Profiles
Clancy Kuchinak
My name is Clancy Kuchinak.
My mom’s name is Vicki. My dad’s name is Adam. I have a brother, Jack. I have another brother, Ben. I have a twin sister, Marlee. I go and visit my cousins. I like visiting them. I go to St. Timothy Church. My Mom and Dad take me.
I love music. I like the Eagles and Queen. I like all of Queen’s songs. I went to a play called “We Will Rock You”. They sang Queen’s songs. I liked that. I also like the Spice Girls and I give thumbs up to the Back Street Boys. I’ve gone to two Eagle’s concerts.
I go to the sing-a-long at Options at Community Living Dufferin on Tuesdays. Andee, (staff) Eleanor, (volunteer) and Rick (volunteer) sing, play guitars and play the piano. Everyone who comes sings with them. I like to sing with the microphone. I like to dance too. Connie (staff) teases me and tells me I don’t like to dance; but I do! I also like to sing with a microphone. Last week I danced with Barb while Andy, Rick and Eleanor played their guitars. I had a good time dancing with her.
I have been a member of CLD’s Drama Club for a few years. Last year I was in “Beauty and the Beast”. I was also in “Hairspray” and in the “Lion King”. Last year Steve (Creative Partners on Stage) helped us. I liked working with him. He taught me new things. I am going to join this year’s Drama Club.
I go swimming with my friends from Options. The staff take turns taking us. I sometimes go with Matthew and Kirk. I like swimming.
I also go bowling with my friends from Options too. We go all the way to Guelph. They are very nice there. I give them thumbs up.
Yesterday I went to the spa in Options. Jodee (staff) painted my nails and then put silver glitter on top of the red nail polish. I like my nails now. I like Jodee.
I like to colour. I like to use crayons and paint. This morning in Options we coloured mandalas. I liked doing that.
Connie helps me to do things too. She is helping me with this interview.
I am always happy!
Jeff Horan
Hi my name is Jeff Horan
My foster Mum’s name is Hilda Jacob. My foster dad’s name was Weston. My Mum made my rug in my bedroom. She knits too. She made me a blanket for my bed. It is all different colours. She knits my sweaters and she knits my mittens. I think her Mum taught her. She is that good that she could be a professional. I love her!
I have a foster sister Kathryn. She is married to a doctor named Avi. They have four children. I am an uncle. Kathryn is good to me and I cook at her house and I sleep over at her house sometimes. She makes big meals. When my nephew moves out, I can have his room in her basement. That was a promise she made to me. She has a swimming pool and a hot tub. She has a dog named Leah. She is a cutie. She is a good dog. She is a black lab. I used to be terrified of dogs before they wanted a dog. Now that they have a dog, I am not paranoid about dogs anymore.
I have another foster sister named Valarie who lives in Calgary. She has two children, a girl and a boy. Valarie’s daughter is getting married. She invited me to the wedding. She is getting married in September.
I have a foster brother, Chris and he has two kids, Clare and Alexander. He lives in Waterloo. They usually come down and stay overnight. The kids have a bath when they stay. They have a bath at 8:00 o’clock and I want my bath at 8:00 o’clock! We argue about when to take the bath. So, now I have my bath in the morning.
My brother Chris and my sister Valarie both had a girl first and then a boy!
I used to go to Princess Elizabeth School and then I went to Orangeville District Secondary School.
Before Karen (staff) and Cindy (staff) worked at Rolling Hills (division of Community Living Dufferin), I worked at Rolling Hills as a Co-op student. I worked with the children with Leanne and Kerrilee (staff) in their classrooms. They were in Pre-school 1. The children would be four to six years old.
I also had a Co-op job at the Country Barbeque. I was a busboy. I cleaned the tables. I loved that job and I miss it. They moved and that is why I don’t work there.
Before that I worked at Harvey’s. I was a busboy there too. Sometimes on special occasions I would get to eat. I am not a fan of fries, but I ate the onion rings. I had lunch there sometimes.
I also worked at Commisso, a grocery store. It became Price Choppers. Commisso shut down. This was my first paying job. I worked in the produce section. I filled the bins when they got empty. I took the vegetables and fruits from the back out to the floor.
At Community Living Dufferin’s Volunteer Appreciation Evening I did a speech. I talked about my job at Rolling Hills. That was my first speech. I also had a back-up speech.
