ELENA DOBROWNEY

Stories & Testimonials

ELENA DOBROWNEY

Winnipeg, MB
Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Character Dance
Career Pathway: Architect

Elena Dobrowney is a mom to a beautiful daughter, a wife to a loving husband, and a second-year full-time student at the University of Manitoba in the Environmental Design program. Currently, she is working towards her Bachelor of Environmental Design degree, Architecture stream. She actively contributes to the community through volunteering and part-time work and holds a position as undergraduate research assistant at U of M. In summer 2024, she received the Undergraduate Student Research Award and the Nellie McClung Trailblazer Scholarship.

ELENA’S STORY

“I became a DTRC member after joining the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, immigrating from Ukraine to Canada in 2018. Since becoming a member of the DTRC, I have received enormous support. While I was still dancing, I applied for Skills and Career Exploration grants, which helped me acquire a driver’s license. When I got injured in 2021 and faced a long recovery, DTRC’s Counselling services helped me overcome personal challenges related to mental health. Once I learned I would not be returning to professional dancing, DTRC connected me with a career counsellor who helped me create a future career plan. In 2022, I applied to the University of Manitoba and ultimately fell in love with architecture. Touring as a dancer exposed me to architectural marvels, igniting a passion I now pursue. With DTRC’s FTS-1 Subsistence and Retraining grants, I can focus on my studies while being a mother. My goal is to become a certified architect.

Without the DTRC’s support, balancing my studies and family would have been impossible. Their financial assistance allowed me to focus fully on my new career and gave me more time to spend with my little daughter and partner. Often, dancing is something most of us have done our whole lives (certainly I did), and starting a new career can seem scary and overwhelming. I encourage all dancers to join the DTRC: their help is priceless. Whether you need mental or financial support now or later, their services are crucial during career transitions.”

DTRC’S SUPPORT

Counselling
Skills and Career Exploration Grants
Retraining (Study) Grant
FTS-1 Subsistence (Post-Performance Pathway) Grant
Founder’s Award

National Office

The Lynda Hamilton Centre
Suite 303
1000 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4W 2K2

Phone: 416-595-5655

nationaloffice@dtrc.ca

Office Hours:
By Appointment Only – Please contact nationaloffice@dtrc.ca

*Wheelchair accessible

Quebec Office

5584 chemin de la Cote-de-Liesse Mont-Royal
Montreal, QC
H4P 1A9

bureauqc@crtd.ca

The Quebec Office is open on a part-time basis, according to a variable schedule. Please email the office to book an appointment.

BC Office

The BC office runs as a virtual office and is open on a part-time basis, according to a variable schedule.

bcoffice@dtrc.ca

Regional Reps

British Columbia
Jessica Mckeown
bcrep@dtrc.ca

Alberta
Paige Wichers
abrep@dtrc.ca

Manitoba
Eugene “GeNie” Baffoe
mbrep@dtrc.ca

Atlantic
Sydney Ewert
atlanticrep@dtrc.ca

Toll-free: 1-800-667-0851

Territory Acknowledgment

We acknowledge the lands, waterways, languages, and Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island – First Nations, Inuit and Métis – who have been living on these lands since time immemorial. As we carry out our work, digitally and in person across many distinct territories, we offer our recognition and respect to all the peoples and places that are connected through our engagement together. We, at the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, commit to the ongoing work and learning required of all of us to address past and persistent harms. We continue to deepen our understanding and we welcome dialogue as we strive to move into better relations with Indigenous peoples and with the land.