Hello Riverside! MOVE4MANA IS HERE! “Tune-in” Tuesdays’ Podcasts will each explore a different theme with special guests. Are you new to Riverside or want to know more about the initiative? Read about last year’s successful event here and more about this year’s here!
Week Four: March 2 – Mental Health podcast with special guests, Monica Brochu and Kushala Yoga owners, Chris Dunphy and Karen Andersen
Monica Brochu has been working at Riverside for almost four years, as Riverside’s Youth Worker. She’s been working in the school district for 20 years with all grade levels. Monica has always been interested in others’ stories and how important education around mental health is. Since being at Riverside, she has been involved in running the Care and Compassion Club, LGBTQ club, Breakfast club, and Posse groups. And, of course, her door is always open to all students who need someone to listen.
Chris Dunphy is co-owner of Kushala Yoga and co-director of their Teacher Training Program. He is a yogi, father, husband, student, hockey player, gardener, and outdoor enthusiast. Chris spent his younger years either on the ice, the field, or on the track. The high point of his athletic career was a gold medal at the Canadian junior championships in the decathlon, a grueling 10 event discipline that spans over 2 days. After Chris retired from competitive athletics he started work in the finance industry. After 8 years at a desk, Chris began to experience both physical and mental discomfort. His body was suffering from injuries sustained throughout his athletic career, and his mind was not at ease in a job he didn’t truly feel inspired to do. This is when Chris was introduced to yoga by a colleague.
Karen Andersen is co-owner of Kushala Yoga and co-director of their Teacher Training Program. She is a yogi, teacher, mother, wife, web developer, gardener, and culinary aficionado. During her frenetic life as a 20-something-year-old with an Internet start-up, she turned to yoga to help balance her anxious and ruminating mind. It was a rocky start to the relationship, trying hot yoga, acrobatic yoga, gentle Hatha, but nothing seemed to compliment her life at the time. She gave it a rest for a while, instead trying Buddhist meditation to deal “directly” with her mind. Eventually, she tried yoga again. With a background in ballet from her youth, she found that a flow-based movement practice fed the energetic needs of her body. She also noticed the movement practice helped shift her mental perspective and allowed more clarity of thought and calm.
Bios are courtesy of the Kushala Yoga Website.
Week Three: February 23 – Eat Healthier podcast with special guest, Mr. Cary Brett.
Cary Brett has been a Foods teacher at Riverside Secondary for the past 5 years. Growing up, he quickly came to love learning how to cook with his grandmother, cooking with his mom and barbecuing with his dad which led to him pursuing a Food, Nutrition, and Health minor at UBC. At Riverside, he teaches Foods 10, Foods 11, and Foods 12. Cary’s love of food has taken him around the world to try out different cuisines and experience new cultures, and he can’t wait to get traveling again and discover some new hot spots!
Super Saturday Celebrity Podcast with Natasha Calis and Tiera Skovbye
You can watch the Podcast here!
Week Two: February 16 – Get Active podcast with special guests, Mr. Troy Hickerson and Mr. Jeremy Neufeld.
Troy Hickerson is the co-founder of the Active for Good app and UNICEF Kid Power Organization. In 2011, he helped launch MANA Nutrition which manufactures Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic (RUTF) food packets that are delivered to Severely Acutely Malnourished children in developing countries. As a dedicated philanthropist, Hickerson has worked to combat extreme poverty and severe malnutrition with innovative technology such as Active for Good. This app tracks your physical activity and converts burned calories into RUTF packets that can save a malnourished children’s life!
Mr. Jeremy Neufeld has been a Phys Ed teacher at Riverside Sec for 15 years. He grew up playing multiple sports but fell in love with basketball which he played at Simon Fraser. His love for sport and movement led him to a Kinesiology Degree and a job teaching Phys Ed. At Riverside, he has taught Jr PE, Active Living, Fitness 11/12, Hockey Academy, and Athletic Leadership. He coaches basketball and is the Director of Athletics for Riverside.
Week one: February 9 – Join the Challenge podcast with special guests, Mrs. Maria Martini and Mrs. Claudia Durand.
Maria Martini is the Founder and Executive Director of the Langley-based Food For Famine Society. Maria has received the Paul Harris award from Rotary International, Woman of Excellence Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Mother of two and grandmother of four, Maria has resided in Langley, BC for 45 years building a loving home and becoming a passionate leader and role model within her own community.
Mrs. Claudia Durand has been a teacher in the Coquitlam District for 28 years and at Riverside for 5 years. She has taught in many subject areas, from Science to Career Education, to Italian. She initiated the MOVE4MANA campaign in 2019, and with the help of many students and teachers is continuing the tradition of saving the lives of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in Somalia.
