Introducing an exciting new initiative between COR and SAI: Our First Ever Caregiver Exchange! Interested Supports are encouraged to contact Melanie or Jim for more details!
In celebrating our fifth anniversary, COR’s Board of Director’s and Management Team took time to reflect on our efforts to forge out meaningful opportunities for people experiencing disability in Regina, SK. If you have ever wondered what COR’s Vision, Mission and Values Statements are, look no further!
COR will foster a culture of gentleness by nurturing authentic relationships, embracing diversity and supporting people to live the life they choose.
COR develops innovative support that facilitates opportunities for personally meaningful growth and interdependent relationships where people feel safe and valued.
Over the course of my time supporting at COR, I noticed that with different supports came different quality of foods being prepared. I know, I know this is a strange thing to notice. But for a foodie like me (one who loves to eat and cook!) it raised a few questions. I knew that we were supporting our individuals and friends relationally and emotionally, but I continued to question whether or not we were physically equipping them with healthy options for meals and snacks. Perhaps though a greater question was looming in my mind: Do all the supports know the basic’s of cooking?
After a couple conversations with Michael Lavis and a few months of pondering how to get started, I threw caution to the wind and hosted a night of food and fun at my house. It began with my team! There were six of us in attendance and the meal plan was set!
It was my goal to create a four course meal, that could easily be transformed into several different meals by making slight adjustments in cooking techniques.
APPETIZER: Guacamole & Chips
We picked this as a healthy snack alternative. This 5 ingredient dip is not only simple to make but a healthy alternative to a store bought dip. The dip also pumps a person full of nutirents and helps fill you up more than a traditional cream based dip.
SALADS: Coleslaw and Potatoe Salad
These are two salads that are staples to any summer picnic. I picked these salads to make as a healtier alternative to store bought dressings and premade salads. It was a great way to show supports that both salads have the same ingredients but by adding relish, the coleslaw dressing is transformed into a dressing that defines potatoe salad.
MAIN COURSE: Chicken Shishkabobs and Rice
Using the ingredients for chicken shishkabobs I was able to explain how cooking them in a different way (on the stove top) you could easily make a stirfry. The marinade then becomes a sauce when boiled over the stove.
DESSERT: Chocolate Brownie with icing
My mama told me that dessert is for when friends come over: case and point!
We had a blast! It was fun to learn together, laugh together and make mistakes together. Cooking doesn’t have to be scary and when done with friends it lends itself to be more than a meal, it becomes a memory.
If you are interested in participating in another COR Support cooking class, watch for emails and updates on the COR Facebook page and from your Team Leaders. This is a great way to get connected within COR and get a free meal out of it as well!
Ben, COR Support
In 500 words or less what makes me love working at COR…well how about in one word, “Family”. I am a very casual employee at COR. On average, since I started in August 2011, I have worked nine hours a week with Jarrod. But since August 2011 those nine hours a week have provided some of my most cherished memories. What’s more, those nine hours a week have helped me stay connected to a community, and friends that are dear to me.
So in five hundred words, well actually a lot less; I love working at COR because the individual I support makes me feel like I am making a difference, like I am important to him and like our bond has developed organically beyond the roles of support and supported. I compliment the COR philosophy of Gentle Teaching, for my aforementioned feelings, because it reminds me that we can all thrive as individuals, in any situation, if we have autonomy and the freedom to choose.
Mike J. Fox said, “Family is not just a thing, it is everything!” I echo these words about my own Family: my wife and son; my mom, brother and sister; my amazing friends and colleagues; and my main hombre, homie and friend for life – Jarrod, who all mean the world to me.
Said differently, an understanding that family is everything, by working very hard to make you a member of its family and instilling a model of support that creates the feeling of family, is what makes COR different.
Troy, COR Support
When joining the team at Creative Options Regina (COR) I had no idea what I was getting involved in.Everything I knew about COR consisted of knowing I would be working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, that I would be there to help improve their quality of life and to help these individuals through their day as a support person. After six months at COR I have realized that this kind of work goes well beyond what I initially believed I would be getting into. As stated by COR itself, we as support workers follow two ideals: “first, giving each person a sense of feeling safe and loved with their caregivers as companions, and second, helping individuals to express love to others, both in the COR community and in the greater community.”
Working other jobs, such as retail or customer service, I was able to distance myself as an individual after I left work; with COR this is not the case. The individuals I support in COR have taken on a role in my life, as well as I have theirs. When I am not supporting the individuals I am usually with, I often find myself wondering what they are doing that day, how their day is going and even missing spending time with them. This kind of relationship goes far beyond that of a working relationship. It becomes a friendship. As with any kind of friend you want to see them lead a good life, make good choices, and improve as an individual; these are all qualities closely related to the ideals followed by Gentle Teaching.
It is because of the friendship I have developed with the individuals I support that I believe I maintain a culture of gentleness. I treat the individuals I support the same way I would treat anyone in my life; with patience, tolerance, compassion and happiness. I am able to joke around and have fun with the individuals I support the same way I interact with my friends outside of COR. This is a special relationship that helps us create a healthy environment for these individuals to thrive and grow. Being able to view the individuals within COR in this light is what makes us different from other organizations that use physical restraints, consequences, and the use of reward and punishment for behavioural interventions. If we used these traditional practices it would hamper the kind of friendship that develops over time with the practice of Gentle Teaching and I would not be a capable support person or friend to the individuals I spend time with. It is because of the Gentle Teaching philosophy that I have come to love my time with COR and look forward to the time I spend with the people I support.
Kelly, COR Support
Each year in the Queen City, COR facilitates meaningful summer opportunities intended to explore our beautiful Regina and surrounding area. Participants are challenged to participate in new recreational and leisure activities along side friends and supports.
