WestCoast Families Nov|Dec issue

publisher’s note

winter is arriving on the great west coast and skiing, boarding, tubing, and other fun in the snow and cold. It’s a great time for a family weekend getaway to enjoy the crisp outdoor fresh air so we’ve sourced out some of the most fun you can have within just a few hours of the city. Can’t get away for the whole weekend? No problem, we’re also bringing you a full list of local events and attractions throughout the holiday season.

For many, this IS the most wonderful time of year. A time of celebrating friends and family, putting up bright lights and shopping for the perfect gift. To help you along, we’ve found some of the best ideas for everyone in the family in our Holiday Gift Guide. And to plan the perfect party, check out our ideas for great kids celebrations – indoors and out!

For some this is also a time of financial and emotional strain. That means it’s also an opportunity for us to show kids the importance of caring for others. The holiday season has endless opportunities to help those families in our communities and organizations around the world. In this issue we’ve found some unique ideas for giftless giving to save you some shopping time, and do a little good in the world.

Get out there and enjoy all that our amazing communities have to offer, and don’t forget the mitts and hats!

contests!

WIN a sweet afternoon with Strawberry Shortcake and friends in Strawberry Shortcake: Follow Your Berry Own Beat!

WIN four tickets to see Strawberry Shortcake: Follow Your Berry Own Beat! at 1 pm, January 26, at the Centre for Performing Arts. Get ready for a berry, berry good time with the most spirited red-haired girl, Strawberry Shortcake! This winter, the iconic sweetheart makes her theatrical debut in Koba Entertainment’s all-new musical production. Strawberry Shortcake and her best friends Orange Blossom, Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Torte, Plum Pudding, and Cherry Jam will spread their contagious optimism with fans throughout western Canada and prove that little girls can do berry big things!

To double the fun, Koba Entertainment is bringing together Strawberry Shortcake and the wackiest siblings on television, the Doodlebops, for the first time ever in one spectacular show! Package includes a special meet and greet. Value $147

Enter at www.westcoastfamilies.com

Deadline to Enter: December 31, 2012

WIN four tickets to the festive Polar Express holiday train experience in Squamish!

WIN four tickets to the festive Polar Express holiday train experience in Squamish! Kick off your holiday season on Canada’s only Polar Express at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, 39645 Government Road, Squamish. Children and adults alike will enjoy the fun-filled 50-minute train ride with hot chocolate, cookies, stories & Christmas carols. Visit the North Pole with Santa & Mrs. Claus, see what goes on in Santa’s workshop, write letters to Santa, hear music & so much more! Kids, don’t forget to wear your pajamas! The Polar Express runs on Saturday and Sunday, on December 1 and 2, and December 8 and 9, and departure times are 10am, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm. Value $96

Enter at www.westcoastfamilies.com

Deadline to Enter: November 30, 2012

westcoastfamilies.com

Managing Editor Andrea Vance editor@westcoastfamilies.com

Editor Stephanie MacDonald stephanie@westcoastfamilies.com

Contributing Editor Jodi Iverson jodi@westcoastfamilies.com

Art Director & Layout Krysta Furioso studio@westcoastfamilies.com

Administration Jennifer Bruyns admin@westcoastfamilies.com

Accounts Receivable & Payable

Jennifer Brule finance@westcoastfamilies.com

Advertising sales@westcoastfamilies.com 604.249.2866

Published by National Families Network Publisher: Andrea Vance publisher@westcoastfamilies.com

For distribution inquiries, please email publisher@westcoastfamilies.com

For submissions to our community calendars, please email admin@westcoastfamilies.com

To share your feedback, please email editor@westcoastfamilies.com

Contributors

Jodi Iverson, Krysta Furioso, Stephanie MacDonald, Hilary Jones Kristy Hill, Jennifer Bruyns Racquel Foran, Darcie Brown Nicola Enright Morin

WestCoast Families is an independent, regional parenting publication. Published nine times per year in British Columbia, Canada. Total circulation: 50,000.

All contents copyrighted ©. Written permission from the publisher is required to reproduce, quote, reprint or copy any material from WestCoast Families

For editorial submissions queries, please view the guidelines on our website.

Mailing address: 1215-C56 St. Box 18057 Delta, BC V4L 2M4 T 604 249 2866 | F 604 676 2802

WestCoast Families is proud to have been selected as a mom-friendly employer for the 2010 Progressive Employers of Canada List. And congratulations to our fellow inductees!

westcoast finds: party picks

Etsy Invitations –boarding pass

All aboard the birthday flight! Camille Creatives adorable party invitations will have all your guests happily anticipating your little one’s big day. Fully customizable, you just email your photo and information and your invitations will be designed and sent back as digital files which you can then print out on your home printer or at your favourite photo-lab.

$15 at www.camillecreatives@gmail.com

Gift It Green Wrapping

Unwrapping presents is fun, no doubt about it, and so is seeing all those brightly coloured gifts waiting under the tree. But seeing all the wasted paper after everything has been opened can be a bit of a downer, so get the best of both worlds with Gift It Green’s reusable fabric gift boxes. Bright, modern and eco-chic, these gift boxes just beg to be gifted forward, and can you imagine how much time, tape and ribbon you’ll save!

$14-$18 at www.giftitgreen.com

Naturebag

Naturebag - over 20 fun and engaging outdoor nature activities in a bag! With all the fun and exciting activities in the Naturebag, you and your children can go outside and discover the wonders of nature. Go on a scavenger hunt, walk with bugs, hug a tree, make dough imprints, look closely at the patterns in a leaf, try some wild weaving and so much more!

$35 at www.naturebag.com

Molecule-R

This is definitely an excuse to throw a cocktail party! Learn how to deconstruct your favorite cocktails and serve your Mojitos in a large bubble that will explode in your mouth, bite into a layered martini or add a touch of airy lime foam to your tequila shots! This “do it yourself” molecular mixology kit allows you to recreate the atmosphere of the most trendy and modern lounges in the comfort of your home! This allencompassing kit includes five pre-measured food additives, three specialized molecular tools as well as a 30-recipe DVD that will facilitate the creation of your futuristic concoctions.

$59 on www.molecule-r.com

travel

Azul Beach Hotel

Culture, Climate & Charisma on the Mayan Riviera

By Jodi Iverson

november is arguably not Vancouver’s finest month. This month, the skies and pavement seem to match shades and our rain boots and umbrellas get a workout. It is about this time I start dreaming of getaways to warmer climates. As my reality is not that of a freewheeling singleton, shopping for impromptu vacation juicy beach reads takes a backseat to planning and preparing a family of four for a week away from home.

With direct flights now available from Vancouver to Cancun, we visited the Mayan Riviera. Stretching nearly 140 kilometres, it is an uncluttered ecoplayground boasting a wide range of family friendly resorts to suit any budget. Featuring Mayan ruins, cenotes, gorgeous beaches and the second-largest barrier coral reef in the world, there are plenty of activities to keep every member of your family happy.

In my single days I relished throwing swimsuits and sundresses into my carry on and avoiding checked luggage all together. These days it is all about the art of magically making five steamer trunks worth of stuff fit into two adultsized suitcases and two smaller, kid-friendly cases. Apparently I am not that magical. So you can imagine my relief when I discovered some hotels provide much of the gear necessary for traveling with children.

We were fortunate to find the Azul Beach Hotel; a family-friendly, boutiquestyle property located 15 minutes from the airport, in the charming fishing village of Puerto Morelos. After an easy five-and-a-half hour flight we arrived at the hotel. We were greeted with a welcome cocktail (virgin versions for the kiddos) and a special toy lending menu for the kids to choose from–nice touch! Check-in was a breeze, literally, as a warm tropical wind blew through the open lobby that faces the sea. We had no trouble settling into our fully equipped family room where, thanks to the Pack & Play program, all the gear we needed was waiting for us. They have it all–strollers, cribs; even adorable, tiny, baby spa robes!

The majority of our days were filled with family beach time where we enjoyed the friendly Beach Butler service, part of Azul’s gourmet inclusive concept.

Picnics, magazines, beach toys, sunscreen and more, delivered right to your private canopied beach bed! Our favorite beach amenities included painting ceramics, kayaking and beach parties.

Kids can also spend time at the Azulitos Play House: think daycare meets day camp with activities for kids including education on the Mayan culture, which we liked. This gives the adults time to enjoy some of the delicious ceviche at our favorite restaurant, Chil, or sample one of thirty different tequilas at Agavero Lounge.

