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COR Supports
Meet The COR Family: Daymion Tyndale
Hello, I’m Daymion! I have a dual role at COR: SLP support worker and a facilitator of the Short Breaks program. I have been working at COR for about two years and have been enjoying it a lot! If I could describe my journey at COR in one word it would have to be continuous. COR has helped me realize who I am and made me realize that I am a leader and not a manager.
I first learned about COR from my brother, Stefan. He told me more about what COR was and how it would be a great fit for me and here I am! So far, Short Breaks have been one of my favourite projects. It helps me utilize my talents and skills as an individual who enjoys helping others and entertaining all at once. One of my proudest moments would have to be when the people we support begin to trust me and when they have their proud/successful moments. If you love working with people, have a lot of patience and would like to work for a company that truly cares about its people, then this is the place to be.
Fun facts about me:
I started reading “Be Water, My Friend” by Shannon Lee. I find that a lot of Bruce Lee’s teachings mirror Gentle Teachings.
My favourite quote is “If you have no confidence in yourself, you are twice defeated in the race of life.” – Marcus Garvey
My free time is spent either with my family and friends doing various activities or video gaming by myself. There may be an occasional book.
2nd Annual Prairie Sexuality and Disability Conference
COR is proud to host the 2nd Annual Prairie Sexuality and Disability Conference, in partnership with Saskatoon Sexual Health and Inclusion Saskatchewan. Join us in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on October 18-19, 2023.
For more information, visit: https://nevertmi.ca/psdcon/
Regina to Host the 2024 Gentle Teaching International Conference
The 2024 Gentle Teaching International (GTI) conference is the premiere gathering of people from around the world committed to providing positive and proactive support in health, mental health, disability and educational sectors. This event will mark the 23rd anniversary of the conference and will bring together 500+ participants over three-days from October 1-3, 2024. This conference presents a unique opportunity to learn about the research, best practices, case studies and lessons learned on creating and sustaining a culture of support for vulnerable populations in varied environments.
Gentle Teaching incorporates compassion as an alternative to the reactive and restrictive practices that are commonplace in working with vulnerable populations. Our central purpose is to nurture, teach, and sustain the experience of connectedness, companionship and community for those who have repeatedly experienced an existence of disconnectedness, isolation and loneliness.
Gentle Teaching is based on the premise that all individuals have a right to feel safe and valued in their homes; with their families and caregivers; and at their job, school, or other forms of meaningful day activities. Those who are most vulnerable require predictability and structure in their day. They also need to experience interactions from others that are overwhelmingly positive and uplifting (vs. critical and demanding). This is truly a cultural shift to, or in some cases a deepening of, those principles that provide a solid base for helping individuals experience companionship and connectedness. It serves as a foundation for other models of treatment or teaching specific to the needs of the individual.
COR and Gentle Teaching Canada are proud to host the Gentle Teaching International Conference in Regina, Canada on October 1-3, 2024. Visit the conference website to register and be the 1st to know when conference tickets go on sale!
Click Here for the GTI 2024 Conference Website.
Meet The COR Family: Morianna Fink
Hi, my name is Morianna, and I am with Mentorship & Outreach at COR. I’ve been with COR since 2009. I first learned about it through a friend of mine that I worked with at another organization which also provided support to people. My journey began as a direct support and very shortly after I became a Team Leader. Within that year, my position shifted into a Supportive Living Team Leader role, which eventually morphed into Supportive Living Coordinator. Fast forward maybe 5 or 6 years from then where I became part of the Mentorship & Outreach team and where I still am currently. Another aspect of my role has been facilitating some training that we offer. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to facilitate MHFA (Mental Health First Aid), Mandt, and presently Gentle Teaching and Coaching Skills.
