DAM Community Spotlight: Placement Students Briar & Zainab!
The Dance Ability Movement welcomes students to complete placements with our community. When we can make it work - this is a mutually beneficial endeavor. Through students' active involvement with our community, we welcome new insights and fresh ideas while also supporting mutual learning and growth. This year we had one Master's Student Occupational Therapist from the University of Toronto for 6-weeks (Briar), and were delighted to welcome our first student from the Integrated Rehabilitation and Humanities (IRH) undergraduate program at McMaster University (Zainab). We have invited Briar and Zainab to share some reflections from their time with the DAM [...]
Igniting community, joy, and belonging – Celebrating our volunteers!
Volunteer Dance Buddies bringing joy at CCDC! At the Dance Ability Movement, our volunteers are a pillar of all that we do. DAM volunteers connect with and encourage dancers, forming meaningful relationships that help dancers experience the joy of movement. To celebrate National Volunteer Week in Canada and the United Nations’ International Volunteer Year 2026, we are happy to share the experiences of just a few of our volunteers. It is because of their effort, commitment, and joy that the spark within the DAM community remains ignited. Whether they have just joined us in 2026, or been here [...]
It’s Disability Pride Month!
Did you know that July is Disability Pride Month? Each year, Disability Pride Month celebrates those with disabilities, emphasizing the identities, culture, and positive contributions to society of these individuals! “Disability Pride Month is a time to celebrate the identities, cultures, and achievements of people with disabilities. It is a time to show Pride in these accomplishments and contributions.” – Elaine Cray, Special Friends Network, Disability Pride Month Flag Raising Disability Pride Month began in July of 1990 in the United States with the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Fast forward to today, it is celebrated across the [...]
DAM Community Spotlight – Crystal Chan!
Welcome to the DAM Community Spotlight! Our incredible team makes our world go round at DAM and we could not be more grateful. We are thrilled to be sharing a series of stories from current volunteers and alumni. This community spotlight focuses on Crystal Chan, DAM alum! Crystal joined the DAM team around 2013, after a chance encounter with Mallory. Curious about Occupational Therapy, she joined the team in Mississauga, providing support and volunteer training. Crystal recounts the value and learning she gained from this experience. “As an eager undergrad, I was soaking everything in—learning about movement, about people, and [...]
DAM Community Spotlight – Eliora Wee!
Welcome to the DAM Community Spotlight! Our incredible team makes our world go round at DAM and we could not be more grateful. We are thrilled to be sharing a series of stories from current volunteers and alumni. Eliora and Dancers Having a Blast! We are happy to highlight our next DAM alumni, Eliora Wee! Eliora started volunteering with DAM in Richmond Hill in January 2020 before shifting to virtual classes and social events due to the onset of the pandemic. She continued to volunteer with DAM until February 2023, even filling the role of Virtual Safety Lead [...]
DAM Community Spotlight – Devon Lewis!
Welcome to the DAM Community Spotlight! Our incredible team makes our world go round at DAM and we could not be more grateful. We are thrilled to be sharing a series of stories from current volunteers and alumni. We are happy to highlight our next DAM alumni, Devon Lewis! Community and Movement - Devon and a dancer having fun with props at a DAM visit to the National Ballet School! Devon joined DAM as a volunteer at just 10 years old, supporting some of the first ever DAM classes at Dance Elite and June Lawrence School of Dance. [...]