Dining at Azul Beach lived up to their Epicurean promises. Whether dining with the family or utilizing the resort’s nanny service for a date night you will have no trouble finding a delicious meal at one of the five restaurants. Or if you feel like staying in, borrow a movie and enjoy 24-hour room service! I was especially impressed by the fact that the produce served is grown locally at a sister property in their 100,000-square-foot greenhouse!

On several recommendations we left the property and travelled about 30 minutes to visit the sustainable, all-inclusive park, Xel-Ha. This natural aquarium

park is the perfect adventure for an active family. The park offers a huge variety of water activities. Our favorites were snorkeling down the mangrove river, the zip lines and jumping off cliffs. We had a delicious lunch buffet (and great margaritas!) at the onsite restaurant where we enjoyed Mayan-style fare. You can spend the whole day here, and I recommend you do! We also visited the famed 5th Avenue in Playa Del Carmen. This bustling market is full of touristy treasures to bring home, including, surprisingly, a Canucks poncho! There are a couple of art galleries along the way with beautiful onyx and textiles, and you can try venturing off the main street for some more authentic finds.

With its rich culture, plethora of natural beauty, and welcoming nature, the Mayan Riviera is a great option for Vancouver families looking for a tropical getaway. We only scratched the surface and are already dreaming of another week in the sun. After all, it is November.

For more info, visit www.xelha.com or www.karismahotels.com.

modern

home-ec

get your knit on

By Hilary Jones

For some, just the word “knitting” conjures up an image of the classic little old lady in the rocking chair. Today, that image couldn’t be further from reality. Knitting has changed so much in the last decade. “New yarns, fantastic patterns, young designers and the internet has turned fibre arts into something relevant, accessible, and popular” says Anna, a long-time knitter and owner of Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store on East Hastings in Vancouver. The store’s official slogan, “Not your Mama’s Yarn

What We Love About Knitting...

Store” says it all. “We also love that a new sort of community has been formed, bringing people together around a new culture.” Gone are the days of knitting for necessity. Today’s knitters have a freedom that our centuriesold ancestors did not.

Today, we knit for art. We knit to have something unique in our wardrobe. We do it for the love of all things handmade. For some, it’s therapy; it’s something to do with our busy hands in a world that never seems to slow down. Knitting has also become a social activity. By joining a knitting group you can look forward to sitting and knitting and sharing stories and occasionally, a few deep secrets. Says Anna, “My son is now an avid knitter, and has taught many of his friends. I’m proud of him of course, but mostly I am just pleased to have yet another knitting buddy”.

“Knitting for me is a creative and practical outlet. I am able to knit things I want to have and give to other people, while practicing a sort of moving meditation; it covers all the bases!” - Gina

“It’s something fun to do when it’s late at night” - Emma, age 7

“Knitting is something I can do to help relax after a busy day. Seeing my project come to life is really cathartic for me! I also love knitting with my daughter and seeing how proud she is as the yarn turns into fabric.” - Jodi

“I love knitting because you can make neat things and you can make presents for people on holidays, like Christmas” - Oscar, age 7

“You can give people a present without buying anything” - Theo, age 7

Knitting Supplies

Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store

2667 East Hastings St., Vancouver 604-255-2577

Three Bags Full Knit Shop

4458 Main St., Vancouver 604-874-9665

Bird on a Wire Creations 2535 Main St., Vancouver 604-874-7415

Beginner Neck Warmer Pattern

What you’ll need

• 6mm needles

• 100gm of chunky weight yarn

Instructions

• Cast on 75 stitches

• Row 1: Knit all stitches

• Row 2: Purl all stitches

• Continue alternating Rows 1 & 2 until your neck warmer measures 15” from the beginning

• Cast off

• Sew seam using “mattress stitch.”

Urban Yarns 3111 Highland Blvd., North Vancouver 604-984-2214 Wool is Not Enough 77 East Cordova, Vancouver 778-549-5696

Hilary Jones teaches many of the knitting and crochet classes at Baaad Anna's Yarn Store on East Hastings in Vancouver. www.baaadannas.wordpress.com

dad mom teens kids

Glerups

A partner with cold feet is always a bad thing, both literally and figuratively. Get your loved one a pair of Glerups, and he or she will love you forever, or at least their feet will. Cozy, cute, and warm, Glerups come in slipper, shoe and boot versions for men, women and kids, too! And since there’s a fine line between “cozy” and “sweaty”, it’s nice that Glerups are made with all-natural, breathable, and self-cleaning wool in a variety of vibrant and natural colours.

$90 at Walrus on Cambie St. and Twigg and Hottie

What if you could actually create art on your iPad? Touch screens are traditionally activated by your fingers, and while finger painting is awesome when you are three, it lacks a certain finesse, which is why most artists tend to use paintbrushes. Now there is Nomad Brush – actually a paintbrush for your iPad. With a dual tip for both fine and broad brushstrokes, the Nomad Brush gives you a more natural creative experience, whether you are a serious graphic designer or just enjoy drawing hilarious Mussolini moustaches on all your Facebook friends. You can even encourage your little Picasso with a Nomad Play Brush, designed especially for little hands.

$35 at www.nomadbrush.com

holiday gift guide

Olloclip Lens

When you got your iPhone, you thought you were so cool, didn’t you? Now that everyone and their dog has one, it’s time to step up your game. The Olloclip lens for iPhone 4 gives you a fisheye, wide-angle, and macro lens all in one funky accessory that makes it look like your phone is wearing a monocle. It’s a well-known fact that everything and everyone looks more sophisticated with a monocle.

$70 at www.olloclip.com

Kimochi’s

Being a kid is an emotional time, and sometimes there are so many feelings it’s hard to keep track of them all. When it all gets too confusing, there are adorable stuffies from Kimochi to help your kid sort through their emotions. Each cuddly Kimochi comes with a set of nine plushy emotions like “cranky”, “curious”, “excited”, and “scared”, giving kids the opportunity choose which one to put in their Kimochi’s tummy when they are feeling a certain way. All bets are on “happy” and “grateful” when this present gets unwrapped.

$25 on www.amazon.ca

Sun Sniper Camera Strap

Regardless of whether you’re capturing an image of a rare black jaguar deep in the Amazon or the somewhat less-elusive gigantic mouse in red pants at Disneyland: when you need your camera handy, the best way to carry it is with the Sun Sniper Camera strap. This strap, which conveniently screws into your camera’s tripod socket, reduces the weight on your back, absorbs jolts, and makes carrying your camera easy and comfortable, whether you’re creeping through the jungle or intrepidly venturing into the Happiest Place on Earth.

$67 at www.lensandshutter.com

Tassimo T55

We know it is fun to wait and wait for that first morning cup that miraculously transforms you from a cranky morning cretin into Cheery McCheerfulson. Oh wait, that is not fun. With the Tassimo T55 from Bosch, your perfect, customized morning coffee takes under a minute! The T55 reads a bar code on your beverage disc, so even if you are a groggy morning fumbler you will always have the perfect coffee to save the day and get you on your way.

From $158 at Best Buy, Canadian Tire, Future Shop, The Bay, Sears, London Drugs and Walmart

Pathfinder’s Robotic Arm

Giving your child the gift of learning can never compete with the gift of video games–or so you may think. Pathfinders Design + Technology’s model Robotic Arm Kit is easy, fun to put together in a couple of hours, and provides many more hours of enjoyment! Designed and made in Victoria, BC, this kit is also an engaging way to learn about robotics, levers, fluid dynamics and engineering–but you don’t have to tell your kid that! Drop in to the Kaleidoscope Science Store at Science World for this, and many other adventures in education that will inspire and entertain a child’s natural curiosity and imagination.

$24 at Kaleidoscope Science Store at Telus Science World

gDiapers Joy to the World Set

No matter how you celebrate, there’s always a reason for joy. gDiapers cute and comfy gPants (reusable cotton diaper covers) just got festive with gJoy. A merry green waistband, a playful candy cane stripe, and the signature ‘g’ on the bum make a cheery holiday sentiment. Limited edition. For use with biodegradable disposable diaper inserts. Available at gdiapers.ca

From $48.00 for the set on www.gdiapers.ca

Nomad Brush for the iPad

CHI Hair Dryer

It’s a sad fact that most of us mortals are resigned to spending at least a few minutes a day wrangling a bed head, taming the frizzies, or fluffing stringy, limp, or lank locks. Whatever type of hair you have, the low EMF Chi hair dryer has a touch screen, and is made with ceramic, Ionic and Infrared technology that results in less frizz, more shine, and a 40 percent reduction in drying time. As a gift, this dryer will help the recipient get out the door faster, looking even better than they usually do, and who wouldn’t want that?

