Learning at home?
Make Summit Learning Centre your home base! We provide Distributed Learning for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students from across BC – with proven programs, leading technology and excellent support for both learners and parents – including ArtSmarts activities, Second Languages, Library and Learning Resources, and more!
Your choice for home and virtual education in BC.
www.SummitLearningCentre.ca 1-866-881-1984
Languages
ArtSmarts Proven Programs
Playland; Crash Crawly’s Adventure Fun Centre; West Coast Railway Heritage Park; Museum of Anthropology; CTV Television Tour; Burnaby Village Museum; Honeybee Centre Farm; Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site; Maplewood Farms; Theatre Under The Stars; Stanley Park Farm & Miniature Railway; Vancouver Police Museum; Exotic Reptile Show; Opera Workshop; Harbour Cruise… and the list goes
High School Courses:
For just $18 per year, 9 issues of WestCoast Families will be delivered right to your door. No more waiting for your favourite local resource magazine! Just send a cheque, payable to WestCoast Families, for $18.00 CDN, to:
#140 – 13988 Maycrest Way, Second Floor, Richmond, BC, V6V 3C3 Or call our office at 604.249.2866 to pay by Visa or MasterCard.
Go online to westcoastfamilies.com and signup easily for our bi-weekly email BLAST. The BLAST will tell you what’s new, what’s cool, and what’s happening for families and kids all over Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. It will also tell you when the newest issue is available and you can download it with just a click online. Every month we draw a new name to win a $100 gift certificate to Bopomo Pictures (bopomo.ca).
2
There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need, but not for man’s greed.
~ Mahatma Gandhi
The other day my daughter caught me throwing kitchen scraps into the garbage pail instead of the compost pail. (Yes, I admit it, it occasionally happens). “Mama!” she cried out, with a most disapproving expression, “those are for Nature!” Ladies and gentlemen, I have created an eco-monster.
Admittedly, we’ve come a long way from where our parents were when it comes to the environment. Our generation was raised on disposable plastic sandwich bags, leaded gasoline, and BPA-everything. Somehow, we survived to tell the tale, and have now turned the tables on dispose-ability. Schools insist on litter-less lunches, shopping at the Value Village is now the cool, eco-friendly choice, and our kids are more likely to have birthday parties where the favours are seed papers rather than plastic toys. Most of us recycle, reuse and reduce, bottled water is no longer fashionable—unless the bottle in question is high-grade stainless steel—and words like local, organic, seasonal and sustainable have firmly rooted themselves in our everyday vocabulary.
Even our garbage is no longer just garbage. Innovative companies like TerraCycle.ca are turning non-recyclable junk like used juice boxes, candy wrappers and almost anything else you can think of, into reusable lunch bags, totes, backpacks and a host of other products—and giving back to charity at the same time.
Let’s give ourselves a pat on the back and bask for a short minute in that green glow of satisfaction. Unfortunately, a short minute is all there is, as we all still have a long way to go and—as we all know—parents are not exactly flush with time. There are organic cotton tees to buy, bamboo towels to fold, and that once-a-week meatless meal to plan.
After all that work, you might be ready for a vacation. Luckily, our annual family travel guide is back, with lots of tips, destination ideas and stories to help you plan a great—and eco-friendly—escape. For those who wish their children to vacation elsewhere, check our camp guide listings for plenty of places to offload the brood while you scarper for more peaceful climes.
In the meanwhile, take a deep breath, turn off your phone and go outside. The cherry blossoms are falling, the sun is shining (sometimes), and—in case you missed it—spring is here. In fact, I’ll be right there with you—just as soon as I dump these scraps where they belong.
See you next month!
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Contributors: Chelsea Bell, Bopomo Pictures, Debbie Bowman, Jennifer Bruyns, Angela Davidson, Eileen Holland, Vanessa Marcotte, Karin Mizgala, Claire Newell, Desiree Nielsen, Amanda Ross, Sara Sjerven, Gina Spanos.
your thoughts
Just to let you know that we are just back from our first trip around New Zealand, via camper van. We found your travel article [August/September 2009, New Zealand: It’s Closer than You Think] inspiring—it really WAS closer than we thought!
~ K. and B. Glasgow
Thank for the great article about the changes to public kindergartens [February/March, Full-Day Kindergarten]. My son is starting a full-day program this coming September, and though I am still a little anxious, your article has helped get rid of some of it. Cheers.
~ A. Nott
Editor’s Note: Our fitness challenge update is on page 35 in this issue, with details on the ladies’ first month. Don’t miss it!
~ J. Bradley I really liked reading about the women who are taking part in your fitness challenge [WestCoast Mom, February/March, Fitness Challenge]. I think they are so brave to agree to have all of their measurements published for everyone to see. I wish them all the very best and can’t wait to see the next issue!
Got anything to say, rant about or praise? We want to hear it all!
Email editor@westcoastfamilies.com with your comments, questions and suggestions, and be entered to win monthly prizes!
WestCoast Families (WCF) is an independent, regional parenting publication. As the Lower Mainland’s prime resource for happy, healthy & active families, WCF provides informative and relevant content.
All contents copyrighted ©. Written permission from the publisher is required to reproduce, quote, reprint or copy any material from WestCoast Families.
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Published nine times per year in British Columbia, Canada. Total circulation: 50,000
For queries about editorial submissions, please view the contributor guidelines on our website.
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Photographed by eclipsephotography.ca
Where to pick up your
WIN! A Gorgeous Customized Memory Book from S & S Photo Creations!
Don’t know what to give to Mom next month? How about a beautiful, leather-bound photo book, with all your favourite memories? These also make great gifts for that special teacher or coach. Memory book is bound in a genuine black leather hard cover binding, and can contain up to 20 double-sided pages of images. Scanning and editing of printed images included. Total retail value $160. web.me.com/sandsphotocreations
Deadline to Enter: April 30, 2010
WIN! The Kodak S730 Digital Frame
Mom can share favourite family memories without worrying about keeping photos organized. The ultimate digital brag book, the Kodak S730 Digital Frame can sort up to 8,000 photos by date. And, with a built in rechargeable battery, it can go anywhere Mom goes. SRP $169.95. kodak.ca
Deadline to Enter: April 30, 2010
WIN! A Sparkling Water Starter Kit from SodaStream
We all like sparkling water and sodas on occasion, but all those empty bottles are such a waste. How about making your own sparkling water at home? The SodaStream Crystal Titan Silver Starter Kit (SRP $239) includes one SodaStream Crystal Titan Silver machine, one 60L CO2 cylinder (good for up to 60 litres of carbonated beverages!), and 2 x 650mL glass carafes (with airtight lids). CO2 canisters are replaceable through local dealers. sodastream.ca
Deadline to Enter: April 30, 2010
Check out these local schools carrying WestCoast Families magazine for parents and staff. Let us know if YOUR school would like WCF magazine delivered each issue and we’ll make it happen!
John Maclure Community School, Abbotsford
Edmond Elementary, Burnaby
Martha Currie Elementary, Cloverdale
Denise Richardson – Roy Stibbs Elementary, Coquitlam
Langley Community Music School, Langley
James Cameron, Maple Ridge
W. Lucas Learning Centre, North Vancouver
Vancouver Waldorf, North Vancouver
BC Christian Academy, Port Coquitlam
Blundell Elementary, Richmond
Pinewood Elementary, Surrey
LA Matheson Secondary, Surrey
Sir Charles Kinsford-Smith Elem, Vancouver
Nootka Elementary, Vancouver
Henry Hudson School, Vancouver
St. George’s School, Vancouver
You can also pick up WestCoast Families magazine at most Lower Mainland libraries, while supplies last, including:
Fraser Valley Regional Library, Abbotsford
Burnaby Public Library, McGill Branch
Cloverdale Library
Coquitlam Library, Coquitlam
Ladner (Pioneer) Library, Delta
Fort Langley Library
Langley Library
Maple Ridge Library
New West Library
Capilano Library
Pitt Meadows Library
Terry Fox Library, Port Coquitlam
Port Moody Public Library, Port Moody
Richmond Public Library
Fleetwood Library, Surrey
Surrey Public Library, Port Kells Branch
Vancouver Public Library, Multiple locations
West Vancouver Memorial Library
Buena Vista Library, White Rock
Plus find us at various retail stores, community and activity centres, and family restaurants!
Email us at admin@westcoastfamilies.com if you’d like to find a distribution spot near you, or if you’d like to suggest a location to be added.
KidsWorld—Your Passport to Summer!
July & August, plus September weekend dates
Wondering what to do with your kids this summer? Wonder no more! KIDSWORLD is the ideal program for children ages four to 15 years (not for children under four years of age). Your $45 membership fee offers 65+ days of free entry for both your child, as well as free admission for an accompanying parent/guardian, allowing you to attend a different event/ activity virtually every day of the summer! Experience Playland, Maplewood Farm, Crash Crawly’s, CTV Television Studio, Harbour Cruise, Theatre Under The Stars, Burnaby Village Museum and the list goes on, all for one low price! See advertisement/membership application in this issue of WCF or visit www.kidsworldprogram.com.
The City of Surrey’s Early Years Festival
April 24, 11am – 3pm North Surrey Recreation Centre 10275 City Parkway
A FREE event especially for parents/caregivers and children 0-6 years of age! Come out for a fun family day! Interactive games, arts, crafts, bouncy castles, children’s performers, face painting, balloons, door prizes, community resources and much more!
604.502.6302 | events.surrey.ca
WWW.CSF.BC.CA
AFFIRMEZ VOTRE FRANCOPHONIE : INSCRIVEZ VOTRE ENFANT DANS UNE ÉCOLE
DU CSF !
vous cherchez une École francophone ? looking for a french public school?
Le Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (SD No 93) accepte les inscriptions dans l’ensemble de son réseau de 38 écoles publiques à l’étendue de la province.
The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (BC’s Francophone School District No. 93) is accepting registrations in its 38 public schools across BC.
5 Tips on Raising Green Kids...
...and Helping Them Stay Green
By Eileen Holland
Searching for ways to get your children to stay green? Memory-jogging rhymes and pictures, savvy shopping skills, and child-chosen green courses of action underline the verbal environmental messages you share on a regular basis. Here are five tips to motivate your family into becoming green…and staying green!
1. Teach your children a rhyme to encourage them to go green. Sing it or say it - you know what appeals to your little people the most!
Examples:
• I recycle! / Look at me / I helped save another tree!
• Be power bright / Turn off the light!
• Water ain’t for wastin’ / When your teeth are gettin’ brushed! Use it just for wettin’ / And swishin’ out the mush!
• I grew so much / My shirt won’t fit, / But someone small / Is needing it.
2. When it comes to kids switching off lights, use a mental cue. Get the your kids to tape pictures of their favourite animals to their bedroom light switches to jog their memories. Extend the concept by taping animal pictures above taps and wastepaper baskets. Kids love showing their devotion to their animal friends by protecting the world they live in.
