Our Latest News
Check out what’s been going on in our world!
Check out what’s been going on in our world!
Who is this?’ you might ask.
I am a woman. A mother. A wife. A teacher. A student. A friend. A professor. An adoptee. I am the daughter of hard-working farmers. I am tattooed. I am a self-identifying Indigenous woman. I am a writer. A storyteller.
So begins Brenda Rossow-Kimball, A! Board-Chair, in SKY Magazine: Living Well in Saskatchewan, Summer Issue 2016. To read ‘A Story of Acceptance’ click here.
As you browse the magazine you will also find an article about Astonished! by Bonnie Cummings-Vickaryous, A! Executive Director.
Thanks to Brenda, Bonnie, and Lynn Armstrong, SKY Magazine publisher.
Photo: Lynn Armstrong, Brenda-Rossow Kimball, Wilder Kimball
@ Tanys Rae Photography
Check out everything that is in bloom at Astonished! We are happy to share our spring 2016 e-newsletter………….
It is our pleasure to welcome Alykhan (Al) Bhanji to the Astonished! Board of Directors, effective June 1, 2016.
Al Bhanji is a 4th year Bachelor of Economics student at the University of Regina and he hopes to pursue his Masters in the same field in the same institution after he graduates next year. He has been volunteering consistently with Astonished! and hopes to continue to do so for many more years to come.
He is also an executive member (budget & planning) of the Best Buddies University of Regina Chapter (2016-2017). Al also volunteers as a facilitator with the Next Chapter Book Club (Inclusion Regina).
His passion and inspiration for volunteering in inclusive programs can be accredited and attributed to his father, Karim who encouraged Al from a very young age to engage and volunteer in programs that promote inclusion and foster care for all individuals from all walks of life.
Ever since learning about his grandfather’s partial paralysis which led to his untimely departure, Al has always had an endearing attitude and progressive mindset towards individuals and programs that comprise of an inclusive environment.
When not volunteering or at school, Al enjoys watching and playing tennis. His favorite player on tour being Stan “The Man” Wawrinka. Al is also a proud business owner. His company, West Star Agricultural Ltd owns farmland all across Saskatchewan that has been leased to local farmers. He purchased his first quarter section of land when he was 19 years old. Al hopes to one day apply his experiences and teachings from Astonished! to enhance the spirit of inclusion in Kenya, where he was born.
Photo: Pagan Racette, Al Bhanji, Paige Racette
Location, location, location is the mantra for real estate, it might also be one of the mantras for Astonished! Being situated at the University of Regina gives us many opportunities to interact with students, faculty, staff, and volunteers. We are seeing more capacity among University of Regina student volunteers and faculty in working and interacting in meaningful ways, both personally and professionally, with Core Members.
We are pleased that Kevin Ma chose Astonished! for his four month (May-August 2016) Fieldwork Placement. Kevin is completing his last semester in a Bachelor of Kinesiology, majoring in Human Kinetics at the University of Regina.
Katherine Taylor (A! Program Coordinator) is Kevin’s supervisor and a graduate of Kinesiology with a Human Kinetics major.
At the age of 15 Kevin and his older brother moved to Regina to study at Luther College. Coming from Hong Kong they chose Regina and Luther College because they wanted a city and school where the primary language was English and they would have lots of opportunity to speak English. A year later, Kevin’s brother graduated from grade 12 and went on to further studies in England. Kevin chose to stay in Regina and has been here for almost ten years.
Kevin first learned about Astonished! by attending Wings On Our Wheels~ Astonished in Flight with the Kinesiology Student Society.
Kevin is interested in learning more about and with Astonished! and exploring ways people with physical disAbilities can expand their physical and social activity. Three of his learning objectives are:
When asked about his strengths Kevin said ‘I am open-minded, I learned this from my parents, and growing up in the multi-cultural context of Hong Kong. My parents encouraged us to explore new things. I like finding new places, seeing new things. Sometimes, even though I have lived in Regina for ten years I still find some places that are new to me and I still find it fascinating. I am motivated to learn new things, listen to other people, and make new friends, this all helps to broaden my perspective.
We look forward to learning and working with Kevin.
It is Wednesday afternoon in a dance studio in the Kinesiology and Health Studies building at the University of Regina. The lights are low, music is softly playing, and occasionally a deep yawn or a sweet laugh can be heard as energy is released. This is the adapted yoga pilot project that is being offered by Rebekah Lindenbach and Ruth Blaser to the Astonished! Teaching and Learning Centre (A!TLC).
This is what Rebekah wanted to share about the adapted yoga pilot project:
I have been doing stretches, breathing exercises and meditation since I was about 7 years old. Ruth (my Auntie) has been doing Yoga for a few years, and sometimes a lot of it. She says it helps her. I think it does.
Ruth and I were listening to an interview with Bruce Kramer who lived with ALS. The podcast is called Forgiving the Body: Life with ALS. Bruce Kramer talks about feeling connected to his body and to others by doing Yoga, even though he couldn’t move.
Then we read a book by Matthew Sanford who was Bruce Kramer’s Yoga Teacher. His book is called Waking, A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence. Matthew Sanford is a Yoga Teacher and he is paralyzed from the chest down.
Ruth and I are learning that Yoga can help everyone no matter how your body moves or doesn’t. So far we know that yoga is about using the breathe to focus our minds, relaxing, practicing no judgment of what we or others can or can’t do, and being quiet together.
As one of my PATH goals I want to learn and teach others how to practice simple safe Adapted Yoga and see what happens. Ruth is on my learning and teaching team.
Thanks to everyone at A!TLC for being willing to participate in the Adapted Yoga Pilot Project.
B+W Photo by Jennifer Hunchak
On May 5, 2016, Kennen Dorgan and Silvia Franco, with the help of their families, did a fabulous job as the event planners for the Astonished! Teaching and Learning Centre Cinco de Mayo party. This was part of Kennen’s PATH plans.
Have you ever looked at a job descriptions for an event planner? Here are some of the requirements:
Kennen and Silvia did all of this and more. They even helped us with our Spanish pronunciations. If you want a taste of the party check out our Cinco de Mayo photos on Face Book.
You might also want to get a look at what we are calling ‘Piñata therapy‘.
Thanks Kennen and Silvia and your team for this fabulous event.
Photo: Silvia, Heather, Kennen, Carmen
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