Be Brave Enough
To Dream
The Orenda Society was
founded on the basis to ignite transformation in youth.
Our team came together with a shared vision to empower, mentor, and support youth. We encourage youth to live self-directed lives, accessing their own inner resources to effectively respond to life challenges, and connect to their authentic self.
We believe in shining bright and not playing small. We value connection, and creating a safe space for youth to relate through real and raw discussion. We are all about educating from the heart. We facilitate dialogue around self care, gratitude, friendships, body image, anxiety, self worth, and self love. To witness youth grow their self love and self worth is an incredible experience. We advocate for mental health, we dig deep and answer the tough questions about ourselves. We come to our yoga mats, we breathe and we move. We allow individuals to truly be seen, loved, accepted, appreciated, and stories shared, because the truth is ‘we are all good enough’ and sometimes we just need to be reminded.
The Triangle holds many significant meanings, connected to the number three, which represents balance and wisdom. To Orenda the Triangle symbolizes rising up, something being manifested, illuminated, and integrated.
ORENDA CO-FOUNDER
MENTOR. ACTIVATOR. ADVOCATE.
Jamie is a devoted yoga practitioner and teacher, committed to empowering youth to awaken to their innate gifts and abilities. Her enthusiasm, grace, and humour create a relatable and unique experience for those on the mat. Jamie guides her students to develop their mind, body, and spirit, bringing everyone together by diminishing separation. She uses yoga as a transformative tool to live an authentic and meaningful life.
Graduating University with a Bachelors of Education, Jamie spent her early teaching years working with many First Nations communities. Jamie is devoted to giving back to community and supporting individuals navigating challenging life circumstances. Jamie is passionate about working with at-risk youth and advocating for youth mental health.
Jamie has worked with youth through a variety of programs and projects including: The Inspired Youth School Project, The Calgary School System, The Boys and Girls Club of Calgary and Breathe Hot Yoga. Most recently Jamie trained as a Kids Life Coach recognized by the International Coaching Federation, and GIRLVANA trained youth yoga teacher.
COMMUNITY DIRECTOR
MENTOR.
EDUCATOR. AUTHOR.
Lisa strongly believes in providing children with a safe, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate environment. Lisa places confidence in guiding children to listen to their inner truth and encourages them to always let their light shine. Lisa taught youth in the classroom for six years before leaving to have three wonderful children of her own. Lisa has volunteered at the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter, and currently supports the education system with her time. Most recently Lisa completed her Kids Yoga Teacher Training, and trained as a Kids Life Coach recognized by the International Coaching Federation.
Lisa is also an author of a newly released children's book Follow Your Rainbow & founder of Grow your Light. Follow your Rainbow was created to grow and develop children's awareness and connection to self.
Our Team
MOTIVATOR. MOVEMENT EDUCATOR. LEADER. VISIONARY. YOGI.
Gina has been practicing sports physiotherapy for over 10 years and has recently founded her own practice, Restorative Sports Therapy, which encompasses both a mind and body wellness approach to treating injury. By finding a mind-body connection through movement, one can balance physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Gina focuses on preventative rather than reactive treatments. Her daughter and 11 nieces and nephews, have motivated her to seek avenues to promote and advocate for youth mental health. Gina has recently completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training and plans to use it to inspire a young generation to start a new movement revolution!
CREATOR. MOTIVATOR.
Chelsie Deschamps is the founder of Lava Lily Designs; creating Mala Gratitude Bracelets and Mala’s with the intention to breathe and be grateful. The start up of Lava Lily Designs was fostered through her own personal journey exploring a meditation practice and manifesting gratitude in day to day life, as a reminder of intentional living. Chelsie believes that creating involves having the courage to put yourself out there, being vulnerable, and true to yourself. Lava Lily Designs partnership with the Orenda team offers unique experiences for youth to make their own mala creations, to serve as a reminder of their own intentions for self-care, a reminder to breathe, be grateful, and connect.
Certified Child & Youth Care Counsellor. Educator. Relational Play & Expressive Arts Practitioner. Researcher.
Michelle has worked with children, youth, and families for over 25 years in the areas of strengths and resilience, overcoming adversity, and vulnerable youth at risk. Michelle uses a strengths-based approach and experiential learning, through play and expressive arts, to guide young people on their journey to explore themselves.
Michelle is a Professor of Child Studies at Mount Royal University and holds a Master of Education, a Certificate in Relational Therapeutic Play, and is a Certified Child and Youth Care Counsellor. Over the course of her career, Michelle has worked in programs for youth mental health, addiction, youth exploitation, and family support. Additionally, Michelle has been active in researching the use of art journaling for self-care and psychological support for young people post natural disasters.
Play and expressive arts are often the way that young people tell us what is going on in their lives. Allowing for self-expression in a creative manner allows them to find their strength and resilience to help them overcome adversity.
MOTIVATOR.
Cormac is a student and active member of the Foothills community. He is passionate about showing up and chasing the things that fuel your passion. For him, that is his commitment to wellness and movement.
Cormac is driven by his love for CrossFit, the community of people within the sport and the lessons it continues to teach him in and out of the box. He demonstrates his leadership in this area through both his role as TA in his High School Sports Performance class but also through his volunteer role in the Restorative Sports Therapy summer Move Your Mood Camp.
Cormac supports several local businesses within our local community, through both employed and volunteered roles and has tremendous respect for what it takes to follow your dreams.
His belief that leading from behind, creating balance while finding and accepting your place in the “pack” are skills that he was was lucky to be introduced to early on through the many mentors he has in his own life.
Cormac enters each day with the hope of learning something new, positively impacting others and becoming one step closer to his goal of becoming a firefighter.
MENTOR. CREATOR. LISTENER. MEDITATOR.
Dereck Perrault is a local red seal carpenter who has a passion for not only creating custom furniture, but also in growth mindset continuing education and showing up on purpose.
Dereck spends most of his quality time with his two daughters, creating pieces of custom furniture and diving into growth mindset education
Dereck is a graduate of the Hoffman institute
Through his own triumphs and tribulations he sees through a lens of direct experience, thus allowing boys to feel acknowledged,seen and heard through a compassionate lens. Dereck believes in creating a safe environment for boys to express themselves to cultivate awareness and understanding behind both physical and mental processes that Help with emotional regulation.
Through play, physical activity, meditation and getting creative.
Through my life experiences I have felt a call to action to support, encourage and create / (or) cultivate meaningful connections to help youth navigate life challenges - at our fundamental roots, everyone just wants to feel connected and a sense of belonging.
our board
our studio
OUR LOCATION
322113 15 Street East
Okotoks, AB
(please click on view larger map on the google maps - entering our address into your GPS, due to being on acreage, will not lead you here)
HOW TO GET HERE
From the North
Heading south on the 2A, take a right at the first set of lights coming into Okotoks (338 Ave). Take your immediate right onto 15St. E and travel back north. We are the first left after the Storage Mart.
From the South
Coming up Northridge Dr. (2A north), take a left at 338Ave. Take your immediate right onto 15St. E and continue to travel north until you see the Storage Mart and take your first left.
Contact Us
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