To support this activity, build your child’s green conscience by rounding up the kids and visiting your local bookstore. Your older children could check out This Is My Planet: A Kids’ Guide to Global Warming by Jan Thornhill, 2007, Maple Tree Press, ages 9 to 12. Go Green, Canada! Puzzles, Games and Quizzes for a Healthy Planet by Jeff Sinclair, 2008, Scholastic Canada Ltd., is great for independent readers and “reluctant greeners” ages 8 to 11. This brightly coloured workbook-formatted book presents its serious topic by using an interactive, zany format, and appealing cartoons. Let your younger children choose a gentle board book or picture book from the green shelf at your local bookstore. Soften the message by saying that their green actions keep the places wild animals live safe and clean.
3. Which product would a green kid choose?
Show your children a product that is over-packaged (e.g. blister packaging, multiple layers of cardboard, metal, twist ties, foil, Styrofoam). Point out a similar product with less packaging. When your kids pick up on your cues and suggest you buy the second product instead, praise them for being environmental heroes! Discuss packages that are half to two-thirds full; ie. rice, macaroni, vitamins. Explain that the manufacturer is trying to make the package appear to contain more than it actually does.
Want to go further? Call the toll-free number often printed on packaging and make a polite complaint while your child listens. Encourage older children who offer to make a green call themselves. Discuss with your little learners how small actions create big changes.
4. When it comes to cloth bags, the child who chooses ‘em, gets you usin’ ‘em!
Visit several stores with your child and scope out the reusable bags they sell. Ask your child to choose which ones she likes the best, based on looks, price, design, and portability. Tip: If it fits in a pocket or purse inside a streamlined pouch, it’s more likely to be used. Ming Wo, for example, carries cheery shopping bags in fruit-shaped pouches. A reusable bag clipped to the family stroller keeps your younger kids involved in the green scene. Many companies now provide their customers with eye-catching reusable bags made of cloth or durable plastic. Encourage your kids to reuse them on return shopping trips.
Here’s a plan for getting you and your children firmly into the cloth bag habit: Keep a chart on the fridge to record how many plastic bags didn’t go into circulation because of your actions. Tally up the numbers using animal stamps. Let the kids stamp the chart in a second column if you used recyclable bags at several stops on the same car trip. The extra stamp stands for the gas saved and the air pollution avoided by making only one trip. Stamp a third column if you walked to the store where you used your cloth bags. A family treat is earned after fifty stamps. Celebrate small victories!
5. Give your family’s green purchasing power some punch!
As soon as your kids get their first piggybanks, familiarize them with all three R’s in the slogan “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Your goal is to get your children comfortable with the idea that buying new products is not the only option. When considering the purchase of a new item, say out loud with your children listening, “Do I really need it, or do I just want it?”
Visit second-hand stores for Halloween costumes or trade outfits with outof-neighbourhood friends. Stock up on series such as Franklin the Turtle, Dear Canada, or Silverwing at used bookstores before family getaways. Check out Craigslist or stick a want ad on the school bulletin board when buying the family a nearly-new electric piano. Set up a yearly sports equipment exchange at your school to trade figure skates and hockey equipment. Get your kids selling their old hamster cages, hula hoops and hockey cards at a garage sale. Donate outgrown clothes and toys to charities. Keep a bin of pretty ribbons, paper scraps, and buttons for scrapbooking and card-making. Remove screws, washers, and bolts from broken household castoffs to use in future repair jobs. Get your children examining items headed for the garbage to see if any parts are reusable. Help them remove useful parts while praising their actions and make a catch-all bin for such treasures.
Staying green is the result of cheery, repetitive actions based on common sense. Enjoy the results together!
Environmental Websites Kids Will Love
Kids enjoy spending time on the computer. Why not encourage them to learn how to protect their environment by visiting the following websites:
Eco-Kids Earth Day Canada’s environmental education program provides kids who care about their world with interactive activities and games in which they make decisions, form opinions, and learn how to protect their environment. www.ecokids.ca
Nature Challenge for Kids Ten simple ways kids can protect nature are provided by the David Suzuki Foundation, along with challenge activities. www.davidsuzuki.org/kids
The Big Blue Bus Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s website provides ways to learn how to protect our oceans and other waters sources. A variety of activities and games are presented by cartoon characters. There are clubs to join for children of different ages. www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/canwaters-eauxcan/bbb-lgb
Sustainable Eating
By Desiree Nielsen, RD
10 B.C. foods to help you eat like a champion in 2010
We really do have it all here in B.C.: beautiful mountains, valleys, trails and beaches…and the weather to enjoy them all year round! British Columbia is also home to an abundance of healthy local foods to help fuel our active lifestyles. Eating locally is good for your body and the planet: food grown close to home helps to lower carbon emissions required for transport and keep B.C. beautiful! Read on for a list of 10 “B.C.-grown” foods to help make this your healthiest year yet!
1. Cranberries
Eat Like a Champion! Not just for the holidays, cranberries are rich in proanthocyanidins which prevent bacteria from adhering to cell wallsdrinking not-from-concentrate cranberry juice daily can help to prevent urinary tract infections, stomach ulcers and even gum disease. Anthocyanins help to squelch free radical damage caused by pollution, poor diet and physical activity—making them a great choice to decrease inflammation and support recovery.
Eat Sustainably! Cranberries are one of the few fruits native to North America. 80 B.C. families produce 12% of the total North American cranberry crop. Cranberry fields include wetlands that provide natural habitat for wildlife.
2. Buckwheat
Eat Like a Champion! Protein rich, buckwheat is not actually a grain but a fruit related to rhubarb. Gluten free buckwheat provides slow-release carbohydrate for sustained energy and is rich in magnesium (86mg per cup) for healthy muscle function and blood pressure. Magnesium also contains the bioflavonoid rutin, calcium, manganese and vitamin E. High in fibre, buckwheat helps to lower cholesterol and maintain bowel health.
Eat Sustainably! Buckwheat is grown in B.C., making it a great local grain option. Growing buckwheat also helps support local bee populations. Locally grown buckwheat can be purchased from Fieldstone Granary in the Okanagan. Want more local grains? Consider joining a CSA (community supported agriculture) where you buy “shares” in a harvest. Urban Grains is a local CSA providing Fraser Valley grains to its members.
green shopping
• Online Stores
Bambini Bags
ecobambiniplanet.com
Baby slings
Better Baby Bums
betterbabybums.com
Diapers, bottles, etc
Crocodile Unique Baby Store
866.761.2762 | crocodilebaby.com
Children’s furniture, toys, bedding, Diapers
Dimpleskins Naturals
dimpleskinsnaturals.com
All-natural baby care
Earth Kits for Kids
877.632.7847 | earthkits.com
Earth kits for kids, clothing
Ethic Baby ethicbaby.com
Bedding, clothing and toys
Every Little Bit
604.936.7249 everylittlebitgreen.com
Diapers, bedding, bathing, toys
Hankettes
800.917.1377 | hankettes.com
Diapers, baby care products
Kaikids
416.318.1501 | kaikids.com
Bottles, bedding and clothing
3. Beets
Eat Like a Champion! The jewel-like hue of beets is your first clue that they are rich in anthocyanins—the cancer fighting, cholesterol lowering super antioxidants. A healthy heart star, saponins and soluble fibre in beets also help lower cholesterol and folate further protects against heart disease (136mcg in 1 cup cooked). Anti-inflammatory betaine helps to decrease the systemic inflammation that leads to chronic disease and impedes recovery.
Eat Sustainably! Remember your grandmother’s root cellar? Root veggies are essential to eating locally in B.C. year round. Not only are beets harvested well into the cooler months, root storage provides us with these nutritious gems until next year’s harvest begins!
4. Herring & Sardines
Eat Like a Champion! Enjoyed for centuries in Mediterranean and Scandinavian diets, herring and sardines are an excellent source of the long chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. DHA and EPA are anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer—omega-3 fats directly limit cancer cells’ ability to grow. Omega-3 fats are also important for healthy skin, heart, joints and mood support. With approximately two grams of EPA and DHA per serving these fish are a great protein choice. Sardines are also rich in iron to help oxygenate blood.
Eat Sustainably! B.C. herring and sardines are small species with a short life cycle, making them less vulnerable to overfishing and a more sustainable alternative to salmon. Lower on the food chain, they are naturally low in contaminants such as mercury and PCBs. Pacific herring and sardines caught in B.C. are considered a sustainable choice by Sea Choice and Ocean Wise.
Lavish & Lime
877.216.5463 | lavishandlime.com
Games, toys and clothing
Mama Goddess Birth Shop
604.782.6679 mamagoddessbirthshop.com
Birthing kits, breastfeeding support
New and Green Baby Co
604.323.4146 | newandgreen.com
Diapers
Oompa
888.825.4109 | Oompa.com
Organic baby toys
Organically Hatched organicallyhatched.com
Bottles, diapers, clothing, toys
Raspberry Kids
raspberrykids.com
Clothes, toys, bottles, carriers, baby
Sleepy Sheep
604.960.9768 | sleepysheep.ca
Wool bedding
Snug as a Bug
778.233.1134
snugasabug-organic.com
Organic baby bedding
So Green Baby
877.85.BABY.4 | sogreenbaby.com
Diapers, baby care, toys, clothing
5. Rhubarb
Eat Like a Champion! A new entry into the “superfood” category, rhubarb is not just a tasty pie filling—rhubarb contains lindleyin, which may help to ease menopause symptoms. Lindleyin is a phytoestrogen just starting to be studied in western medicine, but rhubarb has long been used in Chinese medicine for GI and menstrual concerns. Rhubarb is low in calories and rich in potassium and calcium; one cup of cooked rhubarb contains the same amount of calcium as a glass of milk!
Eat Sustainably! Well suited for our coastal climate, rhubarb is a hardy perennial plant that can produce for 10 to 15 years and can survive the odd dry spell or forgetful gardener. Try growing some in your backyard—it doesn’t get more local than that!
6. Kale
Eat Like a Champion! Kale is a member of the cabbage family, which was deemed “the vegetable of a thousand virtues” by Hippocrates. Kale certainly contains a lion’s share of nutrients: iron, vitamins A and C, folic acid and anticancer compounds. Kale boasts the most beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Kale also contains vitamin K and calcium for healthy bones.
Eat Sustainably! Kale is the perfect start to a home garden…even if you have little more than a patio! Kale grows well in large pots and loves cool weather. A single pot can provide garden fresh greens all through the fall, when other local salads are just a memory.
7. Garlic
Eat Like a Champion! Anti-clotting, anti-oxidant and anti-fungal, garlic has been cultivated for more than 5,000 years as part of the great medical traditions of the world. Garlic’s claim to fame is sulphur - when we cut or chew garlic, we release an enzyme that jumpstarts the production of several molecules, including diallyl sulphide (DAS)—DAS inhibits activation of carcinogenic compounds and helps our body flush them out.
Eat Sustainably! Harvested from June to October, garlic is a readily available B.C. superfood. Garlic may even have farther-reaching eco-ambitions: one biotech company is developing a garlic-based feed additive that may reduce atmosphere damaging methane output from cows.
