Account, Program, Activity and Location of U of R funds.
The purpose of the Astonished! Student Research FOAPAL is to support research and develop competency in research activities that enhance knowledge specifically in the study of inclusion and diverse abilities.
At a recent Astonished! Program Advisory Committee meeting Astonished! agreed to offer partial financial support to one Astonished! Student Researcher, and one U of R Student, to co-facilitate with Dr. Randy Johner at the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, October 9-11, 2017. They will be presenting the research video ‘Inclusivity Unmasked’.
This support was made possible through the Astonished! Student Research FOAPAL
When an individual leaves the University, their remaining (prorated) APEA balance is returned to a central pool of funds for APEA budgets unless Financial Services is otherwise directed. Prior to leaving the University, an employee with unused APEA funds now has the option to request their APEA balance be transferred to the Astonished! Student Research FOAPAL.
We encourage employees at the University of Regina who are close to retirement to consider directing their remaining APEA funds to the Astonished! Student Research FOAPAL, or consulting with us about funding research opportunities.
Thank you Lois Adams, you inspire us, we are indeed Better Together!
We are currently looking for two energetic individuals to join our Program Coordinator to plan, implement, and evaluate a summer literacy program. These are full-time employment opportunity to be a part of our Astonished! Summer Staff.
Please send a cover letter and resume to BCV@beingastonished.com with the subject ‘Summer Employment’.
For details and application click here….
Get your application in by 12:00pm on May 8th, 2017!
Inspiration: the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. Our April newsletter is filled with stories and events that we hope will inspire you. You can read it here.
PHOTO A! Student Researchers L-R: Avery Ottenbreit, Rebekah Lindenbach, Kennen Dorgan, Kelsey Culbert, Kaitlyn Hoar, Sean Davis
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