I have been at Rolling Hills for ten years. I got promoted to work in the kitchen at Rolling Hills. Penny (staff) taught me how to do the stuff in the kitchen and then after that I knew myself. I put the dishes away and help set up for lunchtime and afternoon snack. Today was my first time setting up for afternoon snack. I like doing the dishes. Sometimes I want to be lazy at Rolling Hills. Doing the work here is almost like being at home. I am going to take a course on food preparation. I am going to learn about food safety and then I can do more in the kitchen.
Tuesday I always get a ride to Rolling Hills and back home. I usually take the bus. I start at 9:00. Karen said I worked fast today because I knew Maureen was coming to interview me. I was ready early so I worked in Karen’s office. I had to do shredding of the documents.
I am a jokester. I like to tease people. Cindy (staff) and I tease each other. They called me the “Joker” at school.
Lorraine is my support worker and she is my cousin. Karen says I am almost like a brother. Karen says I tease her like a brother.
I am a lady’s man! A couple of times I used to have crushes on ladies. I want a girlfriend.
I want to be an actor and be on the soaps. I watch, “All My Children”, “One Life to Live”, and “General Hospital”. I would like to be a good guy. I would like to be someone cute and nice on “One Life to Live”. That is my most favourite soap. I love acting. I would like to be on Broadway and have my own cast. I would like to be a singer too. I love singing. I like pop and country. I like the Back Street Boys, N Sync, the Spice Girls, Reba McIntyre and Tim McGraw.
I am getting my own television soon for my Wii. You can play bowling and other games. I also like game shows.
I won a medal in bowling and I went to Oakville to play. The Special Olympics picked me to go to Oakville. I felt great about being picked and I want to do it again. We came in second. I got about three or four strikes.
One time I went with Cindy (staff) and her husband and I was dancing! It was so funny. When I bowled it went into the gutter and popped out and I got a strike ... two times in a row! It was so funny that I danced! I taught myself how to bowl.
Last year Cindy took me on a snowmobile. I was holding her tight and almost cut her circulation off. It was my first time. We went on jumps. Cindy and I hid from her husband, Trent and got ahead. We were racing. We saw him going and then we went faster and then he won. He had a shortcut way. I loved it and I want to go again. I liked the jumps and the bumping part. It scared me on the bumping part.
I think about Cindy the most. She takes me places and does stuff with me. We have gone out to dinner with Trent and their friend, Pudge. Cindy teases me. After we finish work, we talk. That is why I like to finish work fast. I like to talk and hang out with her.
My biggest wish is to have my own home. It would be a mansion with bowling alleys. I would like the television people to come in and do a reality show on me. I watch “Big Brother”. It is a reality show. I also want to be a host on a reality show. I would like to buy Rolling Hills and turn it into a reality show. I don’t know who would be on it. I won’t say, “You’re fired!” like Donald Trump.
I would also like to make a book about me. I would like it to have pictures in it and have videos of me singing.
I am proud about being able to have fun. I am proud about my sense of humour.
My New Year’s resolution is I want to be happy, joyful and make people laugh and I want to interview people.
Brenda Bovaird
Hi,
My name is Brenda Bovaird.
I was born in Brampton. My Mom’s name was Mary. I have a sister, Debbie and a sister, Faye. I have a brother, Bob. My cousin is named Frankie and I am going to her place. I think I am going there on Sunday.
I am going to a concert with my sister Debbie tomorrow. There is a person who wears a red and white hat. There is a ball right on the back and side of the hat. They sing and act.
I have a nephew, Jeffrey, who has a horse. I like the horse because he kissed me on the cheeks. That was so cute! Jeffrey has a girlfriend, Amanda, and she has a baby.
I have been coming to Community Living Dufferin since my sister, Debbie, brought me.
I go to the Options program on Tuesday and Thursday. I was painting there today. We are making a fence and I had to paint them white and black on the bottom. Jody (staff) showed me what to do. She helped me. I like painting.
I also like making the watering cans. I had to glue things on it. Anna (staff) likes flowers. She helped me glue them on the watering can. I like flowers. I don’t like real flowers because they make me sneeze. I like plastic flowers or paper flowers.
Mizue (friend) brings flowers in to CLD. She giggles sometimes. She likes baseball. I don’t like baseball. I like sports, sometimes.
I do a little bit of work for QPAC. I like Jill who also works at QPAC. She calls me Princess sometimes. I like that word, Princess. I am going to QPAC in the morning tomorrow and I am working there all day until 2:30. I walk over to QPAC from Options. I work on the dishwasher wheels. I feel proud about making them. I like getting paid.