8. Kabocha Squash
Eat Like a Champion! Kabocha is a sweet winter squash that is popular in Japanese cuisine. Like all winter squash, it’s rich in anti-oxidant vitamins A and C to help squelch free radicals brought on by intense physical activity and support immune system health. There is also early evidence that squash may contain compounds that help reduce symptoms associated with enlarged prostate.
Eat Sustainably! The hard outer rind of a Kabocha squash makes it well suited to survive long winter storage—making it a vital part of the locavore’s winter survival kit.
9. Lentils
Eat Like a Champion! Lentils are packed with nutrients: one of the richest food sources of fibre on earth, lentils also contain slow release carbohydrates and high quality vegetarian protein. This combination of nutrients is ultra satisfying and helps to support a healthy weight by keeping you full and keeping blood sugars stable. Early research also suggests another blood sugar helper in lentils called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Rich in iron, lentils also help to support energy metabolism to help support your active life.
Eat Sustainably! Eating lentils more often, instead of meat, helps to reduce your family’s carbon footprint. Vegetable proteins require fewer energy inputs and less water to produce than animal proteins.
10. Shiitakes and other wild mushrooms
Eat like a Champion! Mushrooms have long been revered in Asia for their role in promoting health. Shiitakes in particular appear to have a few unique compounds with promising health benefits. Eritadenine may help to lower cholesterol, while lentinan is being studied for its immune boosting properties. Shiitakes may also have potential anti-cancer properties, thanks to antioxidants such as selenium and other compounds.
Eat Sustainably! Eating vegetable proteins a few times a week goes a long way to creating a sustainable lifestyle. Mushrooms can also help you trim down. Studies using mushrooms as replacement for meat helped reduce calorie intake while keeping bellies full.
The Ultimate Green Store
800.983.8393
theultimategreenstore.com
Clothing, toys, bedding
• Vancouver/Burnaby
Beansprouts
604.871.9782 | beansprouts.ca
Clothing, toys and consignment
Chick Pea Children’s Boutique
604.525.2266 | chickpeakids.com
Dandelion Kids
604.676.1862 | dandelionkids.ca
Toys, clothing, bedding, bags, carriers
Dream Designs
604.254.5012 | dreamdesigns.ca
Bed and Bath
Granville Island Organix
604.681.4243
granvilleislandorganix.com
Clothing, slings
Little Earth
778.737.7004 | littleearthvancouver.com
Mountain Equipment Coop
604.876.6221 | mec.ca
Outdoor gear, equipment
Pebble Baby
604.568.6923 | pebblebaby.ca
Toys, furniture, clothing, bedding
Room for 2 Maternity & Baby
604.255.0508 | roomfor2.ca
Bedding, clothing, diapers, baby care
North Shore
Dream Designs
604.929.3318 | dreamdesigns.ca
Bed and Bath
Hip Baby
604.736.8020 | hipbaby.com
Furniture, clothing, diapers, toys
In Bed Organics
604.630.2337 | inbedorganics.com
Bedding
• Surrey/White Rock/ Tri-Cities
Baby Cheeks
778.292.0495 | babycheeks.ca
Clothes, toys, gifts
Kidzown Boutiques
604.581.1234
kidzownboutiques.com
Clothing, toys, bedding, Mom
Natural Essential Therapy
604.583.1112 | ecokiddies.ca
Baby care, natural remedies
• Richmond
Baby On Board
800.272.0884 | babyonboard.ca
Pinky Blue
604.204.2720 | pinkyblue.ca
Westcoast Kids
604.288.1168 | westcoastkids.ca
Desiree Nielsen, RD, is the in-house dietician for Choices Markets, as well as the co-author of A Local Table: The Choices Market Cookbook
Green, Local, and Sustainable Finds for the Whole Family!
Stainless Steel Kids Divided Food Tray
Non-leaching, recyclable unbreakable—great for everyday use and taking on picnics. $16 at lavishandlime.com.
Paper Mate Biodegradable
Earthzone Pencils
Made from 100% recycled newspaper, these last longer than regular pencils, won’t break when you sharpen them, and the erasers are latex-free! Available as regular, colour and artist pencils. $3.50 and up at chapters.ca.
An iPhone app that makes a difference
Seventh Generation’s new Label Reading Guide™ provides instant information about the contents of—and possible risks associated with—the household products we buy. Available as a free download for both computers and iPhone, the guide lets Canadians search a dictionary of common cleaning product ingredients that’s packed with information about each one’s safety or lack thereof. seventhgeneration.com
Every year in Canada, millions of pens are sold, replacing pens that are being tossed into garbage and landfill sites. The new Paper Mate Biodegradable ball pen and is made with biodegradable components which will naturally decompose within about a year in soil or home compost. SRP $1.50. papermategreen.com
Slingsax Hands-Free Shopping Bag
New from Envirosax, this lightweight shoulder tote has a large outer pocket, adjustable straps that tie and it rolls up to the size of a large piece of sushi. Perfect for Mom to take to the beach or farmers’ markets and still be hands-free. $14 at lavishandlime.com.
Sustainability in a Can
Raincoast Trading’s line of wild, Ocean Wise, canned salmon and tuna products are caught using eco-friendly fishing practices in the Pacific Northwest, and each can is traceable from the fisherman who caught it right to your table. Various prices. At Whole Foods, Choices and various grocery outlets. raincoasttrading.com
Jazz Playground
Fashion Fruit Kids
This local label produces bright, whimsical clothes for baby and kids. Check out the sunny skirt in bright hippo pattern ($67) and the 60s-style dress ($59). Both available at fashionfruitkids.com.
Putumayo Kids’ latest release is Jazz Playground, a new collection of international jazz songs for children. From bebop and swing to Latin and African jazz, this multicultural CD celebrates the vibrant diversity and global influence of jazz and will get the whole family grooving! SRP $14.98 at putumayo.com or wherever children’s music is sold.
Omega-3 for Vegetarians
For those who prefer to receive their Omega-3s from non-animal sources, Prana has introduced their organic chia oil, which contains 8.5g of Omega-3 fatty acids per 15mL. Made entirely from the chia plant and sold in health food stores and various IGAs. $19.99 for 250mL. pranana.com
Natural Play
Named one of the Top 10 Eco-Toys for 2009, Natural Pod’s tree branch blocks are perfect for ages 2 to 8, and come in a locallymade, natural cotton bag. Various sizes. $29.95 to $79.95, online at naturalpod.com or in person at Hip Baby (hipbaby.com).
Dangerously Clean
Could Our Clean Homes Actually Be Harming Our Families?
By Debbie Bowman
Cleaning house—it’s a necessary evil. There aren’t many of us who enjoy cleaning our homes, but we do it anyway because we want a clean and healthy home for our family. Unfortunately, the household cleansers many of us use may actually be harming us. In fact, many common household cleaning products contain a plethora of hazardous chemicals—chemicals that are proven to be harmful to our health.
For example, many window and glass cleaners contain diethylene glycol, a chemical that causes damage to the central nervous system, the liver, and the kidneys. As well, common toilet bowl cleansers and other disinfectants contain chlorinated phenols, which are toxic to the respiratory and circulatory system and which also cause cardiac damage.
But there is good news. There are still great ways to clean our homes—ways that are effective and natural. Here are two recipes that work just as well as store bought cleansers and that use ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Most of the ingredients hearken back to things our grandmothers used when they cleaned their homes—things like baking soda and vinegar. And you can use these cleansers with confidence, knowing that you’re not leaving behind any harmful chemicals.
Onya Bags the plastic bag alternative! From pouch to bag experience
All Purpose Scrub
Mix together:
• 2/3 cup baking soda
Then add:
• 1/2 cup water • 3 Tbsp. vinegar
• 1/2 cup Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap - or any other plant-based soap or phosphate-free dish soap
• 40 drops of natural essential oil (optional, as some Dr. Bronner’s soaps are scented with natural oils already)
Use an old shampoo bottle or similar container to store this cleanser. (Be sure to label it “All Purpose Scrub” as it won’t do a good job on your hair—unless you like that “just swam in the Great Salt Lake” look.) Always give this a good shake before using. Use anywhere you’d use a scrub.
Glass Cleaner
To a spray bottle add three parts water and one part white vinegar. You can scent it with a few drops of essential oil, like lavender, if you like.
Debbie Bowman is a Vancouver-based freelance writer and mother of two who still dislikes cleaning her house.
Onya Bags are made from soft, silky, strong parachute materials. They are small, light and conveniently pack into their own pouches, clipping onto your handbags, belts, key rings... with handy carabiners.
Time to Move?
We all know the waste that results from moving. Cardboard boxes, tape, packing suppliesnot to mention the gas—all create a pretty heavy carbon footprint. If a move is in your future, consider some of these eco-friendly alternatives:
Say No to Boxes
This local company rents out sturdy packing crates with secure, lockable lids, eliminating the need for cardboard boxes, packing tape, etc. They will deliver and pick up the boxes when you’re done with them, and at around $5 per box for a 30-day rental, you will be saving dollars, as well as the environment. saynotoboxes.com
Yuba Mundo Bikes
We all know about the health benefits of bicycling, but have you ever thought about using one to move? This larger-frame bike, with its integrated rear deck, can carry up to 200kg safely. So whether you just need to bring home that 20lb sack of potatoes—and the kids—or orchestrate a bigger adventure, this bike might be your carbon-neutral ticket! vancouverlongbikes.ca
Your One-Stop Recycle Shop
Did you know that London Drugs will accept Styrofoam and other packing materials from any product that it sells, and will recycle it in partnership with Genesis Recycling? The chain will also accept back its own used products—everything from clocks and stereos to vacuums and plastic bags—for recycling at no charge. Want to drop off products that weren’t bought at LD? No problem, just pay a small recycling fee to offset the costs, and they’ll accept those items as well. Get more details in-store.
Nature’s Path Raises the Bar
Local company Nature’s Path has expanded their offerings to include a range of organic granola bars, alongside their Envirokidz line of puffed rice bars. All of the bars now come in boxes packaged with 36% less cardboard. naturespath.com
Learn to Lead
By Vanessa Marcotte
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” is a famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi that we as camp professionals hold in high regard. Being a camper not only means conquering the climbing wall, high ropes course or even the hardest element in a bike trials park, it also means becoming more consciously aware of the world around us and helping to grow as young leaders in today’s society, by learning to “be the change.”
As campers attend summer camp year after year and grow up “through the ranks,” they learn the values and philosophy of the camp, the camp director, the leaders and the environment, and are able to, as leaders, better pass on that philosophy to future campers. This cycle of camper to leader tradition cultivates a bond and family feel like no other, where campers are being raised learning human growth dynamics, sensitivity and diversity, all of which will remain with them throughout their lives.
When kids have fun at summer camp, they are learning the hard skills of canoeing, fire building, earth education etc., but they are also learning, more
importantly, the soft skills of being with other people and becoming better citizens in the world.
Many CEOs and people in the corporate world talk about the fact that they are able to discern one quality in the working force with respect to those who have attended summer camp: RESILIENCY! The summer camp experience allows children to come into contact with a tremendous amount of diverse conditions—having to make friends, living in an alternate residence from home, learning to accept people’s differences. Campers who have experienced all of the above are better able as leaders to give back to the community and help future campers better understand life’s changes.