From June to August, COR’s Summer Adventure activities include: kayaking, sailing, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, camping, nature trekking, Geo Caching, urban BBQ’s, outdoor sports, exploring urban and provincial parks, festivals and celebrations to name a few.
Participation is open to COR individuals, supports, family and friends.
Feeling up to the challenge? You can download COR’s Summer Adventure Program guide here.
@CORuchoose Ben, ruby and Michael had a great time flying today. #corsummer2014 pic.twitter.com/x70OygCbtT
— James Vickaryous (@JamesVickaryous) July 29, 2014
@CORuchoose sawyer may or may not know the distance bases should be. #corsummer2014 pic.twitter.com/IRtboNkej3 — James Vickaryous (@JamesVickaryous) July 30, 2014
@CORuchoose Chris just hit a single. #corsummer2014 pic.twitter.com/4DojnPr4ec
— James Vickaryous (@JamesVickaryous) July 30, 2014
@CORuchoose Garth made it out to pet the owl. #corsummer2014 pic.twitter.com/oGBTOr6JUG — James Vickaryous (@JamesVickaryous) July 18, 2014
@CORuchoose the crew of 14 is almost ready to ROCK!!! #corsummer2014 pic.twitter.com/Tsej468tMS
— James Vickaryous (@JamesVickaryous) July 11, 2014
@CORuchoose Angie is in her own boat. #1sttime #excited #corsummer2014 pic.twitter.com/FRsrpfgxXd — James Vickaryous (@JamesVickaryous) July 11, 2014
@CORuchoose lunch time BBQ a success. We have 22 people come out. #corsummer2014 pic.twitter.com/pYCzWn1RJU
— James Vickaryous (@JamesVickaryous) July 11, 2014
@CORuchoose Andrew and Angie, closing down Wednesdays BBQ!! #CORsummer2014 pic.twitter.com/ejMf8eJsV9 — Christine Heffernan (@c_heff81) July 11, 2014
For people being supported by services it is not person-centred planning that matters as much as the pervasive presence of person-centred thinking.
If people who use services are to have positive control over their lives, if they are to have self-directed lives within their own communities then those who are around the person, especially those who do the day to day work, need to have person centred thinking skills. Only a small percentage of people need to know how to write good person centred plans, but everyone involved needs to have good skills in person centred thinking; in the value based skills that underlie the planning.
In an effort to strengthen the person centred thinking skills of our supports and leadership team, COR has partnered with HSA Canada to further mentor our organization in deepening our person-centred culture. With this unique partnership, Julie Malette (HSA Canada) is mentoring both COR, and our partner SAI (Saskatoon), to establish provincial trainers/mentors in Person Centered Thinking Skills. Together we are striving for Person Centred change!
The “Sleepless in Seattle” Award
In Saskatchewan the month of April is often the most anticipated month of the year: the snow finally begins to melt and spring slowly makes its appearance. People everywhere just seem a little bit happier. Unfortunately, this year Mother Nature didn’t get the memo and the cold just kept on coming. So in lieu of spring’s arrival the fine people at Creative Options Regina chose to throw an Employee Appreciation Night, to lighten the winter blues.
In collaboration with the Gentle Teaching Symposium that was taking place in the city, a handful of us at COR set out to create a party atmosphere: bringing together both employees and guests to enjoy a few drinks, good food and great conversations. During the evening there was a buzz throughout the room—conversations were flying, laughter was boisterous: the energy was undeniable.
As part of a volunteer group of employees self-titled as the “Fun Club”, we set out to assist in planning social event’s within COR, for its employees and the individuals we serve. With our guests present there was no better time than to honor some of our own with employee awards. Not wanting our awards to be simply be accepted and then disposed of as soon as the winners walked into the front door of their homes: we thought that we would add some spunk and creativity of our own to the mix. In order to make things fair, we sent out the five categories and requested that fellow employees nominate those whom they thought deserving of the award. The categories, descriptions and victors are as follows:
And then there was one! A surprise award for Michael Lavis: to acknowledge all of his hard work and contribution to the organization as well as give a little praise, where praise is due. The award that Michael received was entitled, ‘The Sleepless in Seattle Award’: for getting the most done (and being successful at it) on the least amount of sleep. Did I mention that along with a small token of appreciation, came personalised tacky yet tasteful trophies? Embellished with ‘gold plated’, one of a kind figurines they were the envy of the ball.
The night was fun and with a great turnout of supports and guests it left everyone in anticipation for the next COR social gathering. If you want to join the ‘Fun Club’ pre-approved applications can be found by contacting Michael Lavis at michael@creativeoptionsregina.ca
Ben, COR Support
In an effort to support our government’s goal to make Saskatchewan the best place for people with disabilities to live, COR continues to develop personalized supports for our provinces most marginalized citizens, while collaborating with community partners to forge out new opportunities for our sector at large.
COR strives to be on the cutting edge of our sector in exploring growth and development opportunities for individuals supported, while too offering a unique work environment for our employees. By investing in professional development and enhanced training opportunities, COR’s aim is to develop a cadre of knowledgeable and deeply skilled mentors committed to the vision of our dear friend John: a systematic change toward a culture of gentleness.
Thank you to all the fellow community organizations, local businesses, community members and the Ministry of Social Services, Community Living Service Delivery for their continued support in allowing us to develop unique opportunities personalized to the people we serve; we are truly blessed to be in a community that recognizes the need for compassion in serving those most marginalized. A special thank you to all the families, support personnel, board members and individuals of COR for making each and every day truly special – you all continue to be our source of inspiration!
Michael Lavis,
Executive Director, COR
