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Kennen’s Blister Sisters, Walk and Roll 2025
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Get Ready to Walk & Roll!It’s time for the 12th Annual Astonished! Walk & Roll, and we are excited to bring our community together once again!
The Astonished! Walk & Roll is our annual fundraising campaign and one of our most important fundraisers of the year. Funds raised directly support Astonished! programs and opportunities for young adults with complex physical disabilities, helping us continue to create spaces for connection, learning, recreation, wellness, and community participation.
The 2026 Walk & Roll campaign runs from October 12 to December 5, culminating in our Walk & Roll celebration on December 5.
There are lots of ways to get involved! Start or join a team, invite friends and family to participate, make a donation, share our campaign on social media, or help spread the word in your community. Every team, donation, share, and conversation makes a difference.
Last year, our incredible Astonished! community raised $46,000, and we can't wait to see what we can accomplish together this year!
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Interested in participating?
Ready to Walk & Roll with us? Click here to register!
Watch our social media and website for weekly challenges, team updates, and lots of Walk & Roll fun throughout the campaign.
Together, let’s Walk & Roll for Astonished!
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A Summer to Remember at Astonished!Summer at Astonished! was busy, fun, and full of opportunities to learn, connect, explore our community, and try something new. From Summer Literacy and gardening to outdoor adventures and Social Club gatherings, there was something happening all summer long!
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Summer Literacy
Our Summer Literacy Program welcomed 17 Core Members this year!
Together, the group read If at Birth You Don’t Succeed by Zach Anner and used the book as one part of a summer filled with conversations, activities, and learning about topics that connect to everyday life.
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Throughout the program, Core Members explored AI technology, including how AI works, its benefits, and some of its challenges and risks. Other topics included environmental literacy and climate advocacy; social media safety and the pros and cons of different platforms; exercise, movement and goal setting; self-care and boundaries; friendships and networking; and how small habits can lead to big changes.
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Courtney, Amel, Kelsey, Yashvi, Logan
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It was a great summer of learning together, sharing perspectives, asking questions, and making connections between literacy and the world around us.
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Getting Out & About with Outdoor Adventure Our Big Sky Outdoor Adventure program kept us busy exploring Regina and making the most of summer!
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Paige & Daniel @ Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
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Astonished! Crew @ I Love Regina Day
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Our adventures included Bazaart, a Backyard Movie Night, a community scavenger hunt, Paint & Picnic at Wascana, Pizza in the Park, Queen City Ex, the Summer Bash Market, Campfire Night, and I Love Regina Day. We had also planned an evening at a Red Sox game, but unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans!
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Paige & Pagan @ Summer Bash Market
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Carter & Megan @ Pizza in the Park
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These outings are about much more than simply getting out of the house. They create opportunities for friendship, community participation, new experiences, and—of course—a lot of fun.
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Logan & Amanda @ Campfire Night
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Thank you to the City of Regina Sport and Recreation Stream grant for supporting the Big Sky Summer Outdoor Adventure.
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Growing Together in the Garden of Wellness Creativity and nature came together throughout the summer in our Garden of Wellness.
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Core Members participated in activities including plant label making, solar paper art, crystal sun catchers, clay nature impressions, pressed flower jars, tie-dye tote bags, birdhouse painting and pinecone bird feeders, nature painting, bingo and meditation, rock painting, and creating nature mandalas.
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Rebekah & Nathan with their art pieces
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Amel, Lexie, Sophie, Cass, Saydi
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The Garden of Wellness provided a wonderful space to slow down, be creative, spend time outside, and connect with one another.
Social Club Summer Fun
Our monthly Social Club gatherings kept the fun going all summer! We went bowling in June, enjoyed a shopping day at the mall in July, gathered for the Annual Astonished! BBQ in August, and welcomed fall with a visit to the Victoria Square Community Market in September.
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Zoe & Courtney @ Mall Day
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Anna, Oaklynn, Nile, Charlotte at the A! Annual BBQ
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Social Club continues to be an important opportunity for Core Members to maintain friendships, try different activities, and simply enjoy being together.
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Brenda, Rebekah, Blessing, Ruth
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Amanda. Jerome, Elisa @ Victoria Square Community Market
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Hello, Fall!
Summer may be over, but things certainly haven't slowed down at Astonished!
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Jerome & Johnson cooking hotdogs @ Candy Cane Park
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The Astonished! Teaching and Learning Centre (A!TLC) started up again in September, and we were excited to welcome back our Student Researchers for the fall semester. We are immersed in a new semester of learning, friendship, and collaboration.
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Paige, Cass, Saydi, Dennis, Sophie, Kennen
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A!TLC crew @ The Study Bar & Grill
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There is already lots to look forward to this fall! Plans include opportunities to collaborate with KIN 331 around adaptive sport, a visit to the corn maze, our new Fall Soup Day, and plenty of seasonal and holiday fun.
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Jerome, Johnson, Rebekah, Blessing @ Momentum Cafe
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Paige making a wrapped Medicine Wheel for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
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We are excited to see what the rest of 2026 has in store. Thank you to our Core Members, families, Student Researchers, staff, volunteers, supporters, and community partners who continue to make Astonished! such a vibrant community.