When thinking of the proudest moment during the time I have been here, I find it very difficult to narrow it down to just one. There have been a lot of significant moments in my relationships with people at COR where I felt like I have made a positive difference (even in the smallest of ways), which has certainly made a great impact on me and hopefully on them as well! Working with people is all about creating meaningful interactions and creating new memories with each other and I am extremely grateful to be part of that.
If there’s something I could share with prospective candidates, I would say just be yourself. COR does a wonderful job helping to highlight people’s unique gifts and talents and helping people feel at home. While you’re there, be curious and seek to understand. Also, remember that it is more than okay to ask questions or for help when you need it. Everyone is always glad to help.
Fun facts about me:
My favourite book is a really beat-up, tattered old poetry book called Poems Worth Knowing by C.E Lewis. It was actually a textbook used back in the 1950s and 60’s and it belonged to my Dad. It is filled with some of the greatest American, British and Canadian poems from well over the past 100 years.
A quote that I have always loved is from William Blake. It is an excerpt from one of his poems…
“To See a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour”
While away from supporting, I enjoy writing, singing and practicing guitar playing. I love bonfires and connecting with family and friends and of course, hanging out with my cat Habanero.
Meet the COR Family: MacKenzie Nestman
Hello! My name is MacKenzie Nestman, and I am currently a Team Leader at COR. I have been with COR for a year and a half now! I first learned about COR through word of mouth from some amazing COR family members. I had the privilege to start my COR journey as a support for two young ladies. I was lucky to have supportive leadership and team members who were generous in sharing their knowledge and experience. After a few months as a support, I then applied for and moved into a Key Support position. I loved this role and spent just over a year in it, growing my confidence and experience in a leadership position. These ladies heavily influenced my passion for the disability sector, and I am currently studying at the University of Regina to continue serving the disability community. I started my team leader journey with two men in March of this year. Being a team leader and full-time undergraduate student has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. I wouldn’t change a thing. I am beyond thankful for the current team I have the privilege to lead and grow with. I am also a proud member of the 100 Acts of Kindness Club!
As mentioned, I am an undergraduate student at the University of Regina. I am finishing my first Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, and nursing is the next step on my education journey. I hope to be a nurse in the disability community and eventually a nurse practitioner. I am so thankful for COR and all the people I have had the opportunity to build relationships with. COR has helped me find my purpose and pursue my education in a direction that will help serve my passions! I am proud to say serving in the disability community will be my forever career.
Throughout my time as a support, I have had many opportunities to use my creativity and share my skills with others. One of my favourite personal projects was for an individual I served. I created a homemade video highlighting moments this individual shared with her support and family over the past year. This video means a lot to many different people. I can’t put into words what creating and gifting a video like this was. Moments like these are why I am so passionate about my work and show up every day. If I have the opportunity to make someone’s life a little bit better, I will do everything I can to make that happen. COR allows me to be creative, step outside my comfort zone, and share my unique strengths with others.
My proudest moments thus far at COR have been building trusting and loving relationships. I am keeping this answer broad because there are many things to be proud of. However, it all comes down to the safety and love I continue to nourish with my people and team. I tell others in the community that being part of the COR family is much more than a job. What happens in the lives of the people we support does not stop when we leave their homes at the end of the day. Supporting people, always being present, and nourishing gentleness is not my job; it is who I have become.
My biggest piece of advice for prospective COR candidates is to be yourself. I know that’s vague and may be straightforward, but I strongly believe finding ways to incorporate and share what you love with your future team and individuals is crucial. Sharing your interests helps create a sense of community, belonging, and trust with your individuals and team. I value how personal each team is, and it is because everyone that makes up a team is different and unique from one another. Letting these qualities shine through creates so much room for diversity and growth.
Fun Facts About Me
– I enjoy reading, especially non-fiction books! I love to learn in all capacities. One of my favourite books is You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero.
– Before my COR journey, I was an elite-level gymnast representing Team Canada. I competed at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo for a World Age Group competition in 2019.
– In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, working out, playing flag football, going on walks, travelling, listening to live music, and having picnics!