So don’t shy away from introducing your children into this magical experience called summer camp!
Vanessa Marcotte is the Leadership Director at Camp Summit (www.campsummit.ca) in Squamish, B.C.
Youth leaders with campers at Camp Summit.
camp guide resource listings: sleepover and family camps
See ad this issue
Camp Goodtimes
Providing a unique summer experience to children and teens with cancer, and their families. Camp Goodtimes has medical supervision on site and other support.
Where: Loon Lake, Maple Ridge Cost: Free through the Canadian Cancer Society 888.939.3333 | cancer.ca
Camp Jubilee
Providing a safe, fun and memorable environment while helping young people develop communication, cooperation, self-awareness and leadership skills. Campers experience the independence of being away from home, develop new friendships and create lifelong memories. Ages 7 to 16.
Where: Indian Arm, between Port Moody & North Vancouver
Cost: $349 – $489
604.937.7388 | campjubilee.ca
Camp Olave: BC Girl Guides
Swimming, canoeing, crafts, and exploration with overnights in huts and teepees. Must be a member of Girl Guides. Ages 8 to 14.
Where: Sunshine Coast
Cost: Varied, please see website for details 800.565.8111 | campolave.com
Camp Qwanoes
This Christian, high-energy camp has over 40 activities to customize your week and stir up the adrenaline. Ages 8 to 18, and offers a family camp.
Where: Vancouver Island between Victoria and Nanaimo
Cost: $397 – $619
888.997.9266 | qwanoes.ca
Camp Squeah
This Mennonite camp offers rock climbing, canoeing, hiking, archery and orienteering. Try a mini camp or go beyond! Ages 6 to 17.
Where: The Fraser Canyon
Cost: $115 – $500
800.380.2267 | squeah.com
Camp Summit
Choose from a one, two, or three-week session and expect an equal opportunity to experience different activities such as hiking, canoeing, rafting or a five-day, all-mountain biking camp. Ages 7 to17.
Where: Squamish
Cost: $450 – $2459
866.550.1118 | campsummit.ca
Eaglearts Academy
Ages 9 to 11 can enjoy music, dance, drama, video production, visual arts and creative writing. Ages 12 to 17.
Where: Near Shawnigan Lake, Vancouver Island
Cost: $1295 – $1695
250.743.7144 x. 258 | eaglearts.ca
Easter Seals Camp
A three or seven-day program for kids with mental and/or physical disability, focusing on abilities, not disabilities. Ages 6 to 18.
Where: Various locations throughout B.C.
Cost: Free through volunteers, corporate donations and the Lions Society.
604.873.1865 | lionsbc.ca
Eureka Camp
Children with invisible disabilities (like ADHD & mild autism) will have the opportunity to meet new friends, develop new skills and gain a sense of accomplishment focusing on the wilderness. Ages 8 to 18.
Where: Camp Jubilee and Tepee Lakes
Cost: $650 – $1300
604.520.1155 | eurekacamp.ca
Evans Lake Summer Camp
Eco Fun Forest Education programs are designed to teach campers about trees, soils, wildlife, outdoor skills and leadership. Ages 8 to 16.
Where: Squamish
Cost: $475 – $675
604.904.2221 | evanslake.com
Horne Lake Cavern and Teepees Adventure Camp
Action-packed fun is guaranteed as well as a thrill in a safe and supportive environment. Ages 9 & up, with family camps available.
Where: Beaufort Range Mountains near Qualicum Bay on Vancouver Island
Cost: Varies, depending on the camp 250.703.6051 | hornelake.com
Inner Rhythm Surf Camp
Learn to surf and about the ocean environment in this week long camp. Ages 12 to 17.
Where: Tofino and Ucluelet on Vancouver Island
Cost: $1,059 including all equipment
877.393.7873 | innerrhythm.net
Sasamat Outdoor Centre
Canoeing, hiking, archery, fishing, climbing wall, outdoor cooking and more! Resident camp for kids and teens, with family camp available.
Where: Sasamat Lake, Belcarra
Cost: $315 – $390
1.604.939.2268 | sasamat.org
Teen Journey
An eight-day holistic summer camp for teens (13 to 18) focusing on the passage to adulthood, designed to have teenagers participate in their own journey of self-discovery and rites of passage in a safe environment with other teens.
Where: Zajac Ranch, Mission
Cost: Varies depending on length of camp
604.435.5555 | teenjourney.org
The
Dave Murray Summer Ski and Snowboard Camp (DMSSC)
Winter sports in the summer! Also a skateboard and BMX park, white water rafting, bungee jumping and bike trails. Ages 7 to 18, with family camps available.
Where: Whistler
Cost: $1025 – $2195
877.444.7669 | skiandsnowboard.com
The YES Camp
Workshops offered on communication, how to co-operate and trust. Also hiking, rock climbing and kayaking with focus on environmental awareness. Ages 14 to 16.
Where: Various locations
Cost: $550
604.662.3906 | theyes.ca
Wellspring
Vancouver Weight Loss Camp
Campers will learn how to achieve long-term weight loss success during a fun-filled summer vacation on campus at Quest University. Wellspring campers lose an average of four pounds per week by learning how to prepare low-fat meals and achieving 10,000 steps a day through walks, hikes and a variety of outdoor activities such as biking, ocean kayaking, swimming and personal training. Offering four, six or eight-week camps for ages 11 to 18.
Where: Quest University, Squamish
Cost: $750 – $1500
866.864.0808 | wellspringvancouver.com
YMCA
One or two-week camps encouraging friendship, adventure, creativity, learning, and play. Ages 6 to 17.
Where: Camp Deka in the Cariboo; Camp Elphinstone on the Sunshine Coast; and Camp Howdy on the Eastern Shores of Indian Arm.
Cost: $310 – $1920
604.939.9622 |vanymca.org/camps
Zajac Ranch for Children
Children with chronic illnesses or disabilities that may otherwise not have the chance to experience camp, try different things or just have fun! 24-hour medical centre available on site. Ages 7 to 17, with family camps available.
Where: Mission
Cost: Varies depending on length, medical needs, sponsorship, and other factors.
604.739.0444 | zajacranch.com
Main St.
Hip, Slick, and Cool
Photos
and text
by Sara Sjerven
It may be pushing it to compare it to New York’s SoHo, but Main Street definitely has that alternative feel, combined with the amenities and lifestyle to keep families happy. Main Street’s history is based on a counter-culture that grew out of the artistic, fashionable, and musical tastes of its inhabitants. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be hip, slick, and cool to live here—you will soon be taken in by the fabulous fashion, the excellent eats, the ancient antiques, and the more recent additions of family-friendly community centres and shops.
If you plant yourself firmly in the middle of Main Street, away from the problems of Main and Hastings, and the big box nature of Main and South East Marine Drive, you will find yourself surrounded by a quickly gentrifying neighbourhood, replete with heritage home renovations and new businesses opening weekly. Main Street boasts a diverse population. Sixty percent have a post-secondary education, just under two thirds of the population boasts an average of 1.2 children, and the average household makes $68,039.
For an afternoon with kids, check out Main Street between 17th and 28th Avenues, where you will find shabby chic, Antique Row, bakeries and delis that are toddler welcoming in atmosphere and menu selection, as well as parks for kids to run off that extra steam. Here’s a sampling of what’s available:
3702 Main Street
604.873.5151 | www.shaktea.ca
Smoking Lily
3634 Main Street
604.873.5459 | www.smokinglily.com
Irreverent is what comes to mind when you flip through the silkscreen offerings at Smoking Lily. You’ll find octopi, Jesus, bicycles, historical figures, and butterflies, to mention a few. There are dramatic, versatile capes, A-line skirts, whimsical dresses and spring coats, and t-shirts for babies and dads. Scarves, clutches, jewellery, quilts, tea towels and cozies flesh out the line of this store’s collection. Smoking Lily began in Victoria in 1996 and opened their doors in 2002 to their grateful Main Street neighbours. The store prides itself on trying to use local fabrics and designs, although they admit to being lured by the offerings of the global market; they also sew and silk screen their designs in-house.
Granville Island Toy Company/Main Street Baby
3298 Main Street
604.875.0065 | www.toycompany.ca
Who can resist a toy store? It brings out the kid in all of us: the Lego, the dolls, the games and contraptions. The diggers, dumpers, dollhouses and crafts. This is a great local toy store, starting off at Granville Island and branching out to serve a growing community of families on Main Street. Whether you are looking for a Vancouver Monopoly game or a Calico Critter, you will find a wide selection of great gifts and toys for your own children and their friends. Granville Island Toy Company also boasts a selection of eco-friendly merchandise. Owners Joanna Mileos and husband Craig Hartman took advantage of a vacancy next door to open Main Street Baby, which houses great clothing lines for the new little one in your life. Who could survive without a Sophie the Giraffe rubber toy by Vulli? You won’t spot a hip, slick, and cool baby without one and you can find them here.
Calm…Peace…Rejuvenation. That’s what’s expected from a cup of tea and from a shop entirely dedicated to the sale and experience of tea. Although this might not be the place for a toddler, you can take your older child here for a regular dose of delectable non-caffeinated tea and a very tasty morsel of chocolate ganache or lemon cheesecake. Try the Raspberry Vanilla or Blueberry Yoghurt Rooibos. Or what about Luna’s Organic Karmic Peace Tea? You know you are in for a delicious surprise just from the names. The atmosphere is reminiscent of India and you will find a rotating display of local artwork on the walls.
Once Upon A Huckleberry Bush
4387 Main Street
604.876.4010 | www.huckleberrychildrensbooks.com
The delicious smell of a freshly opened new book—there’s nothing like it and, unfortunately, the library books can’t quite compete! At Once Upon a Huckleberry Bush you will find a vast array of children’s and young adult books. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, they’ll gladly order it for you and the staff is always helpful with gift ideas and suggestions for the readers in your family. This book store offers author visits, book clubs, contests, and story times. Make sure you check out the website or call for current times and upcoming events.
Beansprouts
4305 Main Street
604.871.9782 | www.beansprouts.ca
It’s all about “good things for growing children.” Handcrafted, recycled, and organic are the watchwords at Beansprouts, where you can find everything from wooden toys, organic baby blankets and onesies, to very hip children’s clothes from the European line Molo. Also available are pre-loved children’s clothes and shoes, carefully selected and organized, which is seriously helpful to parents who can’t seem to keep up with the constantly growing feet and bodies of their little ones! Beansprouts has a boutique atmosphere as well as a play area for your kids to get busy in while you get busy shopping.
More Great Finds On Main Street:
Café Rustico | 3136 Main St | 604.872.3444
Solly’s Bagelry | 189 East 28 Ave | 604.675.9770
Liberty Bakery | 3699 Main St | 604.709.9999
Nikkyu Sushi | 3302 Main St | 604-873-2220
The Grind and Gallery Coffee Bar | 4124 Main St | 604.874.1588
Saltspring Island Coffee Co | 4295 Main St | 604.875.9727
Kiddo Consignment | 194 East King Edward Ave | 604.708.1101
Mount Pleasant Community Centre | 1 Kingsway | 604.257.3080
Riley Park Community Centre | 50 East 30 Ave | 604.257.8545
Grimmet Park | 169 East 19 Ave
Tea Swamp Park | 266 East 15 Ave
THE 11TH ANNUAL BABY GUIDE ARRIVES APRIL 2010! THE ESSENTIAL LOCAL TOOL FOR BUSY NEW PARENTS!
