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Our Mission Statement
Our Commitment to Inclusion and Support
At Our Studio, we are dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through a person-centered, best-interest approach. Our goal is to help each person lead a fulfilling life while fostering inclusion within the community.
We offer a wide range of personalized services, including independent facilitation, in-home care, respite services, and engaging activities such as musical theatre, acting, entrepreneurial and social clubs. Our compassionate team also provides essential support with daily living tasks, including personal hygiene, household assistance, and companionship.
Whether you require short-term assistance or ongoing care, we are here to provide the support yofu need, ensuring comfort, dignity, and community integration.
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What is Our Studio?
Our Studio is a creative community hub for anyone interested in the arts. This space is a supportive environment where both peers and facilitators will help you to develop your talents. We specialize in open arts, music and theatrical opportunities and develop our actions to support your interests.
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Our Studio aims to help you grow your practice as a community artist. This means that we like to connect to as many community arts happenings as possible. We also host our own artistic/musical and theatrical events collaborating in the community. Our goal is to offer you a safe place to grow amongst wonderful peers.
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Anyone in the community can join. We specialize in facilitated programming. This means lower ratios so that we can support each individuals unique gifts and talents.
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What's Happening at Our Studio
Find something that excites you and come hang out with us!
Upcoming Productions
Featuring the talented performers from Musical Theatre Mondays and TheACTrical Fridays!
Summer Programing
As we gear up for warmer days and brighter skies, we’re thrilled to share our 2025 Summer Day Programming Schedule — a fun and creative lineup of activities designed to make this summer unforgettable for everyone in our community.
Karaoke Dance Party
Join us the first Saturday of every month (Second Saturday from June - Sept) - no RSVP needed. Please let us know if there are dietary restrictions ahead of time!
Sunshine Support
Get Involved!
Stay Connected!
Our Studio Singing Connection:
Join us to share songs and stories. We gather 3 times per week to learn a group song together and work on solos.​
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays: Via Zoom 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. $80/week + HST (3 days week)​
Registration required.
Healthy Fit Zone:
Our Studio Games Connection:
Join us as we connect with each other and get our day started off right! We'll catch up and play some games together.​
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays: Via Zoom10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon $80/week + HST (3 days per week)
Registration required.
Join us to learn about making healthy choices and explore different ways to stay active and keep our bodies moving!
In each session we will set & share active living goals explore new ways to be physically active and participate in 2 sessions of activity (eg. yoga, line dancing, zumba, aerobics).​
Wednesdays: Via Zoom 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. $80/month
​Registration is required.
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Friend Zone!
Join your home with ours in this nurturing space to build friendships.These facilitated sessions are about deepening relationships through social/emotional activities. Expect laughter, stories and great friends! ​
Thursdays: Via Zoom, 6:30 - 8:00p.m. $80/month
​Registration required.​​
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Karaoke Party!
Karaoke Parties are now virtual on Zoom! Be prepared to sing your heart out and cheer on others in this safe and supportive space.
Saturdays: Via Zoom 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. $20/session
Drop-in program, no registration necessary!
Independent Facilitation:
If you would like to work towards building a network, connecting to community by working, volunteering, or joining an activity, we can help! ​We have a team of Independent Facilitators who can help! You will meet with a facilitator and they will help you build a plan and help you follow through with action steps to meet your goals.​ $60/hour​
Please connect with Lori Maloney for more information.
519-501-6747 - lmyc50@gmail.com
Our Team
Get to Know Us!
Lori Maloney
Owner & Faciliator
I have enjoyed directing musical theatre and working with people for over 30 years.  My work is based on creating space for people to work towards their dreams and build strong relationships through various artistic and creative endeavours.  My passion is to notice a person’s spark and help to feed the flame.  I am a seasoned Independent Facilitator and love to bring networks together for planning sessions.  I have great experience utilizing Maps and Paths planning tools.  I believe we all have a star inside of us bursting to get out.  I am honoured to be working with incredible people who share  a vision of belonging, participation and purpose.
Lynne Quigley
Music & Choir Director
Music has been a passion of mine for most of my life. I am excited to bring my love of singing, performing and musical theatre to the various programs offered at Our Studio and Maloney’s Musical Theatre. It is a privilege to work in a space where opportunities are created for people to discover their unique gifts and talents. I love to see our participants grow in confidence and to shine in their performances. I am thrilled to be playing an active role in supporting people’s gifts and dreams and building meaningful relationships.
Becky Klokoff
Administrative Assistant
When it comes to organizing, creating forms and spreadsheets, invoicing and social media, I am in my happy place! I am thrilled to be a part of Our Studio - where so many others find their happy place!
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With a background in recreation therapy and developmental services, I am passionate about inclusion and belonging. You won't find a more welcoming space than Our Studio!
Desirée Ford
Desirée Ford has been part of Our Studio’s artistic staff for the past 5 years. She has enjoyed working with the talented artists immensely sharing the love of her choreography, musical theatre, singing and artistic background. Desirée looks forward to coming to Our Studio every day as she doesn’t consider hanging with her second family as work. She is honoured to be part of such an incredibly talented community and staff.
Kevin White
Kevin White is an actor, activist, current student enrolled in the University of Waterloo’s Social Development Studies program, and accredited library technician. A graduate of the Humber College Theatre Arts Performance and Mohawk College Library and Information Technician programs, he is proud to work with Our Studio KW’s Musical Theatre Mondays. Kevin is also a member of the JM Drama Alumni and Kaleidoscope Productions board of directors, a supporter of Waterloo Region, Yes! in my Backyard (WRYIMBY) and the Unsheltered Campaign through the Civic Hub/Social Development Centre.
He is pleased to be working in such a positive environment where opportunities to learn and develop skills through play are rewarded with the development of community.
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Gita Ashley
Drama Teacher, Playwright, Director and Expressive Arts Facilitator who has been engaging young people in Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding areas for 38 years.
Gita is the creator of G.I.T.A.’S Girls Spoken Word Troupe which is the only theatre arts program in the region which provides an essential home for the creation of extraordinary theatre arts experiences by girls and gender-expansive performers. In 2021 she received the Leading Women Leading Girls Award from MPP Laura Mae Lindo in recognition for her dedication to supporting girls in theatre.
She is also the founder and creator of The BIG Feelings Project which offers theatre, expressive and creative arts programs to adults with developmental disabilities or learning barriers.
Gita completed the Directing Intensive Program at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut in 2019. Among the 16 talented theatre and film directors from around the world, Gita was the only Canadian accepted into the program.
She is a graduate of the Etobicoke School of the Arts in Toronto and has over 30 years of acting, music and dance training. She is a Kiwanis Festival scholarship winner for excellence in Storytelling and showing the most promise as a youth actor. Gita also holds a 1991 Outstanding Performance award from the Sears Drama Festival of Canada.
Gita has her level One Theraplay Certification and has directed over 100 theatre productions.