$150 at Aura Hair Salon, Vogue Hair Studio, and Sunflower Hair Salon in Vancouver, and Hairven Salon in North Vancouver

Coleman Propane Coffeemaker

Give the boot to gritty cowboy coffee on your next camping trip! Never again endure smoky sludge in the name of your morning caffeine fix when you acquire a Coleman Propane Coffeemaker. The perfect gift for someone outdoorsy, and also for those who are reluctant to venture more than two kilometres from the nearest Starbucks, the ten-cup carafe is made from stainless steel, and one propane cylinder will power the machine for over four hours. Perfect for the construction site too!

$95 at Sears and Outdoor Supply Stores

Oversight Game from Griddly Games

Just get four in a row. That’s all you need to do, but just when you think you’re on the way to victory against your opponent – whooops! Your crafty nemesis catches on and slides your carefully tended row over–and your ambitions are cruelly thwarted. Oversight is a mindchallenging game that is equally fun for anyone seven to seventy and beyond, and is especially great because it can be played on many different levels. Give your family game closet a boost with this or any of the other clever and entertaining games from local company Griddly Games. $20 at Granville Island Toy Company and other independent toy stores

reading corner

Divergent and Insurgent

By Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. Katherine Tegan Books, $15, trade paperback

I Am Here Neighbourhood Play Mat

It’s a beautiful day in the neighbourhood when your kids can drive their toy trucks and racecars all over a giant map of where you live. Just send in your address, and a custom-created I Am Here custom play mat can teach your kids about maps while they learn about the streets in your area, all while they have fun. These mats are washable vinyl, and can be easily rolled up when playtime is over.

Small: $29 Large: $64 www.etsy.com/shop/boardstiff

Fold n Go Barn

When your little farmer is on the go, make sure they have the cute and convenient Fold & Go Barn from the folks at Melissa and Doug. The sturdy barn packs up in a flash, and comes with seven realistic farm animals and a folding corral. A perfect present for kids under three!

$50 at www.hipbaby.ca

The Stone Hatchlings

By Sarah Tsiang,

illustrated by Qin Leng

When Abby finds two warm, round stones in the backyard, she “adopts” them, pretending they’re unhatched birds. She lovingly builds them a cozy nest and watches over them constantly until one day she imagines that with a crick and a crack, the stones hatch to reveal two gray chicks. With a flourish of her paintbrush, Abby colors the birds yellow, blue, and green, and proceeds to take excellent care of them. Then the make-believe birds stop singing. Soon they also stop eating, and when they start to lose their feathers Abby realizes it is time to let them go. She waves goodbye as they fly off. But every morning, two new birds appear at the window and sing to Abby. Annick Press, $9.95 softcover, $19.95 Hardcover

Plan Toys Wooden Baby Walker with Blocks

holiday gift guide

Made out of solid wood, Plan Toys Baby Walker helps baby get from A to B on two feet, while also bringing along their blocks (or any of their favourite things). This walker helps improve coordination and balance, and the handle can be adjusted to fit your child’s changing height. All Plan toys are made with natural rubberwood recycled from rubber trees no longer able to produce latex. Non-toxic, water-based dyes provide the vibrant colors that will stimulate your baby’s imagination while they get their exercise.

$70 at www.lussobaby.ca

Sprayground Pouches

We all know that an iPad is a big expense, and no matter how careful your kid is, things do get bumped. Give your teen peace of mind, and an extra layer of cool with a Sprayground iPad or laptop case. Sprayground pouches have been worn by the likes of Willow and Jaden Smith, and come in many funky urban styles, including the nametag and the old-fashioned Gameboy. Save yourself the headache of a broken computer and your kid the pain of trying to come up with some inventive and fault-free explanation of how it got broken, with Sprayground pouches. $35 at www.raspberrykids.com

Loose Button Beauty Box Subscription

Getting a package in the mail makes it feel like your birthday, so why not get the ladies in your life a present that can give them that special feeling every month? With Loose Button’s Luxebox beauty box, you can spend a small quarterly fee and have boxes of fun beauty, fragrance, hair and makeup samples sent right to their door. Perfect for the woman who has everything! $24 every three months at www.loosebutton.com

Tegu Blocks

Blocks are super fun, but gravity and destructive little sisters tend to have a negative effect on your incredible towering towers. That’s why it’s so hard to understand that someone didn’t invent Tego magnetic wooden blocks sooner. These are wooden blocks that stick together to make shapes, buildings, figures, and even cars and trucks (when you add the optional wheels). When you go to their online store, Tegu also gives you the option to donate to send a child to school for a month or a week, or plant three or 12 dozen trees, which would make your gift that much more meaningful.

The Explorer Set of Blocks $110 at www.tegu.com

Global Mothers Stuffie Monkey

Who can resist a playful little monkey just ready for a cuddle? You can feel even better when you purchase these sweet stuffies from the Global Mothers website, as the organization builds trading alliances that support grassroots economic development projects in developing nations around the world. Go online to www. global-mothers.com to learn about the wide variety of gorgeous handmade toys, jewellery, and art made by talented artisans around the world, or support the organization even further by hosting a Global Mothers party at your home.

$23 at www.global-mothers.com

Ivivva All About the ’Tude Wrap

This cool little wrap can take your active girl from the schoolyard to the dance studio to the ice rink in style. Ivivva is Lululemon Athletica’s movement-inspired apparel line for active girls, and is designed to support movement-intensive activities such as yoga, dance, gymnastics, figure skating, and field sports. Ivivva uses similar fabrics, technical design features, and the exciting colours for which Lululemon is known. You’re sure to be rewarded with a happy girl if you wrap up this wrap under the tree this year. $58 at www.ivivva.com

giftless giving for the holidays

n the name of tidier children’s rooms, family bonding, and environmental awareness, consider adopting a less materialism-heavy giving scheme this holiday. Here are some great options that are light on the planet, but still give the traditional warm feelings of holiday giving.

Give experiences – this is the best gift you can give, because when you buy an experience for the family you get to appreciate their happiness when they open the card, and you get to share the experience again with the most important people in your life. Some examples of experiences your family will love:

Cultural activities

Tickets to see some theatre! Upcoming family-friendly Arts Club shows include White Christmas, 2 Pianos 4 Hands, the musical Dreamgirls and The 39 Steps is on tour. At The Cultch, The Christmas Carol Project, and dance performance Gravity of Center, are something to look forward to. If your child loves dance, go to see Swan Lake at Ballet BC, and the whole family will love Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna. You’ll be giving (and having) a fun night out, and you’re also supporting the arts.

Tickets to a concert: you know what your kid has on their iPod, so surprise them with tickets to one of their favourite artists or bands. (If it’s Lady Gaga, lucky you! If said band is horrendous or The Wiggles you are under no obligation to go yourself – hey, you came up with the awesome idea already!)

Season’s tickets: Season’s Passes to the Vancouver Aquarium, Science World, Museum of Anthropology, Maplewood Farm, any local ski hill, to The Vancouver Giants or the Whitecaps… will save you money in the long run, but they also confer special benefits on the recipients they wouldn’t normally get.

Yoga: seriously - there isn’t a person on your list that wouldn’t love and benefit from a yoga membership – even Grandpa. Yoga for everyone!

Give as a Family

Setting aside a portion of your usual holiday budget to give to those less fortunate can give your family a wonderful opportunity to sit down together and discuss what causes are really meaningful to each person, and why. With younger kids, donating money can seem too abstract, so go with organizations that provide something concrete to a defined person or group. According to your child’s interests, let them each choose a program that they think is a good cause. Some good examples are Ronald McDonald House, which accepts donations for linens, toys, electronics and many other

things for its children’s hospice operation; through Oxfam Canada you can buy an impoverished family a goat, chicken, or plant a garden; through Free the Children’s Holiday Wishing Well for the World you can provide a well for a community; you can adopt a snowy owl through the World Wildlife Fund; buy vaccines and soccer balls for a village through Unicef, or you can sponsor a child through World Vision Canada, SOS Children’s Villages, or through any number of other organizations. This type of giving lasts all year and has the added benefit of making the world a better place!