The 2010 Baby Guide features new articles, valuable local information, handy resource listings, and special offers for new & expecting parents. E-mail sales@westcoastfamilies.com to advertise!
Have a Healthy Sleep
By Chelsea Bell
Ahealthy sleep starts with a healthy bedroom, but it can be difficult to know where to start, and what factors to consider when creating a healthy sleeping environment for the whole family.
A healthy bedroom starts with good airflow. Does your bedroom sometimes seem stuffy? Try using a fan to vent air out of your room. Does your bed seem clammy? Try folding your blankets over the foot of your bed and opening you curtains to allow the sun to shine on your bed during the day; this will help kill bacteria, and assist in evaporating excess moisture into the atmosphere. Try a natural mattress overlay made out of a moisture-wicking material such as wool. This will protect your mattress, and wool is excellent at both absorbing and releasing moisture. This will help you to remain drier and at a more consistent temperature through the night.
Crankpots
Ceramic Studio
Removing dust from your sleeping area is especially important if you are sleeping on polyurethane foam (most commercial mattresses contain this), as the dust particles can be composed of foam that is breaking down, and can affect the respiratory system adversely. Using a cloth dampened with water and white vinegar for your dusting has the added benefit of discouraging moulds, mildews, and fungus from taking up residence in your bedroom, and the fragrance of vinegar dissipates almost immediately.
Ceramic Painting & Decorating Book Your Party! Birthdays, Showers, Corporate, or Other Special Events! It’s as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Choose your favorite piece of ceramic. 2. Select a design. We can guide you along. 3. Once finished, we over glaze and fire it.
#153 – 555 West 12th Ave. Vancouver, BC. V5Z 3X7 604.871.0302 | www.crankpots.net E-mail: info@crankpots.net
Keep your bed linens clean. Use machine-washable covers on your pillows and duvets to protect them, and wash your covers regularly using fragrance-free natural detergents. Avoid fabric softeners, as they contain high concentrations of chemicals such as formaldehyde; if you can, line dry your bed linens, and expose them to the cleansing benefits of the sun’s rays.
Parents can help baby to a good start by finding organic and natural alternatives, such as organic crib mattresses (never put baby on a hand-medown polyurethane mattress, as these break down quickly when exposed to heat and moisture). Make sure baby sleeps on her back, that there is fresh airflow in baby’s room, and all linens and surfaces are dust-free. If you have carpets, be sure to vacuum at least once per week, as dust mites, pet dander, and dust can build up quickly in carpets.
In the last few years, off-gassing from beds and bedding that contain polyurethane foam and flame retardants has been linked to a variety of ailments including asthma, increased instances of pneumonia, fibromyalgia, allergies, auto-immune diseases, learning disabilities, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The good news: there are natural alternatives. Wool and natural latex beds are becoming increasing available, and other natural materials such as organic cotton have made a comeback in futons.
Chelsea Bell is a mom and owner of Sleepy Sheep (www.sleepysheep.ca).
Family Travel & Adventure Guide
family travel & adventure guide,
Spin City
From hipsters to hip-replacem ent hopefuls, San Diego can be all things to all people.
It was a rainy day in Vancouver: the kind where skies pour, clouds block even the tiniest sliver of light and anti-depressants are flying off pharmacy shelves faster than you can spot a traffic jam on the Lion’s Gate Bridge. It’s time to get out of Dodge for a dose of Vitamin D, but where could my family go with four competing holiday agendas? The six-year-old wants playtime in the sun; the 10-year-old dreams of water; I crave urban vibe and culture, while my husband is firmly in the R & R camp.
We conclude that the usual vacation suspects have their drawbacks: Phoenix has sun but no water; ditto Palm Springs; San Francisco has urban vibe but falls short on activities for six-year-olds; Mexico features sun and water, but only scary urbanity and no one was anxious to brush their teeth with bottled water or pay the price with Imodium. Enter San Diego—a city that can be all things to all people.
We marvel at our ingenuity. Instead of a two-hour-plus slog at YVR with scowling custom agents and metal detectors in stinky socks, we spend an hour driving to Bellingham, park at the tiny airport with its sole baggage carousel, and wait only an hour for our national flight on the upstart budget-carrier Allegiant Air—a resoundingly more civilized way to travel with kids. We land in the middle of California’s second largest city (the airport is—weirdly—right downtown), rent a car and head to our first digs to check off sun, surf and—as it turns out—a little ghost-hunting.
Classic California
At the Victorian Hotel del Coronado, we’re treated to romantic history at a glance. The 122-year-old white-washed, turreted resort is iconic for serving Marilyn Monroe her backdrop in Some Like it Hot. On Coronado’s peninsula, five miles from downtown San Diego, rumour has it that King Edward VIII met local housewife Wallis Simpson at the hotel—or the Del, as locals refer to it—setting up his future decision to choose love over the throne of England. After a few days at the Del, I sort of see where he got his priorities. Inside the old hotel’s warren of hallways, sepia-toned pictures tell more stories of the past: four years after the Del opened, guest Kate Morgan fell to her death while descending stairs to the beach, and since then her bustled ghostly figure likes to make the odd appearance. With a shudder, we’re off with our two girls, Greer and Lola, in search of the paranormal and armed with a trusty camera and some steely nerves (sadly, all we found was the ghostly pallor of fellow Canadians).
The next morning we trade the fun of ghost hunting for the scariness of trying to get the whole clan surfing—just as an offshore winter storm produces some serious waves. Getting into a wetsuit that seems eight times too small, however,
was not part of my agenda and I feel a little like a sausage squeezing into a casing as I yank and stretch the slippery fabric past my knees. But with a little squishing and tucking, we all manage to look like neoprene superheroes in no time before heading to the beach with our boards firmly tucked under our arms.
On the sand, “Gnarly Neal”—as our grizzled, veteran instructor bills himself— demos the surprisingly graceful ritual of the kneel-jump-stand sequence on the board. We continue with determined mimicry until he’s confident we can exact the same lithe moves on water. Our first few attempts are acrobaticallychallenged disasters, but soon, almost all of us are up on our boards long enough for a quick snap with the camera for posterity. The odd man out, six-year-old Lola, gives up in frustration and splays across the sand in protest. Her tiny frame notwithstanding, no doubt the rest of the family’s success is due to the Honda Civic-sized beginner boards we’re straddling that practically come equipped with steering wheels.
Later that night, Lola tucks into her idea of a beach activity: s’mores on the beach. Roasting marshmallows to perfection can be as elusive as a Kate Morgan sighting so David, our personal s’mores attendant dispatched from the Del’s kitchen, arrives with a picnic basket brimming with full-size chocolate bars, graham crackers and marshmallows. Camped out on the empty beach, bathing in firelight seems so classic I’m tempted to start singing a Beach Boys song, but thankfully Lola interrupts my reverie with an equally classic wail—in what passes for tragedy at the Del, she’s dropped a flaming marshmallow into the fire.
The O.C.
Come weekend at the Del, legions of daily buses depositing tourists at this historic landmark ramp up and so we self-prescribe some quiet time off the beaten path. In Carlsbad, the Four Seasons Aviara is well placed for a little sun worship and golf to counterbalance the inevitable trip to Legoland, normally a 40-minute drive from downtown San Diego. At the luxe 220-acre Aviara compound, the Holy Grail of Lego-lovers everywhere is only a few minutes’ drive up the road.
At first blush, a swanky Four Seasons seems incongruous with kid-friendly, and I half regret our decision to decamp here when we pull up in our serviceable rental car aside a row of shiny Bentleys and BMWs. But San Diegans are known to be friendly to a fault, and the valet is no exception as he beams invitingly at us as we pile out, cracker crumbs and all. After check-in, pint-sized robes, slippers and stuffed animals placed on the bed await the kids as do plates of candy on the coffee table with their names spelled out in chocolate script (guests provide their children’s deets when booking). Nirvana is fully
Photos and text by Amanda Ross
reached when they discover Mini-me’s at the Four Seasons also get milk-andcookie delivery come bedtime. There’s luxury for parents, too: the concierge cues babysitting services with the press of a button, but my husband is now seriously torn between the Arnold Palmer-designed course outside and the kids’ games room downstairs—replete with foosball, shuffleboard and a Wii.
Urban Rush
Following the requisite Legoland circuit (orderly and more manageable than Sea World), we have a date with downtown for our next agenda appointment. Like myriad other California cities, San Diego’s almost 1,300,000-strong population suffers from a spread-out car culture and its epicentre has paid the price. But in recent years there has been a major push to spruce-up the once dicey downtown and, as a result, sleek condos and boutique hotels now occupy the former stomping grounds of dive-bars and tattoo parlours. We choose the new Se, an achingly chic boutique hotel—a renegade amidst downtown’s stock of century-old Spanish baroque architecture. Our room is über-swank, but also über-small, and while we frequently bump into one another, the kids are jazzed up about staying at an “adult” hotel. Thanks to the nocturnal habits of the other guests, the rooftop pool is blissfully empty at noon and with not one diaper-clad kid in sight, it’s nice to not have to worry about the pH factor of the pool for once. I’m also grateful for the hotel’s walking distance to the rest of the city’s gentrified core.
The next morning I opt to take the girls to the New Children’s Museum, but, not surprisingly, they balk at the idea of a boring tour of old paintings. I assure them that this new structure is not your typical paean to modern architecture: inside, every angular, contemporary surface invites and encourages tiny hands to grope, explore, and create art even if it means getting down and dirty. Once past the concrete and glass entry, they’re more than happy to oblige in the outdoor painting studio before rounding out their visit in the indoor clay studio. Crayon physics are next.
We’ve been gone a week and it’s been a tale of three cities and everyone seems to have all the items on their vacation list ticked off. I’m not surprised San Diego consistently ranks as one of the top five U.S. cities to live in. But I also won’t be surprised when the sun returns to Vancouver and our collective amnesia sets in. However, Vancouver’s rain is San Diego’s gain since next up is Easter break: I think rain is in the forecast.
In San Diego, Vancouver-based Amanda Ross found sunny respite from her day job as an editor and writer at HomeSpa, Western Living and enRoute magazines.
family travel & adventure guide
Travelling “Green” as a Family
By Claire Newell
We’re all trying to be a little greener in our homes these days, but what about when we’re on vacation? Many hotels and resorts have already gone green, but it really makes an impact when the guests do their part as well. Traveling can be a great opportunity to demonstrate environmental awareness to your children. Here are some examples:
Watch the water. When you’re staying in a hotel, think of it as your home. Would you normally take a 20 or 30-minute shower? If not, don’t do it while you’re away. Try to conserve water even when you’re not paying for it. Make sure your kids know about this too. This also goes for turning the water off when brushing their teeth. All the at-home water rules should apply.
