Advocacy for Inclusive Recreation

Flora Wells (any/all)

Hello, my name is Flora Wells and I use any pronouns. I am the facilitator of AIR Every Body Wiggle sessions! I have been a dancer all my life and have enjoyed facilitating dance over these past two years through AIR and CARSA's dance programs. As an able-bodied and white person, I have realized how inaccessible dance can be and I am dedicated to growing my understanding of what accessible dance looks like. I am trained as a Dance Your Ability facilitator, a style of dance that is all about enjoying movement, however that means to you and creating accessible dance spaces for everyone! If you'd like to learn more about this technique, check out the website here; Dance Your Ability or the description of the Every Body Wiggle sessions for more information! When I am not dancing, I am working on completing my Social Work degree at UVic and creating art. I can be found around campus at the Gender Empowerment Centre and the Society for Students with Disabilities, and I am really excited to be a part of AIR and to work so closely with the advocacy groups that have supported me through my degree!

Taylor Schiedel-Foucher (they/them)

Bio coming soon.

Shamim Nikbakht (she/her)

Bio coming soon.

Per Sekhon (she/her)

Per (she/her) is of Punjabi Indian descent, daughter of immigrant parents, a Mother, lifelong learner, and active community volunteer. Per is an alumni of Simon Fraser and the University of Victoria. She completed her Yoga teacher training at Ma Yoga after decades of searching for an inclusive program which honored traditional yogic practices and philosophies. Her lived experiences afford her the ability to readily connect with and understand the needs of others, specifically members of equity deserving groups. Using a healing-informed approach, both personally and professionally, Per continues on an empowering journey to connect deeper to herself and her ancestors through yoga, community, and service.

Co-chair: Megan Vlahiotis (she/they)

My name is Megan, I use she and they pronouns. I am Māori of the Ngāi Tahu iwi and a second-generation Greek immigrant to Turtle Island. I also have mixed European settler ancestry. I was born and raised on the tradition territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Chippewa, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinaabe peoples. Today I am a guest on the Xwsepsum, Songhees, and W̲SÁNEĆ homelands. I am honoured to learn from the stewards of this beautiful land.

I am the current co-chair of the AIR committee and am the Inclusion and Wellness Coordinator for the Wellness, Recreation and Athletics Department here at UVic! I am passionate about advocating for UVic students who face barriers to recreation, and to create safe and inclusive spaces for folks to rest and move their bodies.

When I’m not working, I love to cook/bake, listen to music, make art, watch anime, and hike! 😊

Co-chair: Allie McFarland (she/her)

Hi, I’m Allie, I come from Treaty Seven territory, homeland of the Plains First Nations (which includes: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Stoney-Nakoda, and the Tsuut-ina Nations), specifically from Calgary / Mohkinstsis. I have resided on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples for the last five years and currently live on the traditional lands of the Scia’new (Beecher Bay) First Nation.

For AIR, I am a co-chair and am the Constituency Groups Director with the University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS). My role oversees all the Advocacy Groups at the UVSS and helps to foster collaborations between these Groups and other campus partners. I’m excited to be part of reimagining the AIR program and adapting our offerings to the needs of current UVic students.

NSU Rep: Anagya Durocher (they/she)

Tansi, my name is Anagya Durocher, I am Cree-Metis student who was born and raised on the East Coast on Mississauga’s of the Credit, Anishanbeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat territory. Today I am a guest on Xwsepsum, Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ homelands.

Through my position in the NSU as the Office coordinator, and within AIR as a group representative, I hope to have physical movement more available for NSU members. My hope is that we can provide class and maybe in the future gyms passes for NSU members because as the cost-of-living increases, the barriers Indigenous students face in showing up for their wellness increases.

GEM Rep: Beau Houle (they/them)

Hi there, I'm Beau (they/them)! I am a non-binary settler of mixed European ancestry, born and raised on Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Petun territories. I relocated to Metulia ("Victoria") in 2017 to attend UVic, and recently graduated with a BA in Indigenous Studies, Honours Gender Studies, and Art Education.

I have been involved with AIR since it's very beginning in 2022, and am currently involved with the committee through my role as Coordinator at the UVSS Gender Empowerment Centre, which provides resources and programming for women and gender diverse people on campus.

As a queer person from a working-class background living with chronic illness, I come to our work at AIR with an earnest passion for addressing socio-political and economic barriers to wellness. I view movement-based recreation as a powerful tool for strengthening our connection with body, mind, and self; and reclaiming wellness from the dominant influences of patriarchy, capitalism, and white supremacy.

SSD Rep: Marissa Donaldson (she/they)

Hi there! My name is Marissa and I use she/they pronouns. I grew up in Calgary on Treaty 7 territory, but have been a visitor on lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ territories since 2015. I am a multiply disabled queer person of mixed European ancestry, as well as a graduate student in Educational Psychology. I have been the Education and Administration Coordinator at the Society for Students with a Disability since Fall 2023. My role specifically focusses on programing and workshops for disabled students at UVic, as well as creating educational resources for students.

As someone who has lived my entire adult life in a fat body, I am passionate about creating equitable, safe, and accessible recreation spaces for folks of all bodies regardless of size, ability, disability, or mobility. Accessibility is so much more than automatic doors and elevators – my goal with AIR programming is to create spaces that are not only physically accessible to folks, but also emotionally and functionally accessible through adaptive and inclusive programming that is intentionally made to welcome and include all bodies.

In my off time, I enjoy Geocaching, art/crafts/games, yoga, and playing music/singing.

AVP Rep: Diana Viafara (she/her)

My name is Diana, and I am an international student studying for a postgraduate degree in Business Administration. I am Afro-Colombian, a Black woman, and neurodiverse. I pursued Psychology in my undergraduate studies and obtained a master's degree in psychology. I have a deep passion for mental health and gender studies, and I am eager to support students to the best of my abilities. Currently, I am responsible for communications at SSD, and for the education programming at AVP. I am enthusiastic about building bridges and connections to bring us closer together as a community. Apart from my work and studies, in my free time, I am a tennis player, a singer in my shower and an aspiring influencer promoting well-being, consent culture, and self-care.

SSD Rep: Acorn Wasserman (they/them)

Bio coming soon.

GSS Rep: TBD ()

TBD