Blog – Page 19 – The Big Sky Centre for Learning and Being Astonished Inc.

Celebrating Volunteers

January 13, 2016/0 Comments/in Events, Volunteers

How do you define ‘volunteer’? This is a situation where the dictionary definition misses the mark. There are no dictionaries that include ‘relationship’~ ‘mutual benefit’ ~ ‘fun’ ~ ‘creative’ ~ ‘generous’ but all of these words can describe volunteers and their experience at Astonished! In the photo above Brenda and Kennen are discussing their A! volunteer photography practice. Astonished! volunteers develop and share skills in the Astonished! Teaching and Learning Centre, participate in Social Club activities, are members of committees, help raise funds, serve on the A! Board of Directors, partner in research projects, and so much more.

We could not do what we do without the generous support of volunteers. On Wednesday, January 13th we hosted a wine and cheese party to say THANK YOU. To see photos from this evening please click here…..

Creating Memories

January 11, 2016/0 Comments/in Core Member, Social Club

It takes time and commitment to grow a community where we can both remember and create new memories. On Friday January 8, 2016 the Astonished! Social Club both remembered and created memories. We sat in circle for a minute of silence to remember Mark Mould, one of our Astonished! Core Members who has gone on, then we shared stories of remembrance and said we miss you Mark Mould. Mark loved a good time, he would have loved that we also had great visits, played crazy games, and made more memories. Check our FB page to see photos from this evening……..

Here We Come

January 5, 2016/0 Comments/in Events

It is a new year and in only two months we will be celebrating the 4th Annual Spring Fundraiser, Wings on Our Wheels ~ Astonished! In Flight. This is a fabulous event for all ages. We hope you will join us on Saturday March 5th, 2016, 6:30-9:00 at 4720 Castle Road, St. Martin’s Parish Hall, Regina, SK. We are beginning with a Champagne Reception at 6:30. For more details…….

Photo: Jonah & Gabi Lindenbach

Celebrating IDPD 2015

December 3, 2015/0 Comments/in Events, News

Every year on December 3rd people all around the world celebrate the UN International Day of Persons with DisAbilities (IDPD). It aims to increase public awareness, understanding, and acceptance of people with disAbilities, and celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disAbilities. This year’s theme is Inclusion Matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities.

We at Astonished! are joining in celebrating this day! Over the past couple of weeks we have had two events to commemorate this special day: an awareness day with popcorn sales, and our first annual Walk and Roll. We have been so fortunate to have the help from a group of Kinesiology students who are in Dr. Brenda Rossow Kimball’s KIN 342 class “Developmental Disability and Well Being.” Part of their class requirements were to partner with an organization to raise awareness of IDPD and of the partner organization. This group, Kaili Gilroy, Chelsea Jones, Kaylee Giesbrecht, and Anne Tomyn, set up a booth in the Riddell Centre at the University of Regina and offered popcorn along with information about IDPD and Astonished! While they were set up in the Riddell Centre, they also accepted donations which they contributed to their Walk and Roll team. In total, this group raised $465 for the Walk and Roll fundraiser and also raised awareness of IDPD and Astonished! Thank you!

Astonished! is also celebrating IDPD by having a party at the Owl on December 3^rd from 2:30 until 4:00. If you are interested, please come and share in a toast to IDPD!

Photo: Anne Tomyn, Kaylee Giesbrecht, Kaili Gilroy, and Chelsea Jones

We Walked and Rolled

November 30, 2015/0 Comments/in Events

Students in Dr. Brenda Rossow Kimball’s Kinesiology 342 (Developmental Disability and Well Being), at the University of Regina, have the opportunity to put their learning into practice. Student groups partner with community groups to recognize the International Day of Persons With DisAbilities. Seven students: Kyla Bassingthwaite, Hollie Freund, Morgan Holmen, Corrie Van Burgsteden, Veronica Jack, Olga Koberts, and Tasha Gray partnered with Astonished! to create and deliver our first ever Walk and Roll event. We were all able to ‘take part in a sports and leisure opportunity’ which is one of the rights identified in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisAbilities.

It was a steep learning curve for all of us; but with the help of eight fabulous fundraising teams, great staff support, generous donors, and sponsorship from the Queen City Kinsmen Association and The Owl we had a great day on November 29, 2015 and raised 5% ($10,000) of our annual budget. Thank you to everyone who made this event a success. Please check out the photos from our event………

Photo: Between a Walk and a Hard Place team members – Hollie Freund, Morgan Holmen, Corrie Van Burgsteden, and Kyla Bassingthwaite.

November News e-newsletter

November 18, 2015/0 Comments/in E-newsletter

Our bi-monthly newsletter is a great way to get all of the news in one place. We hope you enjoy reading the November News. The newsletter is free and can be sent directly to your inbox. To subscribe please click here.

Photo: Kelsey Culbert, Rebekah Lindenbach, Kennen Dorgan, Dr. Vianne Timmons, Pascal Erickson, Kaitlyn Hoar. June 2015, signing of MOU with the University of Regina

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We Walked and Rolled

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