Lights out. It may seem obvious, but make sure to turn the lights out when you leave the bathroom or your hotel room. Even those table lamps that often get left on are sucking a lot of power.
Bring suds from home. Take your own shampoo, conditioner, soap and bubble bath. Nearly 70 percent of frequent travelers admit to opening a new mini-bottle of shampoo and conditioner each time they shower on the road. That just means more plastic waste. To avoid your kids opening the bottles, put them away when you check-in. Bringing their favourite bubble bath and shampoo can be fun for them to use in a new tub.
Voluntourism
By Claire Newell
Voluntourism is one of the latest trends in travel. It’s a combination of volunteering and travel, and focuses on utilizing the best aspects of each ingredient. This means experiencing the attractions, heritage sites, and the natural environment while contributing to the destination by enhancing it through its people, places, and things.
With endless project opportunities, flexible timeframes and a whole world of sites to choose from, voluntourism is an ideal family travel option that creates lasting memories, encourages cultural learning, and ultimately, makes the world a better place for us all.
The educational aspect of voluntourism is a key factor for prospective voluntourist families. Voluntourism groups are now catering to families with young children and are doing so by providing short-term programs and those that are appropriate for children. Here are some notable organizations and a brief summary of what they offer:
Habitat for Humanity: Global Village Program
Families can stay close to home by helping locally or travel as far as Tajikistan. There is the freedom to choose a project, fill out an application, and choose to work as just a family or with an affiliated group, such as a church.
Global Citizens Network
Children can follow their parents’ lead on grassroots projects around the world under the leadership of the community they are visiting. Work projects can include setting up a library in Peru or Arizona, or reforestation in a Thai village or in Nepal. Ages eight years old and up are preferable.
Hang up your towels. Only a third of people who took the green survey said they change their linens daily at home, yet 75 percent want fresh sheets and towels everyday in a hotel. If you’re towels aren’t dirty—hang them up and reuse them. Section off the bathroom so that everyone knows which towel is theirs for the trip and where it should be hung back up in the bathroom.
Limit buying bottled water. I know it’s a necessary evil while travelling in many countries throughout the world. But, where possible, I would definitely recommend refilling your water bottle instead of buying a new one whenever you can. It’s cheaper and certainly creates less waste.
Recycle as a family. Make yourself aware of your hotel’s recycling program and sort your trash accordingly. Make a game of it with your kids. If your hotel doesn’t recycle, consider taking your empty bottles or other items to the front desk for them to put aside for recycling.
Millions of dollars, millions of litres of water and tons of energy get wasted everyday by people who just get a little lazy when they’re away. It is so simple to be a savvy green traveler. Teaching your children this early-on, will ensure a cleaner future for us all.
Claire Newell is the official Travel Consultant for Global TV and has appeared on The Today Show. She is the best-selling author of Travel Best Bets—An Insider’s Guide to Taking Your Best Trips, Ever and has launched two collections: C. Newell Travel Essentials & CN Travel Collection– allowing her to pour her years of packing and frequent flying into a slick collection of travel bags, suitcases and accessories.
Ambassadors for Children
Children and parents can take eight-day trips to Costa Rica to practice daily yoga and work on volunteer sites in local villages, with off-day adventures to waterfalls and the rainforest. Other trips include Jamaica with Kiwanis to help build playgrounds and working with at-risk youth on conservation projects in New Mexico.
Globe Aware
With exciting reviews by a nine, seven, and a five-year-old about discovering bats and waterfalls in Thailand, parents will be excited to share the world and its inhabitants with their children. Globe Aware wants families to immerse themselves in the communities they are helping, while providing some fun on the side for the young ones.
Earthwatch Institute
Earthwatch combines fun with learning on their ten-day family expeditions for those who want to interact with marine friends. While most lodging includes a swimming pool for kids, that won’t be necessary when your ten-year-old is swimming with sea turtles in Trinidad.
Whether it’s volunteering in a medical clinic in Kenya, working at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand or helping children at an orphanage in Jamaica, the experience is bound to be life changing for the whole family.
Infant and Child Friendly Hotels & Resorts
By Claire Newell
There is no doubt that travelling with kids is more complicated, slower and more stressful. But where you stay doesn’t have to be! Many hotels and resorts are specifically catering to families. Whether it be simply staying in a room with a kitchen or booking a full-on kid paradise, there are many options for families heading on vacation.
Abroad
Beaches Resorts
Locations: Turks & Caicos, Jamaica
What they offer: Certified nannies to take care of your babies and toddlers from 9am to 5pm, and in the evenings. Their nannies are certified in accordance with an accredited U.S. university. Professionally trained childcare experts run Beaches’ Kids Camp programs, for infants through to age 12. Teenagers can hang out at the teen dance club, learn how to be a DJ, play videogame tournaments, and take part in water sports.
Club Med
Locations: North America, Caribbean, Europe, Australia, South America, Africa and Asia
What they offer: Here, little ones are pampered with customized programs that respect each child’s preferences and physical abilities. Club Med makes a vacation with baby super easy. For 11 to 17 years olds, at Club Med, everything’s available and nothing is imposed.
Sol Melia Resorts
Locations: Europe, Mexico, Caribbean, Costa Rica
What they offer: Kids clubs that will take infants from just 42 days old and entertain youth to 17 years old. You can stay in a family-style apartment room with one or two bedrooms and kitchen. Rooms also come equipped with bunk beds, baby kits, bottle warmers, children’s toothbrushes and a gift for the kids.
Local
The Cove Lakeside Resort
Location: West Bank, B.C.
What they offer: Regular rooms to suites with full kitchens. Kids programs run from July through August. Fun for kids includes water sports, scavenger hunts, movie nights, bingo nights and on-site arcade. Top attractions are their waterslide and water trampoline.
Watermark Beach Resort
Location: Osoyoos, British Columbia
What they offer: You can choose from a variety of rooms and suites with kitchens and dining areas. Watermark also allows dogs to stay for an extra $20/ night. Watermark Kids Zone will provide activities and programs to challenge any energy level. Fun options for the kids include a media room for movie nights and a waterslide.
Many hotels do not advertise or publish information about what they offer for children. Phoning reservations and asking for specifics is definitely your best bet.
Insider’s tip for traveling with an infant:
Luggage restrictions may cause you to second-guess bringing a stroller or playpen. Consider renting while in destination or asking if your hotel will provide them for you. For longer stays, it might be worth buying what you need at a department store and donating it when you leave.
WCF community calendar - April 2010
Leonardo da Vinci: The Mechanics of Man
Vancouver Art Gallery
Ongoing until May 2
Some of the most important drawings of the human body ever created will be on display thru April. For the first time in history, the anatomical drawings of Leonardo da Vinci’s Anatomical Manuscript A will be on view in their entirety in the exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: The Mechanics of Man. Generously loaned from the Royal Collection by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for presentation during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
604.662.4719 | vanartgallery.bc.ca
Maritime Style Easter Treasure Hunt
Vancouver Maritime Museum
April 2-5
All ages will have fun with the Museum’s version of an Easter egg hunt. Treasure hunters will explore the Museum’s galleries to find answers to a set of questions. Find all the treasures and win a prize. Question sheets available at the front desk. Treasure hunt is free with admission.
604.257.8300
vancouvermaritimemuseum.com
Easter Fair
Surrey Museum
April 3, 1pm-4pm
Join in Easter fun for the family with colouring, making bonnets, storytelling and an egg hunt for the little ones. Find out about the real Easter Bunny and friends as you learn about local wildlife and meet rescue animals and the organizations that care for them, from rabbits and hamsters to dogs and parrots. Drop in, by donation.
604.592.6956 | surrey.ca
Bobs and Lolo
Science World
April 4 & 5, noon & 2pm
The lively musical duo of Bobs and Lolo are back, exploring the natural world through music, movement and make-believe. You do not want to miss this award-winning group! Meet in the Science Theatre.
604.443.7443 | scienceworld.ca
Annual Easter Event
Harrison River Restaurant
April 4 & 5, 11am-1pm
Annual Easter egg hunt as well as fun crafts for the children throughout the day. The Harrison River Restaurant will have a special full course Easter dinner for lunch. Traditional Easter Dinner on Sunday only includes ham dinner with all the trimmings, beverage and dessert. Adults $15.50, seniors $13.50, children (10 and under) $11. Reservation required, last seating at 4pm each day. kilby.ca
Critter Capers—Case of the Mysterious Egg
Burnaby Lake Regional Park
April 5, 11am-2pm
Inspired by programs such as CSI, this mystery is a fun way to test your detective skills. Visit each of the clue stations along the trail and examine the evidence. Uncover hidden motives, examine stomach contents, and listen to birdcalls. The goal is to learn the identity of the “mysterious egg.” Allow at least one hour to complete the program. Free, registration not required. Ages 6+. burnaby.bc.ca
Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street
April 9-16
Features films from several countries, shorts from Canada, awards selected by the youth themselves, and a Young Filmmakers Showcase.
604.224.6162 | r2rfestival.org
Beauty & the Beast
Betty Huff Elementary
April 12-15, 7pm
Betty Huff Theatre Company is presenting the classic Beauty and the Beast. Tickets are $6.00 and available at the door night of the performance. Come early to guarantee a great seat!
604.585.3104
Huge Indoor Kids Swap Meet!
Cloverdale Fair Grounds
April 17, 9am-1pm
For families and those expecting, this is a goldmine! Everything from toys to strollers, clothing to baby gates, you’ll find it here! Newborn sizes up to and including teen stuff. Get there early for best selection. Early admission is $5, after 10am is $2. Kids are free. Parking is free.
604.513.8880
Goodbye Chums!
Kanaka Creek Regional Park
April 18, 11am-3pm
The spectacular Kanaka Creek flows through Maple Ridge. Come to the Bell-Irving Hatchery in Kanaka Creek Regional Park and celebrate this community resource for watershed stewardship. Learn how to reduce impacts on local salmon species and make your lifestyle more sustainable for all creek critters. Become a creek friendly neighbour by completing some of these activities: release salmon fry into the creek, watch the salmon puppet show, make creek-friendly household cleaners, meet local stewardship groups and tour the Bell-Irving Hatchery. 604.530.4983
Earth Day
Whole Foods Market, Robson
April 22
Earth Day is coming up. What kind of events do you want to do at the Robson store? The Whole Foods team members have a committee called the Green Mission and have begun to implement some great ideas to reduce! reuse! and—you guessed it—recycle!
604.687.5288
wholefoodsmarket.com
Baker’s Market
408 East Kent Avenue South, Back door #115, Vancouver
April 10, 17, 24, 11am-3pm
If you have a “sweet-tooth”, this is the place for you. Inspired by traditional farmers’ markets, this market is even better since it is indoors with lots of free parking too. You’ll find talented bakers selling cupcakes, cookies, mini bundt cakes, muffins, scones, breads & glutenfree goodies too. Many bakers will be happy to take orders for corporate orders, wedding cakes and much more! www.bakersmarket.com
I ♥ Planet Earth!
