Our People - The CRU Team
Tenille Thomson- CRU Coordinator
Hi my name is Tenille. I'm the coordinator of CRU. I have been working with CRU for the last 10 years. I started as a youth developing my leadership skills. While attending university I worked at CRU as a Project Connect Coordinator and Program Assistant. Recently I graduated from the First Nations University with an honours in Indigenous Studies. In September of 2007 I started CRU as the coordinator.
Marian Martell- CRU program assistant
Past: I come from a reserve, Waterhen Lake, Sk. (close to Meadow Lake, Sk.) Graduated in ’08.
Present: 2 things - CRU and Bible College.
Future: I plan to bring to change to the world through who I am and what I do.
I love working at CRU because we have such an amazing team! We are always learning from one another, we work hard together to make sure we achieve certain goals, and we engage young people in a way that makes them feel like they are making a difference. Believe me when I tell you, this job is worth it!
Each one of us brings something different to the team at CRU. My area of “expertise” is in workshop development and delivery. Sure, sometimes I can be shy and you wouldn’t expect a shy person to be that awesome in doing what I do… But I’m pretty awesome! This year, I will be working on cultural workshops. Challenging.
Fun Facts:
Favorite Food: Almost anything in sandwich form.
Hidden Talent: When I smile, you smile. J
Secret Fear: Clowns… =0
Superhero: Jesus!!!
Zondra Roy- CRU Program Assistant
Zoey is now the event coordinator for Rock the Vote Canada, an ambassador of Saskatchewan for Health Canada on Tobacco Control, a liaison for Arts Network for Children and Youth and an advocate in her community. In the near future, Zoey plans to create an intensive training workshop to educate, empower and engage young voters to be informed decision makers and build capacity in the northern rural and remote communities to take social action. Her passions stem from her personal struggles growing up and feeling the inability to have her voice heard by the policy makers on all levels of government. She believes that our voices can and will be heard if we empower ourselves through education and come together as a nation through the arts in all aspects of the term.
Zoey loves working at CRU because she sees the value of the programming that is based around the medicine wheel. She understands that the personal revolution is the hardest and if we explore our strengths equally with our weaknesses, we can become more diverse and stronger citizens for our nation and abroad. The grassroots approach that CRU takes when doing outreach in the community is what Zoey connects to most. She feels that the culture of CRU is what people connect with most and the team (program assistants) are growing with the participants - making everyone involved - equal. What Zoey brings to the team is originality, opportunity for the team and participants, "the mother hen figure", energy and funk
Fun Facts:
Zoey:
- has been writing poetry since she was 6 years old and rapping since she
was 11 (though they are one in the same, the presentation connects to different crowds)
- has been rollerblading since she was three years old.
- is scary independent.
- has traveled across Canada more than 15 times.
Marek Antia- CRU Program Assistant
Born in Montreal, I grew up in Ottawa, and moved to Saskatoon in 2006 where I attended Nutana Collegiate, graduating in 2009. I am currently studying social sciences at the U of S, and hope to learn as much as I can from school and work, while making a contribution to the systems that support those in need. Working for Cru has allowed me to come closer to the realisation of both these goals. Working with Cru and our partners has not only been a tremendous learning and employment opportunity for me, but also a chance to grow spiritually and emotionally. Through exercising my creativity and leadership abilities, while working with my awesome team and the youth of Saskatoon I have become a part of the system dedicated to supporting and engaging our youth, fostering motivation and community awareness.
Fun Facts:
- eats many vegatetables
- has been practicing Yoga for 3 years
- spits hot fire, when no one is watching
- slapped the Biz Markie’s belly once (he didn’t notice)
Misty Blue Knight- CRU Program Assistant
Misty Blue is a Hip Hop artist from Muskoday First Nations Reserve. She graduated from Nutana Collegiate in the year of 2011. She just recently became involved with CRU and enjoys the assistant programming position. Misty Blue is a positive musician and uses her music to set a great example for the youth and also the elderly. The direction she is aiming for is to inspire much more young adults to be creative with their beautiful minds. Misty Blue also believes that the youth are the future. Avoiding negative behavior, helping others and heading the right path is the key in life!
Fun Facts:
Loves lasagna
Creative Writing
Loves feeling extravagant energy when I’m spitting on stage
Made music since the age of 10