I am probably going to save my money to go out for dinner. Maybe Jody, Joyce, Connie and Andee (Options staff) would come with me. I would go to Montana’s. I love that restaurant. I like their baked potatoes with butter. I like their baked fish. My favourite desert is chocolate ice cream. I also like McDonald’s. I like their ice cream with strawberry sauce. I go there with Jody (staff).
My favourite shows are “Happy Days” and “Laverne and Shirley”. “Happy Days” is on at 7:00 and “Laverne and Shirley” is on at 7:30. “The Facts of Life” is on at 4:00 and I like that show too.
I belong to CLD’s choir (Joyful Voices). I like singing sometimes. I am also in the Drama Club and we did “Hairspray”. I did some dancing on stage; but not too much dancing. I liked the song, “Good Morning Baltimore”. We also went to the Orangeville Fair and sang in front of everyone. I was nervous. My family came. My sister, Debbie came, Jackie came, Andy and Andy’s mom came. They sat in the front. They said I was good. My throat hurt so much after. It is a little bit better now. I will be better soon. My throat gets so dry sometimes.
I also go to Friendship Group. People from CLD go and they take me. Jill, from QPAC, Jeremy, Robert, Mary and Rosemary go too. Ken goes too. We do crafts at the table. We sing first.
I would love to have two scoops of chocolate ice cream. My favourite food is hot dogs. I like mustard and ketchup on it. I like Harvey’s hot dogs and their burgers. I like their cheeseburger. I like fries too. I put ketchup on my fries.
We are having pizza at CLD today in the cafeteria. I sometimes like pizza. I have two pieces of pizza and potato chips. Sometimes I like the chocolate bar. I don’t need both the potato chips and the chocolate bar. I think I am going to have the potato chips today.
I like the people at CLD. They help me with things. They teach me things. I like to do new things.
Jeremy Huntley
Hi I’m
Jeremy Huntley
I was born in Etobicoke in 1980. My Mom and Dad are Ken and Teresa Huntley. I have two big brothers, Rob and Matt and a sister, Melanie. I have a brother-in-law named Colin.
We eventually moved to Bramalea. I went to Jefferson Elementary School.
I went to Folkstone Crescent School too.
I then went to Westwood Secondary School. We used to have prank fire drills. Someone was sneaking around and just pulling the alarms when it was really, really cold out. I really like it! One time we took a school trip to the Eaton’s Centre in downtown Toronto. It was a big eye opener because it was the hugest mall in Toronto. I window shopped and then we had lunch and then we looked some more.
Then I moved to Orangeville where I went to ODSS. I didn’t always like it there. The kids misbehaved a lot of the time. I made some friends there. We talked, chatted and did a lot of stuff together. We played volleyball and practiced soccer. I remember in school that you can be a friend to anybody who needs your help.
My parents knew that when I graduated I needed to work and so we went to Community Living Dufferin (CLD). I remember that if you have a good attitude and good confidence in yourself, you can do things. I learned that from the staff at CLD and from my Mom and Dad.
I work at QPAC. I got involved through my friends from the Special Olympics. So, I asked if I could work there. I wasn’t nervous and I was very friendly with the staff and so they hired me. I have done piece work such as dishwasher pieces, tubes, little screws with green on the bottom of the screw and I also did canola seed sticks for the Winter Fair. I had to listen very carefully to the staff and what they were telling me so that I didn’t get confused. Once I learn the job, I do it on my own. I feel proud then. I like the parties at QPAC. We have fun. When we finish a job, we have a party.
I am a member of the Drama Club. This year we are doing “Hairspray”. Rehearsals start next Tuesday. Last year was phenomenal because we did “The Wizard of Oz” and it was a big blast. I played the mean Wizard of Oz and I also played the Mayor of Munchkinland. I liked the mean Wizard the best because I scared the pants off of everybody! The staff said to me if I had to be the Wizard I had to be loud so you could scare people. They also helped me learn my lines and taught me to project my voice.
CLD have taught me about my rights. People have the right to talk about their problems and do what they want to do without hurting someone.
Sometimes I get mad. I get mad when people make me do things that I don’t want to do, like when you are in a situation that you don’t want to be in and it is hard to get out of it. Sometimes to calm myself, I count to ten; but sometimes that doesn’t work. Sometimes the staff help me; but I don’t always tell them everything, so they can’t help me then.
I do have a lot of friends at CLD who are really nice. We chat and I make them laugh. When I am at home, my dog, Chase, talks to me. He is an English Bull Terrier.
My biggest accomplishment would be doing stuff that is really important to me. I am planning a trip to Disneyworld in Florida. I have saved a lot of money. I hope to go in the winter of 2008. One of the staff will be going with me. There will be other friends from CLD going too. I am going to be going everywhere in Florida! I like going on the rides. You can conquer your fears.