When you are looking for material presents for under the tree (and of course you want something to unwrap!), there are many organizations that offer beautiful products that also support people in developing nations. If the World Were a Village by David Smith is a wonderful book for kids aged seven to 12, that describes in simple terms how the population of the world lives, by describing the world as if it were a village of one hundred people. Free the Children’s sister organization Me to We has beautiful and affordable handmade presents like the Water Rafiki. One chain purchased equals one year of clean water for one person. Each one is unique and handmade with love by Maasai mamas in Kenya. Global Mothers online shop features hundreds of “Products with a Purpose” – toys, jewellery, and clothing items made by skilled artisans and with profits going directly back into the communities that made them. There are dozens of organizations, like Ten Thousand Villages stores, that support free trade and foster cultural awareness, so use this holiday as an opportunity to spend your money where you are helping make positive changes in the lives of people in other parts of the world while at the same time putting a smile on the faces closest to you.

Resources

Ronald McDonald House www.rmhbc.ca

Oxfam Canada www.oxfam.ca

Free the Children and Me to We www.freethechildren.com

World Wildlife Fund Canada www.wwf.ca

Unicef www.unicef.ca

World Vision Canada www.worldvision.ca

SOS Children’s Villages www.soschildrensvillages.ca

w

ter weekend

Unplug at Mount Baker

www.mtbaker.us

1hr 40 minutes from Vancouver

Stay at The Logs at Canyon Creek www.thelogs.com

Weather you’re a seasoned skier or brand new on the slopes, you’ll love the conditions on Mount Baker. Less than one hour from the US border crossing, with extreme terrain, a lot of snow, and various amenities, Mt. Baker is a great winter destination for the weekend. After you’ve skied to your heart’s content, cozy up in a log cabin at the Logs at Canyon Creek in the foothills of Mount Baker. Spend quality time with your family as you unplug from all your gadgets, as there is no television, telephone, or Internet at the log cabins. Bring out the board games!

Sleigh Ride Through Whistler www.whistlerblackcomb.com

1 hr 50 minutes from Vancouver

Stay at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler www.fairmont. com

If you’re from Vancouver, you’ve most likely spent the weekend at Whistler. This time, make it extra special for your family and go on a horse drawn sleigh ride together! You’ll start at The Chalet at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club with a hot beverage around an outdoor fire pit. A cutter sleigh, led by Clydesdale-Percheron horses, will then take you on a tour through the Whistler wilderness, all while tucked in under warm blankets. What a great way to snuggle with your children! Upon your return from your snuggly sleigh ride, dine-in and spend the night at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and rest up for your next day of skiing, snowboarding or playing in the snow!

Snowshoeing in Mount Seymour www.mountseymour.com/snowshoevancouver

50 minutes from Vancouver

Stay at Holiday Inn on Seymour Parkway

Not a skiing family? Go snowshoeing at Mount Seymour! Experience the beauty of the snow through trails and tours through the forest. For the adventurous Mommies and Daddies, Mount Seymour provides Baby and Me Guided Tours for parents who want to snowshoe with their babies! Parents must be able to carry their babies for at least 90 minutes in their own back or front baby carrier. Change tables are available before and after snowshoeing. If your have children too old to be carried, Mount Seymour has snowshoes for toddlers as young as three years old! When you’re ready to rest your feet, relax at the Three Peaks Lodge; grab some dinner at The Rock Chute Inn and head to bed at the Holiday Inn just down the street.

Photo: Tourism Whistler /Steve Rogers

Mountaintop Ice Skating on Grouse Mountain www.grousemountain.com/ice-skating

45 minutes from Vancouver

Stay at Pinnacle on the Pier Hotel www.pinnaclepierhotel.com

You haven’t truly experienced a Canadian winter until you’ve been ice-skating on an outdoor pond. After a day spent on Grouse Mountain skiing, snowboarding, or tubing, grab some skates and head to the mountaintop for a glide on Grouse Mountain’s 8,000 square foot ice skating pond for a one of a kind experience. The Ice Skating Pond is right by the Peak Chalet, perfect for skating off your dinner and dessert. Skate rentals are available for all sizes at the Fireside Hut. Access to the skating pond is always complimentary with your Grouse Mountain Admission, Membership, Winter Pass, or Lift Ticket. When ready to rest and warm up your sore buttocks (from falling) and your frozen nose, spend the night at the Pinnacle on the Pier Hotel in North Vancouver.

Tubing and Sliding at Cypress Mountain www.cypressmountain.com/snow-tube-park

40 minutes from Vancouver

Stay at Best Western Capilano Inn West Vancouver www.bestwesterncapilano.com

If you want to get away for the weekend, but don’t want to go very far, head to Cypress Mountain. Spend your weekend tubing down the mountain! It’s supersized tobogganing! If your children are too small for tubing, Cypress Mountain has a gentle sliding area. You can bring your own sled with you or purchase a crazy carpet. This area has a gentle slope designed for children aged three to five years and is small enough for them to walk up and slide down on their own. After you’ve climbed up and down the hill for the one hundredth time, rest up for another day on the hillside after dinner at the Hollyburn Lodge and a night at the Pinnacle on the Pier Hotel.

Skiing at Hemlock Mountain, then hit the Hot Springs www.hemlockvalleyresort.com

2.5 hrs from Vancouver

Stay at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa www.harrisonresort.com

If you are looking for an alternative to the busier mountains, Hemlock Mountain may be the perfect escape for you and your family. Hemlock is a smaller ski resort offering wellgroomed runs with fantastic views. There are three chairlifts, 35 runs and programs for children as young as two. After your skiing adventures at Hemlock, head to the cozy town of Harrison and spend the night at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa. The steamy, outdoor hot springs are perfect for warming up your toes after a day in the snow. And you won’t have a problem getting your picky three-year-old to eat –all the choices in the world are available at their buffets, offered for both dinner and breakfast.

Canyon Lights

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

December 1-January 5

Holiday activities from 4–9pm, park is open 10am–9pm daily

A must-see holiday event for all ages, park guests will be dazzled by the sight of hundreds of thousands of lights glittering throughout the rainforest, across the Bridge and on the Cliffwalk. There will also be a scavenger hunt for children, gingerbread cookie decorating, glass blowing demonstrations, and sing-a-long carols. Price: $65.00 for a family or $31.95 for adults, $12 for children (6-12) 604.985.7474 | www.capbridge.com

Christmas in the Park and Santa Claus Parade Memorial Peace Park

December 1, 4-8pm

Take part in the many fun activities for children of all ages. At 6pm watch one of the only night time Christmas Parades in North America! Bring a lawn chair, warm clothes, a mug for free hot chocolate and a camera to take photos of Santa. www.mapleridge.ca

Festival of Trees

Four Seasons Hotel & Pacific Centre Mall

November 21, - January 1

The Festival of Trees will transform the lobby of the hotel and the corridors of the mall into a vision of beautifully decorated trees, with the goal of raising much-needed funds for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. The Festival continues to bring together a vast array of generous sponsors, both business and individual, from Vancouver in what has become a much anticipated holiday tradition and the unofficial beginning of Christmas. www.bcchf.ca

Heritage Christmas

Burnaby Village Museum

November 24 - December 14, 12noon-4:30pm

Experience Christmas traditions from the past: sparkling decorations, the smell of pine and cedar, and sounds of carollers remind visitors of their own Christmas memories. Free gate admission. 604.297.4565 | www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca

Christmas in the Country Kilby Historic Site

December 8 & 9

Kick off the holiday season a little early at Kilby Historic Site. There will be crafts for both adults and kids. Santa will also be making a special appearance, so bring your cameras. The Kilby Gift Shop is a great place to get some early Christmas shopping done, offering one-of-a-kind local wares, crafts, homemade jams and jellies and local artists and authors. The restaurant is serving a full course Ham or Turkey Dinner for $15.95 (by reservation). www.kilby.ca

White Christmas: The Musical Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage

November 29–December 23

The beloved holiday favourite that has brought joy to more than 72,000 audience members is back! Make your days merry and bright by warming to this unforgettable musical about love and friendship. Based on the classic film, this tap-dancing delight brims with tunes—including “Blue Skies,” “Sisters,” and the ever-popular “White Christmas”—that will fill you with the spirit of the season. www.artsclub.com