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Kelsey on Zoom being interviewed by Master's Students in Sweden
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Kathy from U of C visiting in A!TLC
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Allie, Kaitlyn, Angie, Kennen @ the Riddel Centre
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Here’s to a wonderful fall ahead!
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Courtney Frank Hi! My name is Courtney Grace Frank, and I am 32 years old.
I enjoy going to Sir Dance-A- Lot, bowling, swimming, and watching movies with my roommate. I also really like food—especially my mom’s cooking!
Right now, I am most excited about the move into my new house on October 5. This has been a long time coming, and I am very proud of it. I am looking forward to moving in all of my furniture and enjoying my new space.
I am especially excited about my new walk-in closet. I will be able to roll into my closet and look around to see what I want to wear. My previous closet cauld not hold all of my outfits, so I am looking forward to having a bigger closet where I can see and enjoy my clothes.
At Astonished!, I especially enjoy Summer Literacy and Garden of Wellness. I like Summer Literacy because I get to spend time on campus with my friends and enjoy a good read. At Garden of Wellness, I enjoy watching the plants grow and seeing the progress we make. I also enjoy participating in the fun activities at the garden.
Outside of Astonished!, I enjoy Friendship Club, Sir Dance- A -Lot, and going to Cosmopolitan Learning Centre.
One of my goals for the future is to plant my own garden at my new house. I would like to grow flowers and make the garden my own.
Something people might be surprised to learn about me is that I am a prankster! I like to prank people and joke around. Sometimes, when I go out for activities, I tell people that my mom is going to be there—even when she is not!
I am excited for this new chapter in my life and for all the memories I will make in my new home.
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Growing Gratitude Thank YouOur Grow Gratitude Fundraising Campaign wrapped up at the end of August, and as we reflect on the campaign, we are once again reminded of the incredible community that surrounds Astonished!
Although we did not reach our fundraising goal this year, we are incredibly humbled by the generosity, kindness, and support we continue to receive.
At Astonished!, we know that generosity takes many forms. It comes through financial donations, words of encouragement and praise, the sharing of knowledge and mentorship, and the friendship, kindness, and love that so many people generously give. Every act of support, big or small, makes a meaningful difference.
The Grow Gratitude Campaign raises important funds that help sustain Astonished! programs, creating opportunities for connection, learning, belonging, and meaningful experiences for young adults with complex physical disabilities.
While the campaign may have ended in August, our gratitude continues year-round. We are so fortunate to be surrounded by a community that believes in our work and demonstrates its support in countless ways.
To everyone who donated, encouraged, shared, mentored, celebrated, or simply believed in what we do thank you! We are truly grateful for all the ways you give.
Together, we continue to demonstrate what it means to be Better Together!
With gratitude - Bonnie
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University of Regina Placement Students
Each semester, Astonished! has University of Regina students join our team. It is a mutually beneficial opportunity to learn together.
We are happy to introduce you to Logan Selinger and Landon Sawden!
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Logan SelingerHello, my name is Logan! I’m currently in my fourth year and final semester of the Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Regina, and I am completing my major practicum placement with Astonished! I have always worked within the field of disability, and I plan to carry my experience and unique talents into my time at Astonished!
I also plan to bring all the new lessons I learn at this placement into wherever my future social work career takes me! I believe whole-heartedly in creating inclusive environments, advocating for accessibility, and adopting a strengths-based and person-centred approach.
So far, I have really enjoyed my time at Astonished! I really appreciate how welcome I have been made to feel by the lovely staff and Core Members of the program! I am enjoying learning about the values and goals of the program, establishing new relationships with Core Members, and learning about their unique goals.
Being included as a part of the Astonished! Team has been wonderful and I cannot wait for the next few months ahead!
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Landon Sawden
Hello, my name is Landon. I am a social work student at the University of Regina, in my final year. As I sit here writing, I cannot believe I am finally able to say this. Most students take about 4 years to complete an undergrad degree, but it took me 10 years to get here. Through dedication, hard work, perseverance and the right support system, I am finally nearing the end of my degree.
Since 2015, Astonished! has been part of my support system, supporting me as a degree-seeking student by giving me time to work on assignments and improving my literacy skills. In 2021, I decided it was time to leave Astonished! so I could focus on completing my degree.
I am currently doing my mini practicum with Astonished!. I have learnt so much from the Core Members and how the program functions. I am excited to keep learning more about the strengths-based and person-centred approaches. I plan to carry forward what I am learning from the Astonished! Core Members and staff into my practice as a future social worker.
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Holiday Feast - Save the Date
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Thank You
We are thankful for our collaboration with the City of Regina. Astonished! receives funding from the City of Regina Social Development Grant - to partially fund the Social Club.
In the letter accompanying the grant, the city wrote “Your program provides supportive, meaningful, and accessible social, recreational, and cultural activities to young adults with complex physical disabilities. The committee acknowledged that your program responds to a great need in community and aligns strongly to the City’s social development priorities.”
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Thank You
Thank you, Fidelity Investments, for supporting the work of Astonished through a generous donation to support our overall programs.
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Thank You
Thank you to our volunteers. You helped to make this semester fly.
Volunteers: Eden Ignatescu, Anna Tcherni, Jorja Orth, Robyn Coleman, Julianna Gaudreau, Sophie Lipoth
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University of Regina
3737 Wascana Parkway
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Regina, | S4S 0A2 CA |
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