Meet Our Instructors

At Confederation Park 55+ Activity Centre, we are as proud of our instructors as they are passionate about the classes they teach. Reflecting the diversity of our members, our instructors bring a wealth of experience and are dedicated to creating a wonderful experience for everyone.

Gina Komanac

SEATED YOGA

Gina holds a Certificate in Hatha Yoga Teacher Training from Sunshine Yoga (2011) and has completed 200 hours of meditation, relaxation, and limbering of the joints and glands. She teaches gentle Hatha yoga stretches, deep breathing, and meditation at various community centres, including Confederation Park. Her classes focus on back and core strength, balance, mobility, and overall wellbeing, with meditation and chime bowl exercises to calm the mind.

Aja Sequeira

MIXED MEDIA ART

Aja Sequeira is a Canadian visual artist whose practice spans painting and drawing. A graduate of the Alberta University of the Art (BFA, Painting), he create layered, immersive works that examine the intimacy of domestic space. Balancing technical precision with expressive gesture, Aja works across oil, acrylic, graphite, and watercolor to explore themes of atmosphere, memory, and embodiment. Her research has been deepened through residencies at AUArts and the Gushul Studio in Crowsnest Pass, where she developed new bodies of work rooted in place-based image-making and visual storytelling. Grounded in traditional methods yet driven by experimentation, her practice is characterized by curiosity, rigor, and a thoughtful approach to process.

Julian So

LINE DANCE INTERMEDIATE

Julian has 24 years of dance experience, including seven in ballroom and 17 in line dancing, and has taught line dance since 2018. She emphasizes individual growth, helping students learn challenging steps safely while enjoying the music. Dancing with Julian can improve confidence, memory, and stress relief.

Rachael Seupersad

ACRYLIC ART CLASS

Rachael Seupersad holds a BA and BFA, blending a rich academic foundation in studio art, art history and museum studies with extensive practical experience

She dedicated many years to instructing adults in painting, drawing and ceramics at the City of Calgary’s art centres, driven by a core mission to integrating art into daily life.

After contributing to broader roles within Art & Culture, she is now semi-retired and delightedly returns to her studio practice and her passion for teaching

Alesha Buczny

INTERMEDIATE WATERCOLOR, WATERCOLOR JOURNEY: NEXT STEP, DRAWING, INTRO TO ALCOHOL INKS CLASS

Born in Lethbridge, Alberta, and raised in British Columbia, Alesha’s artistic journey began at Vancouver Community College, wehre she completed her Jewellery and Metals Diploma Program. She then returned to Alberta to further her studies at the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD), earning a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree with a Major in Jewellery and Metals.

Now based in Airdrie, Alesha has built a career as a versatile Mixed Media Artist. While she is known for her work in jewellery, her practice has expanded to include watercolor, acrylics, alcohol inks, and mixed media paintings. For the past nine years, Alesha has dedicated herself to arts education, instructing at both Alikis Art House and the Confederation Park 55+ Activity Centre in Calgary. She offers guidance in drawing, watercolors, acrylic painting, alcohol inks, and mixed media to students of all ages, from children to adults.

Alesha believes that creativity is accessible to everyone. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the idea that my mastering the basics and embracing the embracing the courage to try again, anyone can discover the artist within. When she’s not in the studio, Alesha enjoys a rich family life with her husband, three children and granddaughter. Her personal time is spent painting, drawing, baking, reading, camping, knitting, and gardening

Pat Harding

THE WORX

My fitness journey is fueled by a simple mission: to make strength, brain health and vitality accessible and enjoyable for older adults. As an AFLCA-certified specialist, I have designed and delivered programs in assisted living (since 2018) and for the City of Calgary (since 2019), focusing on holistic wellness. I now bring that same commitment to safety, effectiveness and fun to community center classes across Calgary

Val Spak

PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISE

Val’s yoga journey began in 2016 with a quiet but persistent sense that something was missing. After trying several different classes, she found her mentor, Audrey, and quickly discovered her calling. Val earned her 300-hours certification through the Yoga Association of Alberta in 2019, followed by her 500-hour certification in 2020 under the guidance of Melanie Cheknita. Her curiosity about her own pelvic floor health led her to compete her Pelvic Floor (PF) certification in 2022. Val’s unique Pelvic Floor Yoga classes has since been endorsed by several pelvic floor physiotherapists in Edmonton. Since relocating to Cochrane in the fall of 2023, she has enjoyed sharing her passion with seniors in Calgary, as well as leading frequent workshops at Yoga Within in Edmonton

Your pelvic floor works with your breath, nervous system, feet, and entire body-it was designed to respond dynamically. These unique yoga classes blend breath awareness, pelvic floor exercises, and asana to support pelvic floor and core function. They will help you understand how this area of the body works and give your practical skills for moving with ease in daily life.

Become a Volunteer

Volunteers are the heart of Confederation Park 55+ Activity Centre. Find out how you can use your skills and energy to make a real difference in your community. To get started, email your completed Volunteer Application Form to members@yycseniors.com or drop it off at the office.