Winterfest

Canlan Burnaby 8 Rinks

November 18- January 2

The skating rink will transform into a winter wonderland with live Christmas trees, festive lights, decorations and traditional holiday seasonal music to complete the festive skating decor. www.Icesports.com/burnabay8rinks/wintersfest

Festival of Lights

VanDusen Gardens

December 7–January 1, 4:30-9pm

A magical experience for the whole family with 1.4 million twinkling lights. Highlights include the Dancing Lights on Livingstone Lake, Gingerbread Wood and Candy Cane Lane. Evenings prior to Christmas also feature Community Choirs on the Deck and Santa in his Living Room. In the Heather Garden, be sure to support the MakeA-Wish Foundation by lighting a candle at the Candle Shrine. www.vandusengarden.org

winter fun

Rogers Santa Clause Parade

Georgia and Howe Streets, Vancouver

December 2, 1pm

The parade will start at West Georgia and Broughton, travel east along West Georgia, turn south on Howe and finish at Howe and Davie. Line up along designated route to see decorated floats, performers and entertainers and all the festive fanfare you can imagine! Come out and join in on the family fun pre-parade festivities and enjoy live entertainment on the main stage, Decorate a Gingerbread Man, Write a Letter to Santa and much more from 10:30am to 1:00pm at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

www.rogerssantaclauseparade.com

A Pitt Meadows Christmas Pitt Meadows Spirit Square December 7, 6-8pm

Join the Pitt Meadows Community Foundation as they kick off the Christmas Season! Watch a performance of carolers, take pictures in front of the giant snow sculpture and even sit on Santa’s lap! www.pittmeadows.bc.ca

Christmas Tree Farm

Alder Acres

November-24-25, 9am-4pm & December 1-23, 9am-4pm

Choose and cut your perfect Christmas tree with saws provided or choose from fresh cut trees in the yard. $4 farm admission included with the purchase of tree. Play with the animals, sit by the fire and sip hot chocolate–go green, lug a mug for your hot chocolate!

604.888.4483 | www.aldoracres.com

North Pole Express

Pacific Central Station - VIA Rail

Dec 6, 8, & 9 13, 15, & 16 20, 22 & 23, 4-7:30pm

The ‘North Pole Express’ is a thrilling half-hour event based on the children’s story, ‘The Polar Express’ by Chris Van Allsburg. You will be seated in a 1930’s, fully renovated train car at VIA Rail’s Pacific Central Station to experience a scene from that story. You will be served a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy a Christmas Magic Show by Matthew Johnson. Upon departing, you will receive a souvenir ticket to remember to ‘Believe’. www.northpoleexpress.bpt.me

Peak of Christmas

Grouse Mountain

November 24-December 24

Go to Santa’s Workshop and meet Santa or go Outdoor Ice Skating atop the magical 8,000 square foot skating pond. Visit a real reindeer and learn reindeer facts from the Wildlife Rangers. Experience Mountaintop Sleigh Rides or from 9:30am-9pm every hour on the half hour; watch fun family Christmas movies on the big screen in the mountaintop theatre. www.grousemountain.com

Family Day in the Country

Krause Berry Farms

December 2, 11am-2pm

For

Christmas Vintage Market

23514 105 Ave, Maple Ridge

November 16, 5-9pm & 17, 9am-4pm

If you love all things olde, shabby chic, country farmhouse, handmade, and vintage, then this will be an event you don’t want to miss! Admission is $5 for both days and children 12 and under are free! Partial proceeds go to the Maple Ridge Christmas Hamper. Free Parking. www.theoldefarmhouse.ca

Christmas Train

Bear Creek Park

December 8- January 1, 10am-4pm

Ride the train through the magic Christmas forest display and Santa’s Golden Reindeer tunnel exhibit. Adults $6.50; children$6 604.501.1232 | www.bctrains.com

Nutcracker

Queen Elizabeth Theatre

December 14-16, 7:30pm & 15 & 16, 2pm Ballet BC is proud to present Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Nutcracker with three evening performances and two matinees. Tickets start at $30.25

www.balletbc.com

Polar Express

December 1-2 & 8-9

West Coast Railway Heritage Park, Squamish Enjoy a 60 minute train ride, a story read aloud, hot chocolate and cookie, Christmas music and carol, Santa’s workshop, Mr and Mrs Claus and more! www.wrca.org/heritage

It’s a Wonderful Life

Granville Island Stage

November 26–December 29

“Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.” In this holiday favourite, George Bailey’s guardian angel swoops in to remind him that faith, hope, and family, make life truly wonderful. Returning for a fifth year, this production has delighted over 66,000 audience members!

www.artsclub.com

Bright Nights in Stanley Park

Stanley Park

November 28-January 2

See more than 2 million twinkling lights as they transform the forest, train and children’s farmyard area in the middle of the city’s wondrous Stanley Park. Enjoy entertainment, dozens of delightful animated displays and more!

www.vancouver.ca

Winter Ice Palace

Cloverdale Arena

December 22–January 6

The Cloverdale Arena will be transformed into the Winter Ice Palace again over the winter break. Come and join in the fun. This is a very popular event that the whole family can enjoy. Admission is $4 per person, skate rentals additional. And yes, they will be open Christmas Day and New Years Day. 604.502.6410 | www.cloverdale.bc.ca

Enjoy face painting, write letters to Santa, and decorate gingerbread cookies while listening to live music! Weather permitting there will also be horse-drawn carriage rides. www.krauseberryfarms.com

readers choice 2012 families

party ideas

One of the best things about Greater Vancouver and the surrounding regions is that there is always something fun to do, no matter what the weather. So if your little one has a birthday this winter, maybe a picnic isn’t such a great idea, but there are lots of great places to throw a party even when it is wet and cold outside. Here are some good ideas for both indoor and outdoor kids’ parties that happen in the less sunny times of the year.

Indoor Parties

6 Pack Indoor Beach

Richmond

www.6packbeach.com

4Cats Arts Studio Surrey

www.4cats.com

Cliffhanger Climbing Centre

Vancouver www.cliffhangerclimbing.com

6 Pack Indoor Beach has converted an 18,000 square foot facility into a sand lover’s paradise. Gather friends for a game of beach volleyball, tugo-war, or sand castle building. Whether it’s 12 kids for a birthday, 50 teenagers for a Sweet Sixteen, or 150 soccer players from a community league, 6 Pack has a party package to fit your needs—you can even have a sleepover! Birthday party packages start at $150 for 2 hours; sleepovers cost $60 per person and require a minimum of 25 people.

Fun World Playcentre

Surrey

www.funworldplaycentre.com

Slides, ball pits, climbing walls, and climbing nets should keep the little monkeys busy while older kids can enjoy laser tag, bumper cars, and arcade games. The Marina Café offers all the party meal favourites including pizza and hotdogs, but they offer healthy fruits and veggies too. Open seven days a week, party packages range from $13 to $30.

Kinder Café

Port Coquitlam www.kindercafe.ca

Kinder Café is the perfect place for a toddler tea or baby bash. This 3,000 square foot open-concept space is a safe environment for children ages 6 and under to explore, play, and socialize, all while mom keeps an eye out from the chic café space. Kinder Café will take care of everything except the birthday cake. Party packages start at $149 for seven children.

People of all ages can appreciate the fun of splatter painting, which is just one reason why 4Cats is a great place to host a party. Enter the studio and watch your kids become Georgia O’Keefe, Jackson Pollock or Van Gogh. It is a place where space aliens and dragons come to life frompaint and clay, and creativity is encouraged. Like their slogan says: “Art is good.” It is also good that party prices start at a reasonable $185 for ten people and everyone goes home with a piece of original art.

There’s nothing more fun than “hanging out” with friends, especially if you actually get to hang from things!

Cliffhanger Climbing Centre is the perfect place to do just that.

Limegirl www.limegirl.ca

If you are looking for a luxurious party idea with a twist, that will come straight to your house, then you better give Limegirl a call. They will turn your house into a custom spa and treat your party girl and her guests to manicures, pedicures, and mini makeovers. Want to add a sweet treat? Party guests can make spa candy – not for eating but for bath and body. Bookings are 1 ½ to 3 hours long and range in price from $275 to $345 for eight girls.

