|
|
14th Annual Astonished! Spring Gala
The 14th Annual Astonished! Spring Fundraiser, held on March 28th, was an incredible evening of connection, celebration, and community. We are so grateful to everyone who made the night a success—our generous supporters, product donors, and all who attended and participated in the evening’s activities. Your contributions directly support meaningful opportunities for our Core Members and help bring our programs to life.
| |
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our Core Members and their families, whose presence, energy, and support continue to shape the spirit of Astonished!. Events like this are a powerful reminder of what is possible when community comes together with a shared commitment to inclusion, belonging, and possibility.
| |
As we reflect on this special evening, we are already looking ahead with excitement. Please save the date for our 15th Annual Spring Fundraiser on March 20th, 2027—a milestone year that we can’t wait to celebrate with all of you!
| |
Thank you for being such an important part of the Astonished! community.
| |
| Astonished! Core Member Spotlight
| |
Paige Racette
My name is Paige Racette, and I’m 37 years old—although I still like to say I’m forever 25!! I really enjoy coming to A!TLC at the university because it gets me out of the house and keeps me busy. In the warmer months, I love getting outside, playing Pokémon Go, taking the city bus, and of course enjoying some ice cream and sunshine.
At Astonished!, I especially enjoy A!TLC and the Summer Literacy program. My PATH days are a highlight because I get to work on my YouTube channel and digital art. I’m proud of creating a photo album through my PATH and learning how to use Google Gemini with my group in Doug Cripp's Kin 241 class. Recently, I made Easter dinner with minimal help, which is something I am extremely proud of—now I’ve earned the yearly title of “Easter dinner bunny”!
Outside of Astonished!, I like going to Southland Mall, drawing, playing Pokémon on my Nintendo Switch, spending time with family, and getting into cooking. This past year was challenging as my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, but staying busy with my hobbies and being part of Astonished! really helped me through it.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to grow my YouTube channel and start livestreaming. You can check out my channel here. And one fun fact about me—I’m a twin, and I’m one minute older than my sister!
| |
A Look AheadAs we look ahead, summer at Astonished! is shaping up to be a season full of connection, growth, and adventure.
| |
Our Summer Literacy Program will once again run two afternoons a week at the University of Regina, led by our Program Coordinator and supported by our summer staff team. Core Members will come together to read and explore a shared book while building skills in comprehension and retention. Beyond traditional literacy, participants will also engage in important and meaningful areas such as social media literacy, technology, health literacy, and financial literacy. Core Members—please watch your email, as registration details and sign-up information will be shared shortly.
| |
|  |
Cass, Landon, Sean, Jamie
| |
| | |
We are also excited to welcome everyone back to the Garden of Wellness. The season will begin with a planting day in May, followed by weekly afternoon gatherings that blend hands-on gardening with nature- and art-based activities. In addition to scheduled programming, the garden will remain open for Core Members who wish to connect with a staff member and enjoy the space throughout the week.
| |
Big Sky Summer Outdoor Adventure will kick off in late June, bringing with it a lineup of weekly experiences under the summer sun and evening skies. From scavenger hunts and baseball games to pizza in the park, backyard movie nights, trips to the Queen City Ex, and local festivals—these moments are all about fun, friendship, and being part of the community.
| |
Our Social Club will continue throughout the summer as well, offering even more opportunities to gather, connect, and create shared experiences.
| |
If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring our summer programs, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to Bonnie at BCV@beingastonished.com.
We can’t wait to spend the summer together!
| |
Brenda Rossow-Kimball's Kin 341 Classs
This semester, the A!TLC crew were pleased to continue our partnership with Brenda Rossow-Kimball and her Kin 341 class at the University of Regina through a series of engaging and collaborative sessions.
| |
|  |
Sean playing adaptive hockey
| |  |
Jerome strolling the track
| |
| | |
Our first session took place in the classroom, where Kin 341 student groups had the opportunity to connect with a core member, learn about their interests, and begin designing adaptive physical activities tailored to their strengths and preferences. This was followed by a gym session where Core Members brought those activities to life—trying them out, providing feedback, and sharing in a fun, active environment.
| |
|  |
Kennen trying out the new Boccia ball equipment
| |  |
Dennis trying out the new Boccia ball equipment
| |
| | |
In April, we returned to the gym for a third session, where Core Members had the chance to explore and try out new Boccia equipment recently purchased by the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies. This hands-on experience not only introduced a new recreational opportunity, but also reinforced the importance of accessibility, creativity, and inclusive design in physical activity.
| |
|  |
Rebekah playing power soccer
| |  |
Paige playing adaptive flag football
| |
| | |
We are grateful for this ongoing partnership, which continues to create meaningful learning experiences for students while supporting engaging and personalized opportunities for our Core Members.