VanDusen Botanical Garden
April 24, 10:30am-12:30pm or 1:30pm-3:30pm
Celebrate Earth Day with the family by investigating the Garden and the importance of preserving our natural world. Propagate your own plant and make a special earth-friendly craft. There is a scheduled Pre-Plant Sale tour to coincide with the day’s programs. One adult goes on the Plant Tour while another enjoys Earth Day activities with the kids ages 5 to 11 years. Price: Member Family $10, Non-Member Family $15 (includes admission to the Garden). Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please pre-register.
604.718.5898 | vandusengarden.org
Bugs, Snails & Spider Trails
Minnekhada Regional Park
April 24, 10am-11:30am
Explore the world of insects, spiders, and other creepy-crawlies. Join a bug hunt, follow a snail, and count spider legs. Join your child in a fun, hands-on introduction to invertebrates. $12/child, adult pair. Registration required. 604.927.4386 | metrovancouver.org
Planet Earth Day
Surrey Museum
April 24, 1pm-3pm
Too much junk mail, too many plastic bags or just too much laundry lint? Find out how to turn trash into treasures that you can reuse. Take home your own woven plastic coasters and more! This event is free and appropriate for all ages. 604.592.6956 | surrey.ca
Earth Day
Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve
April 24, 10am–2pm
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with your family by participating in the annual watershed stewardship activities in the LSCR. Come along and help the natural ecosystem by pulling invasive plants, and help establish habitat for native wildlife. All ages are welcome. Meet at Rice Lake Gate picnic site.
604.451.6506 | metrovancouver.org
Early Years Festival
North Surrey Recreation Centre
April 26, 11am-3pm
This year’s theme is Science and Nature. Join in the fun and explore with your little ones. The first 500 families receive a goody bag! The event offers parents and childcare providers an opportunity to browse a variety of community resources and family/child-oriented businesses. There will be plenty of activities, bouncy castles, bubbles, entertainment, door prizes and much more. Event is free and indoors, rain or shine!
604.502.6343 | surrey.ca
Jeans Day
School or Work
April 29, all day
Jeans Day is a fun and easy event for people of all ages to participate in and show their support of BC’s kids. Simply by purchasing a $5 button or $20 pin, you get a chance to wear your jeans to work or school and help the kids at BC Children’s Hospital. Become a Champion! Champions are people who coordinate Jeans Day at their workplace. By inviting colleagues, family and friends to participate by purchasing a Jeans Day lapel pin or button you can help us raise over $1 million, through Jeans Day, for BC Children’s Hospital. bcchf.ca
Chickadee Capers
Burnaby Lake Regional Park May 1, 10:30am-noon Follow the flight of excited chickadees, listen to their calls, and play chickadee games. Enjoy an outdoor experience with your child as you learn about this tiny songbird. $12.84/child, adult pair. Registration required.
604.421.5225 | burnaby.ca
Want WestCoast Families at YOUR event?
Call 604.249.2866 or email admin@westcoastfamilies.com us to receive free delivery of our magazines to your family event!
Green Opportunities
By Angela Davidson
For many of us, the approach of motherhood (whether for the first or fourth time)—and the inevitable maternity leave—is like a bell toll, signalling the end of our career and personal drive. While many moms welcome the chance to stay at home with their brood, an equal number shudder at the thought of what will happen to their chances for advancement.
But fear not, dear mommies, what you thought of as spanner in the oh-so-grand works of your thriving ambition can, in fact, be a budding opportunity for change, growth, learning and some previouslyunthought-of ways to enrich your resume. Here are a few ways to turn that impending maternal hibernation into a green opportunity for your career.
Upgrade your skills and knowledge-base. Whatever industry or field you work in, there’s always something new to learn. Read trade and industry publications, press releases, and online news sources. Consider taking some online courses to upgrade your skills or certification, or even perhaps explore a new career pathway.
Enter a self-employment program. If you have received EI benefits within the last three years, or maternity/parental benefits within the last five years, you may be eligible for a self-employment program through the federal government. If eligible, you receive 48 weeks of income support while learning everything you need to know about starting and running your own business. With locations all over the Lower Mainland, including Langara College, this program is probably available in your own backyard.
Looking for local mompreneur resources? Check out momcafé.net for workshops, networking events and seminars—with on-site babysitting, too!
It’s better to give than to get. Flush out the resume with some volunteer hours at a local charity or your child’s school. Think about “strategic volunteering” as an option, where you choose a group that is related to your career, e.g. if you’re in a medical/health field, consider volunteering at a hospice or wellness centre for the disadvantaged.
Those Who Can’t Do—Teach! If you are an expert in your field, consider teaching at a continuing education centre, or doing some professional speaking engagements at conferences and workshops.
Start a Blog. Or a website, if you’re technically savvy. And blog away about your field of interest. It’s a great way to keep current on your field while establishing an online presence as a voice of authority.
Whatever you decide to do, remember that this time off is not a banishment, it’s a green opportunity to grow your skills, sharpen your vision, and—maybe— even take a well-deserved break.
WCM money matters
The Down-Low on Debt
By Karin Mizgala
No matter how hard we try, we never seem to be able to get out of debt. I’m on maternity leave and am afraid that we’ll just dig ourselves deeper into debt if we don’t do something soon. What are our options?
Debt levels have soared in recent years and a lot of us are feeling the pressure. Over the past 10 years the amount of consumer and mortgage debt has more than doubled to $1.4 trillion. The burden of debt is magnified if you have a reduced income on maternity leave and the cost of another mouth to feed.
If you are finding there is “more month than money” at the end of the month, you are not alone. Many of my clients are surprised to find out just how much it costs to make ends meet—and that’s not even for any luxuries. People are finding their whole pay is going to cover the rent, bills, groceries and the occasional dinner out.
So what can you do? Well, the first step is to get real about your numbers. What does it really cost you to live? And how does that compare to your earnings? Many people dread the thought of tallying up all their expenses, but once you know your numbers, you might be surprised at how easy it is to regain financial control. I have seen people make amazing changes to their spending and their finances, once they are aware of their numbers and ready to do something about it.
Here is a six-step plan to gain financial control:
Get Focused and Commit. The first step to getting control of your finances is to make a commitment.
Know WHY you want to be Debt-Free. Use your WHY as motivation. The more inspired you are by the WHY, the more determined you will be when it comes to the HOW.
It’s Good to Want Big Things. You won’t stick to your plan if you feel like you’re constantly depriving yourself. Think about what you really want and work toward that. What’s more important, your dreams or your latte?
Set a Date to be Debt-Free. When you know the date, you can see beyond it. And you will be even more committed to paying down your debt because every day you are getting closer to your goal.
Pay off one debt at a time (and make the minimum payments on the rest). Focusing your efforts will help you see quick results and give you a feeling of accomplishment as you knock off each debt.
Communicate with Your Partner. Make an “appointment” with your partner to talk about money. Focus on mutual goals and what steps need to be taken now to make sure you are living within your means and not adding to the debt load.
If you need support walking through these steps, ask for help. Find a money coach or check out the Women’s Financial Learning Centre’s Debt-Free Challenge program. For more serious debt issues, consult with your bank or a bankruptcy trustee.
Karin Mizgala MBA, CFP, is a fee-only financial planner and co-founder of the Women’s Financial Learning Centre. www.womensfinanciallearning.ca
liposuction!
Jem Terra of Organic O’ Canada
By Debbie Bowman
What gets you out of bed in the morning? Like most of us, Jem Terra rises in the morning to do what is necessary to financially support her family. But that’s only a small portion of what motivates Jem. Like most of us moms, her biggest passion is her children. But there’s also another passion in her life—her desire to make the world a healthier place, one bed at a time. “If I was to list any must-haves, it would be my kids, and a meaningful purpose in my work life.”
Ask Jem about her two boys, Soren and Pierce, and her face lights up. So when Jem found out Soren was suffering from allergies, she focused all her efforts at finding out why.
After many tests Jem learned that Soren was reacting to dust mites, mould and mildew. And Jem was horrified to learn the culprit was the seemingly innocuous bed they had shared since his birth. Upon this realization, Jem immediately went home and took the mattress apart to find it riddled with mould and mildew. And, as she later found, it was also coated in toxic chemicals. All this made her ask herself, “Just what are we sleeping on?”
From then on she was determined to find the answer to that question—and what she discovered was shocking. She learned that a conventional mattress is coated with boric acid, phosphorus, and arsenic—the main chemicals used to make a mattress flame resistant. Most importantly, she found that Canadian law demands that all conventional mattresses sold in Canada be coated with these flame retardant chemicals. As a result, it was close to impossible for Jem to find a healthy alternative for her family.
So she started Organic O’ Canada to fill the need. As well as organic sheets, pillows and pyjamas, Organic O’ Canada specializes in one hundred percent latex cores which are naturally resistant to mould, mildew and dust mites. The latex cores are designed to be used in conjunction with a wool topper, which make the mattresses naturally flame resistant—so no toxic chemicals are necessary.
Starting her business was what Jem decided to do to help others find a healthy bed, but it also made it possible for her to spend more time with her children. A customer visiting her showroom will find a beautiful space filled with natural light and the neutral colours of organic cotton—but they may also see her kids hanging out among the displays. “My boys even go to business meetings with me,” says Jem during an interview. “I definitely keep them close and am so grateful that my work not allows me to do so, but to introduce them to a healthier way of life.”
Jem’s company is also her way of educating the public, another passion of hers. When a customer visits the showroom, they learn a lot about the industry and the options available to them. However, she encourages people to do their own research. “It’s important that my customers don’t just hear it from me,” she states. “They need to find these things out for themselves. Then they’ll have what they need to make informed decisions.”
Her passion for a more healthy environment and for children has now stretched as far as Africa, as she energetically supports the Queen Victoria Water Project—an endeavour of her boys’ elementary school to raise money for water wells in Africa. “It’s important for the kids to learn about giving, and how fortunate they are to have basic necessities like clean water,” says Jem. In support, Jem has made the charity a large part of her business and has spearheaded an annual formal dinner and musical event to raise funds and spread awareness for the project.
Jem is just one great example of a mother who has proposed to make the world a better place for her children, and that passion has become something beneficial to us all. Here’s to all the great moms out there. Happy Earth Day!
Debbie Bowman is a freelance writer based out of Vancouver who hops out of bed in the morning to take care of her family and to plan their next adventure.
Photographed by Gina Spanos | AG Photography | www.ginaspanos.com
WESTC OAST M O M
Fitness Challenge Update!
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ur contestants have completed their first month of the three month challenge. Some contestants have seen dramatic results, while others have discovered the keys to what was holding them back.
The one thing that all agreed on was that they had underestimated how out of shape they were before starting. “The first week, I was so sore,” stated Helena Tse, echoing what several others felt. “But after that, my energy level went up, and now, despite the fact that I only get four hours of sleep some nights, my energy level is higher and I feel stronger.”
Arlene Bradley, who lost the biggest percentage of their own weight this month, had this to say: “I came down with a miserable cold the weekend before bootcamp began; so I coughed and snorted my way through the first week, and I’ve had a couple of evenings where I’ve continued to graze after supper—but not as much as before this contest started. But last week I ran once around the field—I haven’t run in years; then the next session I ran three times around the field without stopping. My fit-for-fifty plan may become a reality!”