The Hungry Oven North Vancouver www.thehungryoven.com

Their Vancouver location has 15,000 square feet of climbing terrain and 40-foothigh walls, and is suitable for everyone from amateurs to experts. The fun and challenge of rock climbing make it a perfect party activity for anyone over the age of seven. Two-hour “vertical” birthday parties can be booked for a maximum of 12 people at a cost of $22/person.

Castle Fun Park Abbotsford www.castlefunpark.com

The giant castle on the side of the Trans-Canada Highway is hard to miss; it practically shouts fun! Within the property there truly is something for everyone regardless of age. Batting cages, bumper cars, go karts, three mini-golf courses, a shooting gallery, target hockey, indoor driving range, soccer goal kick, and more than 160 arcade games all add up to endless hours of entertainment. Groups and birthday parties can reserve party times with prices ranging from $12.50 to $25 per person.

The Hungry Oven incorporates kids’ cooking classes into their birthday parties. Party goers first cook food from one of several themed birthday menus and then they get to sit down and enjoy the delicious meal they have created. And, when the party is over the Hungry Oven cleans up the mess. Birthday parties can be booked for groups of 10 to 15 children at a cost of $45 per child.

Outdoor Options

Mount Seymour

www.mountseymour.com

Celebrating a birthday in the winter does not have to mean staying indoors. Add a thrill to your celebration with some tubing or tobogganing at Mount Seymour. Tubes are provided for zooming down one of four lanes and a rope tow pulls you back up again making it easy for young and old. The toboggan park is a “bring you’re your own slide” area where people can also play in the snow. No need to worry about your cake and presents while you are having fun because they will stay safe and dry inside the cozy yurt that is available for party rentals at $37/hr. It can accommodate up to 50 people and is conveniently situated between the toboggan and tubing hills. Contact Mount Seymour for group tobogganing and tubing rates.

Grouse Mountain

www.grousemountain.com

Nothing says winter like an outdoor skating pond. Soaring over the city skyline, Grouse Mountain not only offers one of the only outdoor skating ponds in southern BC, it is also a great place to enjoy everything winter has to offer. In addition to skating, you can enjoy “snow-limo” and sleigh rides, not to mention the skiing and snowshoeing. Skating and some other activities are included with the cost of each Skyride pass which ranges in price from $13.95 for children under 12, to $39.95 for adults. You can plan a party inside the Peak Chalet just steps away from the skating rink or contact Grouse Mountain to customize a package.

Stanley Park Ecology Society

www.stanleyparkecology.ca

Anytime is a good time to visit Stanley Park, but celebrating a birthday in the park only makes the visit better. A birthday celebration with the Stanley Park Ecology Society includes a guided walking tour of the park with hands-on activities and plenty of opportunity to explore and discover the natural treasures hidden in the wetlands and forests. The party then moves inside to Stanley Park’s historic Dining Pavilion where you can have your gift exchange and birthday cake. Parties can be customized to a favourite animal or activity, so don’t be afraid to ask. Up to 15 children can attend for $210.

WildPlay

Maple Ridge www.wildplay.com

If swinging from trees and zipping across forest terrain sounds appealing, then WildPlay is your kind of adventure. Parties for children between the ages of seven and 13 can spend their time trying to conquer the Monkido Ariel Adventure: a series of suspended obstacle games. Kids swing, climb, and zip line through the course of more than 60 games anywhere from six to 60 feet above ground. Although not open regular hours November through February, groups of 15 or more can still make reservations. $199.90 for 10 kids. Older kids can book a party too; contact Wild Play for group rates.

wcf news

>> Canada’s Grade 4 and 5 Students Can Ski and Snowboard Free Across Canada

It’s Canada’s best ski and snowboard deal... and for the first time, it’s accessible across the country. The Canadian Ski Council’s SnowPass provides FREE skiing and snowboarding for Canadian kids in Grade 4 and Grade 5. New this winter, kids can use their SnowPass at participating ski areas anywhere in Canada. “This is so exciting for us,” explains Patrick Arkeveld, Canadian Ski Council (CSC) President and CEO. “In the past, SnowPass holders could only use it in the region in which they lived. Now they can use it anywhere. Which means, if they live in Ontario and are vacationing in Quebec, Alberta or B.C., they can ski or ride free there, too.” How It Works: The Canadian Ski Council’s SnowPass gives kids in grades 4 and 5 (born in 2002 or 2003) up to three free coupons for lift tickets at each participating ski area... all for a onetime administration fee of $29.95, including taxes. There are 149 participating ski areas across the country. Applying is easy: Online applications are now available at www.snowpass.ca.

In November, SnowPass applications will also be distributed inside Sport Chek stores across Canada. Once an application is complete, a SnowPass will be sent straight to you starting mid-November. The SnowPass season starts December 1, 2012. Now in its 16th year, the CSC’s SnowPass program has given more than 500,000 Canadian kids opportunities to ski or snowboard free. This season, the CSC is pleased to work with its 2012/2013 sponsors: Sport Chek, Ripzone and Powder Room. For more information, visit www.snowpass.ca

>> National Science Teachers Association and Toshiba Launch ExploraVision 2013

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision, the world’s largest K-12 science and technology competition is now accepting entries for 2013. Students research scientific principles and current technologies as the basis for designing inventions that could exist in 20 years. As the program has evolved over the past two decades, it continues to encourage excellence and motivate students in STEM disciplines. In addition to providing students with the opportunity to win money they can use for college tuition, the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Program gives educators a valuable tool for helping motivate students to excel in science. As a testament to its value in schools, the program has become so popular among teachers that many across the U.S. and Canada now include it as part of their regular science curriculum. Since the program’s inception in 1992, more than 300,000 students have submitted projects. This year, the teacher who submits the most eligible team projects in each grade category will receive a Toshiba tablet, and the school that submits the most eligible projects will receive $1,000 worth of Toshiba technology. Teachers can learn more about ExploraVision and how to use it as a tool in the classroom through a series of Web seminars at The NSTA Learning Center learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/ExploraVision/ Webseminar.aspx . For more information or an application for 2013, visit www.exploravision.org. The deadline is January 31, 2013.

>> Majority of Canadian youth spend an hour or less outside each day

A new survey conducted on behalf of the David Suzuki Foundation shows that 70 per cent of youth spend about an hour or less outside each day. The Foundation released the key findings of the survey on their website in October. Over 660 Canadian youth from across the country took the on-line survey this past spring. Nearly half of the youth surveyed between the ages of thirteen and twenty feel they don’t have enough time to join programs that get them out into nature. They say school, work, and other chores make it difficult for them to take part in outdoor programs. The findings highlight the need for parents and teachers to encourage young people to spend more time outside.

There is now a huge gap between the amount of screen time young people are getting with the amount of time spent outside. For instance, an American survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found young people spend an average of seven and a half hours a day on entertainment media. The Foundation’s recent survey also highlights the important role parents and families play in getting younger teens to spend time outside. The younger they were, the more likely they were to spend time with their families in nature.

To encourage families to spend more time outside the David Suzuki Foundation has created Back to school? Get back outside! The four week challenge asks families to do four outdoor activities that have them explore their neighborhoods and their connections to nature. www.getbackoutside.ca

>> The Health & Safety Watch team is very excited to announce the availability of

the first HSW mobile app

The Health and Safety Watch iPhone app is the only all-hazards, multi-jurisdictional, real-time health and safety information resource for your iPhone. Led by public health experts, HSW delivers personalized information on Canadian advisories, recalls, and warnings; giving you the information you need to make safe and informed choices for yourself and your family. The HSW iPhone app brings you all the same valuable health and safety information as the HSW website, with the additional feature that when location services are enabled, Events are ranked by distance to your specific location.

Using lists, maps, search capabilities, ranking algorithms, and your location, the HSW application helps you find health and safety information on a variety of topics most important to you: Food Products, Consumer Products, Health Products, Public Health, Water, and Environment. You can also use the HSW application to find and review local public health inspection results. Starting with Toronto, Ontario and expanding to other communities soon, use the current inspection status of restaurants and other food premises to help plan your day.

For more information, visit www.healthandsafetywatch.com

download and get down geekology

by Jodi Iverson

Overplayed holiday music seems to be a polarizing topic. Either you love it or, well, not so much. But what better to help you though the short daylight hours and hustle of the season than that magic moment when you have loaded all your parcels into the trunk, collapsed into your seat, and turn on your music? We have curated a list of our lesser known faves to help you enjoy the season.

