Flapjack Flipping Fun

Posted on By Communications Team

Yahoo! Thursday, July 14 was the DDRC’s annual Stampede Breakfast, and we had a rootin’-tootin’ good time!

We are excited to say that we served 800 breakfasts, and raised more than $1,000 thanks to the generosity of our wonderful guests! Chickweed, a great local band, had people up and dancing during the entire event. Everyone was excited to see the Stampede Queen and Princesses, the Stampede Indian Princess, and Star the pony and Diane from Horses R Cool come by to visit. We were also thrilled that a number of provincial politicians attended our Stampede Breakfast and chatted with our guests, including MLAs Leela Aheer, Greg Clark, Deborah Drever, Richard Gotfried, Sandra Jansen, Brian Malkinson, and Angela Pitt; Minister Irfan Sabir; and Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

There was even a pancake flipping competition between Greg Clark and Nenshi:

We’d like to say a special thanks to Sarcee Plaza Starbucks for their generous coffee donation, and Tree of Life Canada for their generous pancake mix donation. We are also grateful to the Stampede Promotion Committee for providing a western welcome to all of our guests.

Here are some highlights from the day:

Planting Day at the Rutland Park Community Garden

Posted on By Communications Team

June 3 was planting day at the Rutland Park Community Garden, and the DDRC Gardening Club did a great job! This year, we’ll be growing a “salad garden,” with a wonderful assortment of fresh strawberries, lettuce, parsley, oregano, radishes, red cauliflower, and more!

Check out the work of our avid gardeners:

 

Morgan at the Juno Awards

Posted on By Communications Team

Back in February, we told you about how Morgan from our PACE team had earned the opportunity to volunteer at the Juno Awards Gala on April 2, 2016. Here’s what she had to say about the experience:

My experience was amazing! It was my first time ever at the Juno Awards, and it was an experience of a lifetime. I was a volunteer welcoming the guests and celebrities as they entered the reception and ceremony. After I finished volunteering, I got to watch the ceremony from backstage with Kim [Community Resource Worker]. Before the Juno Awards, I had to go to two meetings to learn about the rules. My favourite part was when Justin Bieber won the Fan Choice Award.

Inside Out Theatre Visits the DDRC

Posted on By Communications Team

Employees and clients were treated to two workshops run by Calgary’s Inside Out Theatre. The workshops were facilitated by Jeremy Park and Michelle Brandenburg from Inside Out, and offered an introduction to acting basics like movement and improvisation. Activities included connecting emotions with movements, having an emotional reaction to a situation, and creating a short skit with a partner.

For Park and Brandenburg, acting workshops provide individuals with disabilities a chance to take risks in a safe space and explore their creativity.

“I love when the impulse to take a risk overpowers the impulse to remain internalized,” Brandenburg said. “Performance training helps with so many foundational learning skills like public speaking, eye contact, being comfortable, having the ability to think on your feet, and problem solving.”

Park added that being able to express oneself in a safe space can lead to encouraging results. “When you can put yourself out there, take that risk, and have it validated by a group, that’s a form of positive reinforcement that can stay with you outside of these walls,” he said.

Col Cseke, the artistic director of Inside Out, explained that the company “offers theatre classes to adults with disabilities that foster a love of theatre, the joy of community, and the rewards of self-confidence.”

For more information about Inside Out Theatre, visit their website.