Gillian Armstrong had this to say, “The boot camp is awesome, but the biggest challenge has definitely been my diet, and will be my biggest focus for the next month.” Several other contestants have also discovered the truth of what Kim Crawford, Director of Cardio-Core Bootcamp, told them at the beginning of the competition: “All of us, including me, can out-eat any exercise program in existence.” Next month, we’ll see who has embraced that truth, who has continued to achieve, and how they all have risen to the challenge. Continuing luck to you all!
Hectic Schedule?
Too busy to prepare a healthy meal? It only takes a minute to nourish your body with a healthy meal in a glass – A Formula 1 shake won’t slow you down. Formula 1 is packed with soy protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber and healthy nutrients to set you up for the day and sustain your energy levels, all in less than 220 calories. It helps manage your weight, too!
Here’s a quick breakdown on who lost what this past month:
Name: Gillian Armstrong Occupation: 40
Occupation: Office manager # of Children: One % of Own Weight Lost: 0.5%
Name: Amanda Asaad Age: 36
Occupation:Technical writer # of Children: Two % of Own Weight Lost: 2%
Name: Arlene Bradley Occupation: 49
Occupation: Elementary school counsellor # of Children: Two % of Own Weight Lost: 6.3%
Name: Leanna Hall Occupation:37
Occupation: Human resources assistant # of Children: One % of Own Weight Lost: 0.7%
Name: Lynnette Penner Age: 41
Occupation: Physician
# of Children: Two
% of Own Weight Lost: 4.7%
Name: Anita Sahota Age: 32
Occupation: Elementary school teacher
# of Children: One % of Own Weight Lost: 1.2%
Name: Helena Tse Age: 34
Occupation: Stay-at-home-mom
# of Children: Two % of Own Weight Lost: 5.6%
Name: Jennifer Wright Age: 39
Occupation:RN (currently stay-at-home-mom)
# of Children: One % of Own Weight Lost: 1.4%
Baby and Me Hiking Club
Adult Events for the Hip Mom Around Town!
Capilano River Regional Park
April 6-June 8, 10:30am-noon, every Tuesday
These hiking clubs are designed for new parents and their babies (expecting moms welcome) to enjoy guided hikes in a beautiful outdoor setting, rain or shine. Hikes are moderately strenuous. Parents should have their own comfortable carriers and be able to carry their babies for at least 90 minutes. Expecting moms should be seasoned hikers and have permission from their caregivers. Not suitable for strollers. $10/person per series.
604.432.6359
Bat Boy: The Musical
The Norman Rothstein Theatre
April 7-18, please check website for times The music ranges from rock to rap to horror-movie film score and opera. Bat Boy: The Musical is regarded as one of the funniest and most imaginative musicals in years. John Lahr of The New Yorker observes “this is the only play in the history of the theatre whose hero ends Act I with a rabbit in his mouth, and who moves on in Act II to an entire cow’s head.” Tickets are $44. 604.739.3180 | normanrothsteintheatre.com
Abbotsford’s Denim Diamond’s & Diva’s Spring Fling
Ramada Inn, 36035 North Parallel Rd, Abbotsford April 13, 5pm
Oh yeah, you got it right! Spring Fling is definitely in the air again. With all glitter and bling! There will be plenty of entertainment, let’s start with Country Singer Kristal Barrett, but wait they promise more! So put on your denim, add the Diamonds and be a Diva at the Spring Fling! Can you imagine? valleymomsnetwork.com
WINE 101
Buschlen Mowatt Galleries
April 15, 7pm
What is the difference between merlot and cabernet? What wines pair best with what foods? How should I store my wine? Wine 101 is a lively interactive tasting hosted by Sommelier Benjamin Howard, from the Beach House Restaurant. It is a “no experience necessary” event designed to enhance your knowledge and enjoyment of wine. Taste a range of wines from Chardonnay to Zinfandel, from Merlot to Riesling (and many more), and have all your questions answered by knowledgeable professionals! Tickets: $40, includes tasting.
604.687.5315
My Granny the Goldfish
New Revue Stage
April 15-May 15
Hypochondria, claustrophobia, germaphobia—oh, my! When Nico, a young Indian student in Vancouver, is hospitalized, his grandmother, armed with nothing more than a whiskey bottle, arrives from Bombay. Despite Nico’s protests, her visit may be just the cure-all he needs. Irreverently funny, My Granny the Goldfish is a tale of finding truth and love in the midst of morphine and bedpans.
604.687.1644 | artsclub.com
Kerrisdale Antiques Fair
Kerrisdale Arena
April 17-18, 10am-5pm
Over 250 tables and booths of antiques and vintage collectibles. Drop-in appraisals are available both days. Admission is $7 at the door and there is free parking.
604.980.3159 | 21cpromotions.com
Healthy Families Conference
UBC Student Union Building
April 18-19, please check website
Educators and parents from across the Pacific Northwest will gather to participate in an event designed to inspire, support, and connect the amazing individuals who contribute to building community for our children at home and in school. This two-day conference is packed with great presentations, breakout sessions, workshops, discussion groups, and meals that will create a collaborative and participatory setting, giving each participant a toolkit of resources and contacts to take home. Attend the Healthy Families Conference to learn skills and strategies to nurture strong relationships within your family and create strong ties for children within your community.
604.569.6544 | healthyfamiliescanada.org
Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival
Vancouver Convention Centre
April 19-25, various times
Featuring an exciting program of wine tastings, multi-course lunches, winery dinners, educational seminars, rare boardroom tastings, wine minglers and grazing events. 7 days, 1,700 wines, 197 wineries and 61 events! Please check the website for more details and ticket prices.
604.873.3311 | playhousewinefest.com
Want WestCoast Families at YOUR event? Call 604.249.2866 or email admin@westcoastfamilies.com us to receive free delivery of our magazines to your family event!
Science World After Dark Science World
April 23, 7pm-10pm
Find a sitter and come be a kid again at this adultsonly evening! Play with exhibits, sip some wine, have a laugh. Must be 19+ (ID required).
604.443.7443 | scienceworld.ca
Moms The Word: Remixed
Evergreen Cultural Centre
April 23, 4pm
You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. Your heart will be full. The shockingly funny Moms reunite to bring you highlights from the smash hits moms The Word and Moms the Word 2: Unhinged. In this premiere production, they’ll share their true, intimate tales of the heartache and joy of parenthood, from infant to terrible two’s to terrifying teens! Tickets start at $27. 604.927.6550 | evergreenculturalcentre.ca
Portobello West Fashion and Art Market
Rocky Mountaineer Station
April 25, noon-6pm
A London-style market with over 80 local fashion designers and artisans, featuring art, clothing, jewellery and accessories. Admission is $2. Kids under 12 are free.
portobellowest.com
Vancouver Celebrates International Dance Day
Scotiabank Dance Centre
Thursday April 29, noon-9pm
From contemporary to flamenco and salsa to hula hooping, Vancouver celebrates International Dance Day with a series of events at Scotiabank Dance Centre, which highlights the diversity of BC’s dance scene. Free events include an open rehearsal and introductory flamenco class with Spanish Passion Productions, directed by Eleonora Acuna; a beginners’ salsa/merengue class with Corey Solomon of Dance4U; an introduction to hula hooping for adults with Pixie Hoops; and an open rehearsal with No Hitting, a collective of sound and movement artists directed by choreographers/dancers Laura Hicks and Jennifer Clarke.
thedancecentre.ca
18th Annual Wellness Show
The Vancouver Convention Centre
April 30-May 2, various times
An annual trade show dedicated to living a more holistic lifestyle. This year features over 300 exhibitors and over 100 seminars, demonstrations, and workshops. All the resources you need to help find balance in your life. General admission: $12.50 or a 3-day pass for $27.
thewellnessshow.ca
FunShowsMagic
Party Supplies & Favours Everything you need to create a memorable birthday party for your child, conveniently delivered right to your door.
Over 40 popular licensed themes including: Spiderman, Strawberry Shortcake, Dora the Explorer and many more. (604)574-6127 www.allwrappedup.ca
Green Reads for the Whole Family!
The Green Hour: A Daily Dose of Nature for Happier, Healthier, Smarter Kids
By Todd Christopher
Based on the green values and practice of the National Wildlife Federation, this book is both a field guide for outdoor family activities and an energetic appeal for greater green knowledge. Based on the idea that every child needs an hour each day to interact with their natural surroundings. SRP $22.00
A Local Table: A Choices Market Cookbook
By Desiree Nielsen, RD,
and Antonio Cerullo
This is the first cookbook of its kind to create recipes around each of the four seasons, showcasing the foods available to cooks in the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan. Choices Markets will donate five dollars from the sale of every book to the Farm Folk/City Folk Society, a nonprofit society that works with farm and city to cultivate a local, sustainable food system. Included in the book are tips on when to choose local foods and when to choose organic, 10 steps towards a smaller carbon footprint, and recipes for specific diets, including nut-free, glutenfree, vegetarian and vegan. SRP $19.95
Feeding Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Program for Healthy, Safe Nutrition
By Alan Greene, MD
Not just for babies! This book covers eco-friendly and super-healthy ideas and stages from pregnancy through birth and kids up to eights years of age. Break the cycle of weight struggles, junk food and food battles, and teach your kids to recognize and enjoy good food.
SRP $19.95
Babes in the Woods: Hiking, Camping and Boating with Babies and Young Children
By Jennifer Aist
There’s a lot of information out there about introducing school-age kids to the outdoors, but what about babies and toddlers? Author Jennifer Aist bridges that gap and shares her tried and tested advice for active new parents. Babes in the Woods introduces outdoorsy moms and dads to the joy and vigor of taking babies and toddlers into the woods at a very early age. Well-organized chapters offer functional solutions for appropriate gear, clothing, and food, nature games to play, and tips on potty breaks and sleeping outdoors. SRP $17.50
Bean Appétit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food
By
Shannon Payette Seip & Kelly Parthen, with Carisa Dixon
Another way to get kids excited about healthy eating, this book features intriguing recipes like the Purple Gurple Pear Penguins, Fla-Mango Soup, and HighNote Nibbles. Written by the owners of a healthy kids’ café, this book will provide entertainment and ideas for all ages (don’t miss the mini-tea-party!). SRP $18.50
Fly Catcher Boy
By Rebecca Kool,
illustrated by David
Namisato
Kenji is afraid of thunder. Alone in the house one night, he finds a wet, miserable cat and brings him inside to warmth and safety. Based on the real-life experiences of the based-in-B.C. author’s husband, and written in English with Japanese words and expressions throughout the text, this book is targeted to children of all ages who want to learn about Japanese culture and language. There is a glossary at the back of the book so the reader can find the Japanese words alphabetically, learn the meaning and how to pronounce it. SRP $14.99
$1 from every Big Mac®, Happy Meal® or McMuffin® sandwich sold will go to help local children’s charities across Canada.
We are raising funds to support various local charities including the Ronald McDonald House® BC and the Surrey Memorial Hospital.
