Andre Campbell is a writer and blogger who has Cerebral Palsy. This doesn’t define Andre, but will allow you to appreciate his incredible accomplishment in creating this graphic novel.
He graduated from high school in 2010, and presently lives on his own in Cambridge, Ontario. Like many young people, Andre didn’t love his high school experience. In many ways, he was a normal, angst-y teenager, but if you asked him, he would say that he was made to feel pretty different.
Campbell’s peers used his disability and sexual orientation to bully him. Adding issues related to his Cerebral Palsy to this constant insensitivity it became almost too much to handle. But Andre soldiered through.
After finishing high school, things got better for Andre. Nothing changed overnight, but things did change, and they continue to improve. Good changes are possible for anyone, no matter who they are!

Extend-A-Family serves people with different abilities. Matt Riehl is the Community Development Coordinator, and one of the producers of the documentary “Count Us In”.

Terry was born in Ontario and earned a Bachelor of Fine Art (honours) from the University of Western Ontario. He currently resides in Kitchener.
Although he explores a wide variety of subject matter, Terry works primarily with landscapes, exploring the various visual elements of our province’s diverse natural environment in an abstract style. He weaves the landscape’s elements of texture, line and colour into diverse works in a variety of mediums including soft pastel which is currently his passion. Terry is also an accomplished photographer.
His work has been collected both privately and by corporations and he is currently affiliated with Art Dialogue Gallery and the Engine Gallery in Toronto.

Despite being situated in the city, Raflar’s true love is in the landscape of Canada’s rugged outdoors. Visually, he attempts to convey his admiration and love of nature. He is influenced by The Group of Seven and finds inspiration in the old Masters such as Monet, Van Gogh, and J.M.W. Turner. His work demonstrates a recognition of form but stresses the importance of perception. If someone can perceive the frigidness of the snow, the warmth of the sun, and texture of the trees, his mission is accomplished. His desire is to present the breadth and beauty of Canada’s natural environments through watercolour and acrylic so that the public can see the competing inherent fragility and strength in the world which surrounds us.

Born in 1986 Vladivostok, Russia, Eugene Gostnikov is a self taught sculptor who enjoys working with clay as well as oven baked clay to create one of a kind artworks. With great focus on classical Greek art and a bit of knowledge in abstract art Eugene aims to capture the essence of each sculpture and make it standout from the rest. Eugene aims to outdo himself with every outwork and ensure that each piece receives the same amount of care and detail as the next.

My first batch of soap was made with grocery-store shortening, water and sodium hydroxide in a glass baking pan in my kitchen. While the lumpy, uneven mass wasn’t pretty, it was soap! While my ingredients, tools and skills have evolved over the years, I’m still excited by the potent fusion of science and art. I work with vegetable oils and essential oils to create luxury vegan bath and body products, including lotion, lip balm and body wash.
More recently, I have started exploring glass fusing, crafting soap dishes to complement the soap.

My pieces serve as a vehicle to explore my perspectives on life in a simplistic manner. Originally inspired by the works of Robert Norman “Bob” Ross (1942-1995), my experiments with landscapes and abstraction have led me on a journey into the entities of space, challenging me to capture the beauty of that which is beyond our grasp. The main inspiration for my pieces comes from everyday surroundings, events, media, and personalities.

Love to paint skulls, koi, owls and everything else that sparks my interest in the moment. Continuously trying new styles and techniques, on different canvases and found materials. Enjoying the great outdoors with my wife, kids and dog, whether that takes me paddling white water rapids or “dog sledding” around the neighborhood on a skateboard.

My interest in how nature and humanity are intrinsically linked motivates me to explore how we are spiritually connected to our environment, and the nature that surrounds us.
My current theme and body of work includes interpreting the human form in both a classical and modern sense.
Part of my journey in developing this theme has lead me to endeavor to emulate the techniques of the old masters in figurative and landscape themes, I hope to carry their discipline of learning into our day in a relevant way. My aim is to continually grow in my skills and abilities.