| |
|
A!TLC - PATH Days with Kin 241 Students
| |
|  |
Nathan making Friendship bracelets with his group
| |
| | |
This semester, we were excited to try something new with Doug Cripps and his Kinesiology 241 class in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina.
| |
Historically, Core Members who are part of the Astonished! Teaching and Learning Centre (A!TLC) are supported through weekly one-on-one or small group connections with staff, placement students, or volunteers—focusing on individualized goals, interests, and meaningful engagement. This semester, we piloted a new approach in collaboration with Doug’s class. Kinesiology 241 students were placed into small groups, with each group matched with a Core Member for the duration of the term.
| |
|  |
Rebekah & her group's Mosaic presentation
| |  |
Sean & his group making a Tiktok video
| |  |
Cass learned how to arm knit with her group
| |
| | |
This created a rich experiential learning opportunity for the university students, one grounded in relationship-building, listening, and learning directly from Core Members’ lived experiences. At the same time, Core Members benefited from consistent support as they explored activities of interest, worked toward personal goals, and built new connections.
| |
|  |
Kelsey making Valentine's candy bouquets with her group
| |  |
Paige setting up her Australia presentation
| |  |
| | |
The semester culminated in a wonderful showcase on April 8th, where each Core Member shared reflections on their group, and highlighted how they spent their time together. It was a powerful celebration of collaboration, growth, and the meaningful impact that comes from learning with and from one another.
| |
A! Social Club
Winter brought plenty of fun and connection, even during Saskatchewan’s frigid months when it can be easy to feel isolated. Our monthly Astonished! Social Club continues to create meaningful opportunities for gathering, building friendships, and staying connected.
| |
In January, we headed to a U of R Cougars Women’s Hockey game, cheering loudly from the stands. While the team came up just short, it was an exciting and memorable game for everyone.
| |
February had us laughing at the “Pass the Hat” Comedy Night at the Exchange, where Core Members enjoyed an all-female stand-up lineup, along with drinks and a lively, fun atmosphere.
| |
In March, we took in the new movie The Hoppers on the IMAX big screen. The consensus? A must-see and a great choice for the whole family.
| |
|  |
Crew waiting for the movie to start
| |  |
| | |
The Social Club continues to be shaped by what Core Members enjoy most, offering welcoming spaces where connection, joy, and a strong sense of belonging can grow.
| |
|
| Astonished! Placement Student Highlight
| |
Maddy Seida
Hi! My name is Maddy Seida and I am a fifth year Kinesiology student majoring in Human Kinetics.
This semester has been such a blast being a part of the Astonished! crew. Working within the Astonished! environment has been a completely new experience for me as someone who has previously had limited hands-on experience working with individuals with complex physical disabilities. However, since being a part of the team, I have learned a lot and enjoyed every second of the process. Something I love about Astonished! is the inclusive environment they create. Everyone is so warm and welcoming, which makes you feel comfortable enough to show up as the most authentic version of yourself.
Outside of being a student I love playing various sports. I played university basketball at the U of R for four years, and I am now playing on the U of R flag football team. I also enjoy reading and spending time with friends and family.
As the semester wraps up, I am thankful for the meaningful relationships I have built with Student Researchers and for the opportunity to contribute to an empowering and inclusive environment. My time with Astonished! has truly helped me to grow not only as a student or professional, but also as an individual, and I am excited to apply my learnings to my future endeavors.
| |
Alexandria Adrian-Bergen
Hi, my name is Alexandria Adrian-Bergen! I am currently completing my final semester of a Bachelor of Kinesiology, majoring in Human Kinetics, and joined Astonished! as part of my placement.
During my time here I have had the opportunity to connect with Student Researchers, Core Members, and the dedicated staff. Over the last four months, I have been able to build meaningful relationships while gaining a deeper understanding of inclusion, community, and the role that connection plays in people’s lives.
I have enjoyed my time with Astonished!. I especially appreciated being part of weekly programming, social club events, dance nights, and the 14th Annual Spring Gala. This placement has left a long-lasting impact on me personally and professionally. I will cherish this experience and carry it with me throughout my future.
Thank you for welcoming me this semester!
| |
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.”
| |
Thank You
Thank you, Fidelity Investments, for supporting the work of Astonished through a generous donation to support our overall programs.
| |
Thank You
Thank you to our volunteers. You helped to make this semester fly.
Volunteers: Sophie Lipoth, Hanny Panchal, Chloe Callaghan, Jinkal Jani, Tisha Barot
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
University of Regina
3737 Wascana Parkway
|
Regina, | S4S 0A2 CA |
|