1. “I Wish it Was Christmas Today” by

Julian Casablancas

This Ramonesesque ditty by the frontman of The Strokes is pure silly fun, the perfect pop song recipe. “I don’t care what the neighbours say, Christmas time is near.”

2. “Christmas Blues” by LCD Soundsystem

Because sometimes the wallet lightening season calls for the blues.

3. “Father Christmas” by The Kinks

PG Alert! This is an adult’s only song involving Santa. Hey, we are all a little punk sometimes.

4. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by F&@#ed up

Speaking of PG alerts…don’t let the questionably named Toronto group scare you away. This 2009 remake includes vocals from a plethora of indie superstars. All money raised from this version was split amongst three Canadian charities, including Vancouver’s DTES Power of Women Group.

5. “All I Wonderful Christmas Is You” by Summer Camp

Putting a fresh spin on a couple of classics, Summer Camp mixes Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” with Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmas Time.” I don’t know much about this band but their cover of The Waitresses “Christmas Wrapping,” is awesome too!

6. “Christmas in Hollis” by Run DMC

Classic 80’s. This song samples Clarence Carter’s ‘Back Door Santa’, ‘Frosty the Snowman’, ‘Jingle Bells’, and ‘Joy to the World’.

7. “Auld Lang Syne” by Chris Bathgate

This stripped down; folky version is a welcome way to bring in the New Year.

8. “Got Something For You” by Best Coast & Wavves

I heard this collaboration while shopping a couple years ago and was hooked. Jingle bells and harmonies get me every time!

9. “It’s Christmas So We’ll Stop” by Frightened Rabbit

A charming holiday song sung in a charming Scottish brogue. Nuff said.

10.“Christmas Don’t Be Late” by Catwalk (Alvin & the Chipmunks Cover)

Truth be told, I have a soft spot for the original warbly Alvin vocals, but this is a good alternative for those of you who don’t.

Overplayed Fave that almost made the list:

“Mele Kalikimaka” by Bing Crosby

Who doesn’t love a Hawaiian-themed Christmas song? For me this song is pure National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Picture Clarke Griswold dealing with cousin Eddie and suddenly your house full of relatives is looking great!

Forever Memories

Safeguarding & Organizing Your Digital Photo Albums

By Darcie Brown

with digital photography, we all take a ton of pictures, and this is great; but it also means managing the files becomes an increasingly daunting task. Often people just download their pictures to their computer and let them sit there. Digital files are a fragile medium, which makes them more vulnerable to catastrophic loss and deterioration than traditional media such as paper. So your digital photos require active management to safeguard them. So let’s break down a simple workflow for managing your personal photos.

Identify where your digital photos are. Take a moment to figure out where your files are. Some typical locations are: memory cards, your computer, portable hard drives, CDs, DVDs, the internet and thumb drives. With new pictures, download them as soon as possible to avoid misplacing them. Once you have them downloaded to a minimum of two locations and viewed them to check there are no errors, you can format your card in your camera.

Decide which pictures are most important to you. One of the blessings and curses of digital photography is that it is easy to take many pictures whenever you pick up your camera. We used to shoot, at the most, a roll of 24 photos at an event; we now can walk away with hundreds. So take some time to narrow down your most important images. You may have many or just a few. I personally believe that less is more and encourage you to keep only the best ones.

Organize your most important photos. Start by creating folders to group your images in. We organize our personal photographs by date. Each year has its own folder and then the subfolders are a date with a short description of what the photographs are of. For example, we would name a folder “2012_06_25 – Justina’s 5th Birthday” for the folder that holds Justina’s birthday photographs taken on June 25, 2012. Give the files you’ve selected descriptive names. As long as you’re consistent and your method allows you to find photographs, you can create your own system.

Make prints of your photographs. If I held a pile of prints in one hand and a hard drive in another then dropped them both, the prints are going to fare much better than the hard drive. Paper is a stable method to preserve photos. I suggest sending your favorite photos to print every month or so. You can make digital albums as well which you can design and print through companies such as Blurb, iBook, Snapfish and many more.

Make multiple digital copies and store them in different places. Since all hard drives will eventually fail and disks will inevitably degrade, you should store your files in multiple locations. The Library of Congress’s Prints & Photographs Division recommends using the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 different types of mediums and 1 copy in a location other than where you live.

Maintain your digital files. Check your photos at least once a year to make sure you can read them. Digital technology is rapidly developing so as programs are updated, retrieval and playback technologies can become obsolete in a matter of years. It wasn’t too long ago that we were using floppy disks to store data, which are inaccessible to the average person now.

For the same reason, we also suggest that you create new media copies every five years, or when necessary, to avoid data loss. This will help to protect you from losing your photographs through digital obsolescence.

Darcie Brown of Revival Arts partners with her husband, Jason, to provide innovative, artsy portraiture and beautiful home décor displays. Their hard drives and albums are full of inspiring photographs of their three children.

is excited for the return of the 4th annual

Best Pediatric Dentist/Dental Clinic

•Child’s Play

•PDG

•Monarch Dentistry

Best Family Optometrist or Optometry Clinic

•Complete Eye Care

•Dr. Megan Rees

•Pacific Eye Doctors

Best Beauty/Health Spa

•Spa Utopia

•Absolute Spa

•Skoah

Best Children’s Hair Salon

•Melonheads

•Great Clips

•Tie: Fintastics / Hair Loft / Mom Spa

Best Ladies Fitness Program/Facility

•She’s Fit

•Curves

•Fitness World

Best Family Fitness Centre

•YMCA/YWCA

•Hillcrest Comm Centre

•Fitness World

choice awards readers

Best Infant/Toddler/Child Music Program

•Music With Marnie

•Music Together

•Tie: Music for Young Children / Mother Goose

Best Children’s Dance Program

•Arts Umbrella

•Kerrisdale Community Centre

•n/a

Best Children’s Performing Arts Program

•Arts Umbrella

•Carousel Theatre

•Shadbolt Centre

Best Children’s Visual Art Program

•4 Cats

•Arts Umbrella

•ArtSpace

Best Family Photographer

•Bopomo

•Tie: Meagan Baker Photography / Revival Arts

Best Kid’s Party Venue

•Science World

Best Home Party Business

•Partylite

•Tie: Silpada / Stella and dot / Tupperware

Best Online Parenting/Family Resource

•westcoastfamilies.com

•babycenter.ca

•kidsvancouver.com

Best Women’s/Mom’s Entrepreneur Network or Support group

•MomCafe

•EMom Now

•Lulu Ladies

Best Local Daytrip

•Whistler

•4 cats

•Tie: Go Bananas / Little Gym / Phoenix Gymnastics

Best Party Supply Store

•Party Bazaar

•Dollar Store

•Dollarama

Best Children’s Entertainer/Performer

•Music with Marnie

•Raffi

•Bobs and Lolo

Best Birthday Cakes/Bakery/Treats

•Dairy Queen

•Safeway

•Tie: Cupcakes / Butter / Fratelli’s

Best Sleepover Camp

•Tie: YMCA Camp Elphinstone

•Tie: Grouse Mountain / Stanley Park

Best Vacation Destination Outside of BC

•Hawaii

•Disneyland

•Oregon Coast

Best Family Campground or Camping Destination

•Manning Park

•Tie: Alice Lake / Cultus Lake

Best Family Ski Area/Mountain/Resort

•Whistler

•Grouse Mountain

•Big White

Best Travel Agency/Resource

•Flight Centre

•BCAA

•Tie: Marlin Travel / Campbell Travel

Best Learning/Tutoring Centre

•Tie:

/ Sylvan / Oxford

Best Local Family Attraction

•Vancouver Aquarium

•Science World

•PNE/Playland

Best Children’s Live Theatre Company

•Carousel Theatre

•Waterfront theatre

•Stagecoach

Best Annual Baby/Family Show/Event

•Baby & Family Fair

•PNE

•Vancouver International Children’s Festival

Camp Squeah Sasamat Outdoor

Kumon

you spoke... we listened!

Of course, We know our readers are the smartest people out there. So it’s time again to harvest this wealth of knowledge and experience in our Annual Reader’s Choice Awards! Read on to discover what you have chosen as the best of the best in and around town.