I also belong to CLD’s Voice Committee. It is for people whose voices need to be heard. At our meetings we talk about trips that come up and it is also time to help the other people from Dufferin County to get them to help people with disabilities. We go to conventions. At the conventions we learn about our rights and we have real fun. We dance. I love dancing.
I feel the staff helps me. They have helped me to work hard to get money for things I want to buy and for my trip. They have helped me to get work and taught me how to do it. They have helped me make friends too. CLD is like my family because they care. Sometimes they are too busy and I think they need to stop and smell the cheese. I think we all need to do that because if you are too much in a hurry, you don’t know what you are doing.
Glen Hamilton
Hi I’m
Glen Hamilton
I was born in Ontario. My parents are Oscar and Clare. I went to W. Ross MacDonald. I liked the teachers. I liked physical education. I have a twin sister, Lisa and another sister Natalie… she is older than me. I see them often. Sometimes my sister comes and takes me to lunch and she sees where I work. I see my mom and dad often. Staff helps contact my family. They are nice just like the staff.
I made a peanut butter and jam sandwich for Bea … I felt happy doing it I did it because I am as awesome and adorable as the staff.
I love to do the crafts at CLD, woodworking, music with Andee and choir. They teach me how to do the crafts. I love to paint pots. In woodworking I am sanding chairs, tables and benches. I sanded some of the chairs that were used in the auction in June. I listen to 103.5 … my favourite D.J. is Tony Monaco
One of the staff is also a fan of the station and she has won contests. She called to set up a meeting at the station. She introduced me to Tony and I got to talk on the microphone and I got to say, “Welcome to Z103.5, Tony Monaco is the bomb!” on the air. On the way home on the 410, I heard my voice. Everyone cheered. Staff said that it was so rewarding, “a bright light”. I asked for T-shirts for all my housemates. Staff e-mailed Tony with thanks. Tony called me a celebrity. It was one of my goals to meet him. I loved meeting Tony and it made me happy. When I heard myself on the radio it felt like a happy thing. There is a song that says, “Shut up and drive” and we always laugh when it comes on when we are in the van because we know we can’t say that at other times.
I reached another goal this year. Bob Barker called me. A staff member heard that I wanted to talk to him and the staff contacted Bob’s office several times. Bob asked me what “do I say at the end of each show, Have your pets neutered ….”. I felt very wonderful talking to him. I watch it every day.
Staff takes me shopping. I like shopping and push the cart. I get to pick my favourite foods. Staff take me to my doctor and my dentist.
I belong to CLD’s choir. I like to sing and my favourite song is Halleluiah and Best Friends. I like it when we go places to sing. I sang at CLD’s performance of The Wizard of Oz. I also sang the national anthem at The Blue Jays Game and the Special Olympics. It makes me feel ALRIGHT to sing in front of people. I am proud to sing at these things.
I am going to camp for one week, The Christian Horizon Camp. It is fun. My favourite thing to do at camp is campfires and marshmallows. I like my marshmallows crispy. I like to go swimming, play games. The staff help me get there and pack my things for the week.
I recently started a job folding laundry for Options and I get extra spending money for that. It is fun to do. Joyce asked me if I wanted the job and I did. I have learned to do it by myself. Joyce taught me how to do it. I feel good helping out and proud.
On Fridays I get together with a friend to watch The Price is Right and we have lunch together. I have been invited to her planning meetings with the staff and she invites me to hers. I tell staff that I want to see her more and they help me. Recently a friend hurt her leg and I go to the hospital to see her. The staff takes me there and I took her a Tim Horton’s coffee.
I go to CLD’s tea parties and I sit beside my friend, Kelly. One of the staff plays the guitar and we sing. It is fun. I like the tea.
I don’t like to be bored … I like to be busy. I don’t like to listen to the T.V. all day. I like listening to the radio. I think thunder storms are scary. Staff tries and helps me by telling me to pretend it is someone bowling. I like Shania Twain songs.
I like coming to CLD. I look forward to going to camp. I like my home and I like the people I live with. I really like the staff. I enjoy going to birthday parties and parades.
I don’t like that the bowling alley closed down. I liked to bowl … I used to bowl every week. I helped the staff and I got strikes. I felt good helping.
I was in the Santa Claus parade on CLD’s float. I dressed up as an Indian. I am looking forward to being in the Santa Claus parade this year.
Staff says that he is a pleasure. They tell him to “Don’t worry, be happy” and he tells me Bobby McFerrin sings that.