Best Children’s Clothing Store

•Children’s Place

•Tie: Carters-Oshkosh / Gymboree

Best Maternity Clothing Store

•Thyme

•Motherhood

•Old Navy

Best Adults Consignment/Vintage Store

•Value Village

•Salvation Army

•Front & Co

Best Kids Consignment/Vintage Store

•Wee Ones Reruns

•Value Village

•Boomers & Echoes

Best Kids Shoe Store

•Panda

•Payless

•Tomatoes

Best Midwife or Doula Services

•Mother Me

•The Midwifery Group

•Pomegranate Midwifery

Best Nanny Agency

•Nannies on Call

•Susan’s Nannies

•Nooks & Nannies

Best Children’s Day Camp

•Science World

•Pedalheads

•YMCA

Best Children’s Bookstore

•Kidsbooks

•Chapters

•Indigo

Best Children’s Furniture Store

•Ikea

•Pottery Barn Kids

•TJ’s The Kiddies Store

Best Baby Equipment Store

•TJ’s The Kiddies Store

•Babies R Us

•Baby’s World

Best Family Bike Shop

•Caps

•Different Bikes

•John Henry’s

Best Family Restaurant

•White Spot

•Boston Pizza

•Rocky Mountain Flatbread

Best Natural/Organic Foods Store

•Whole Foods

•Choices Market

•Famous Foods

Best Grocery Store

•Real Canadian Superstore

•Save-On-Foods

•Tie: Safeway / Thrifty’s

Best Grocery Delivery Service

•Spud

•Thrifty’s

•Tie: IGA / Stongs

Best Pizza

•Panago

•Pizza Hut

•Fresh Slice

Best Activity-Play Centre

•Go Bananas

•Kerrisdale Play Palace

•The Great Escape

readers choice 2012

Best Location to Pick up WestCoast Families Magazine

•Libraries •Safeway

•Science World

Best Vacation Destination Within BC

•Whistler

•Tofino

•Harrison Hot Springs

Best Swimming Program

•Aquaventures

•Hillcrest Community Centre

•YMCA

Best Children’s Gymnastics Program

•Phoenix Gymnastics

•Jump! Gymnastics

•UBC Gymnastics

GOLD

SILVER BRONZE

i’m raising my family...

i vegetarian

n this day and age, one wouldn’t think that choosing a vegetarian diet would be anything really noteworthy. After all, green is in, and eating vegetarian is most definitely green. It’s good for our bodies, it’s good for the planet. However, rarely do a few weeks go by where our family doesn’t find ourselves explaining, and yes, at times defending, our dietary choices. With all of the diets that one encounters today (gluten-free, raw, low-calorie, lowcarb, the list goes on), it does at times seem like ours is one of the simpler ones. No meat, simple as that. Not a lot of ingredient reading, calorie counting or trips to the specialty food shop. However simple it may seem to us, there are always those who view our choice as radical in a way that the other diets are not.

According to Wikipedia, as of 2003, 4% of Canadians ate vegetarian diets. Of those, the top reason given for steering clear of meat was, predictably, health. Yes, eating vegetarian is a very healthy option, but there are myriad other reasons why an individual or family might choose to avoid meat.

In our family, the reasons are mixed. My partner and I were both on the veg path years before we met and started a family. When we were teenagers in the 80s and 90s, there was a trend toward vegetarianism and we both ended up being surrounded by friends who were also avoiding meat. My reasons were mainly animal-rights based, whereas my partner would tell you that he felt that avoiding meat was a simple way for him to do a bit of good in the world - for the earth, for animals, for his body.

When we had a child, there was never any question that she would be vegetarian as well. We had already spent the greater part of our lives as healthy vegetarians, and knew there was no reason we couldn’t have a healthy vegetarian child.

When our daughter began eating solid foods, we faced the same challenges that most parents face–figuring out what your kid likes and doesn’t like. The fact that meat wasn’t an option for our child didn’t really pose a problem for us, as we hadn’t considered it an option for ourselves in many years. We fed her well-rounded meals including lots of grains and greens, fruits and veggies, and occasionally tofu in various forms.

Before long, it became obvious that our daughter was a fruit and veggie fanatic, much as I was as a child. As long as it was colourful and crunchy and raw, she would eat it all day long.

On top of the fact that none of us eat meat, I myself am a vegan, meaning I don’t eat any dairy products or eggs. Our family have therefore always been fans of non-dairy alternatives to things like yoghurt, milk, and cheese. Our daughter has rice, soy, or almond milk in her cereal, and is a fan of coconut ice cream.

Having been born into a meat-free environment meant that our daughter was largely unaware that meat even existed until she was about two years old. She began to notice new things on other people’s plates, and in the grocery store. As

By Krysta Furioso

she had become a fan of veggie bacon as a toddler, she noticed that other people’s bacon looked slightly different.

One day when she was about two-anda-half, we were in a grocery store passing through the low meat freezers where the ham and turkey are kept. Our daughter had always been full of questions, so I wasn’t surprised when she went over to the freezer, pointed at a ham and asked, “What’s that pink stuff?” Pink being her favourite colour, I wondered where this conversation would end up.

I told her it was ham. “What’s ham?” she asked, unsatisfied with my abstract response.

I took a deep breath, and decided to do what I had always known I would do when this moment came. I told her the truth.

“It’s part of a pig that people eat.”

I’ll never forget her face changing from curiosity to a look of complete ridicule. She laughed her little girl laugh and said, “Mama, people don’t eat pigs! That’s silly!”

I may as well have told her that people eat doors or sidewalks. I could see her struggling to work out how pigs were not only the lovable creatures in her storybooks and nursery rhymes, but they were also food. And chickens too! And cows!

So our conversation continued with her coming to find out a lot more about meat, and about humans, and about the world around her.

She has become a lover of animals herself, and I won’t deny that I’ve played a role in that. Passing on your values is something we sometimes can’t avoid as parents. We’ve taught her to respect all life, respect the earth, and of course, to respect other people and the choices they make.

Making sure that she gets enough iron and protein is only half the battle as she gets older and faces the world where what she eats and doesn’t eat often sets her apart from her peers. We’ve been lucky in that she’s always had at least one other vegetarian child in her class, all the way back to preschool. As a grade one student, I’m happy to report that she has never come home upset about another child treating her differently because she’s vegetarian. When she’s asked about it, she faces the question with confidence, and even a bit of pride. She doesn’t judge the kids that bring ham sandwiches to school, and I think that’s my biggest relief. She gets that we don’t eat meat, but that some of her friends do, and some of her friends don’t celebrate Halloween, and others have two moms. It’s a rainbow world, and she’s part of a generation where acceptance and tolerance are essential. As she gets older, maybe she’ll get curious. Maybe she’ll get sick of veggie bacon. We’ll see. For now, this is our path, and we’re happy to be on it, healthy and happy.

You take a risk when you’re honest with your kids about complicated topics, but my daughter has shown me again and again that she can handle the truth–and that she deserves it.

mom westcoast

think of an inspiring woman. In truth, you’re probably thinking of someone like Oprah, a larger-than-life figure, with a TV show and a wealth of philanthropic endeavours under her belt. But in real life, truly inspiring people don’t need to have a TV show or millions of adoring fans. But they do give life their all, no matter what cards they’ve been dealt.

One such person is Michelle Gentis, a single mom living in Vancouver. She not only takes care of her physically disabled son, Joshua, but she devotes her life to making sure that he’s as happy and engaged as any other eleven-year-old. And it has not been an easy road for Michelle. A single mom since Josh was one (around the time they realized he had a brain disorder, causing severe physical disabilities), she found herself navigating the daunting world of specialists, therapists and doctors appointments all on her own. But even though she admits it’s been

Michelle Gentis Marathon Mom

By Nic

hard, “No parent signs up for this and there’s many times that you grieve alone,” Michelle decided to take Joshua’s disability and turn it into a positive, “I decided when Josh was young that I didn’t just want to survive this, I wanted to overcome it and make something great of it.”

And make something great of it they have. Josh may be confined to a wheelchair and need constant one-on-one care, but Michelle has made sure that her son is not sitting on the sidelines of life.

In June 2008, Michelle and Josh ran their first half-marathon together, something she says was a defining moment in their lives, “Something magical happened. When all the other runners and on-lookers cheered Josh on…and everyone needs to be cheered on. We both had a great time and it was a wonderful experience.” It

Enright-Morin | Spread photo by Dylan Doubt

“I want my life to count for something. I want my life to make a difference. Not just for my son but for other people.”

was also the catalyst for Michelle beginning ‘Team Joshua,’ a charitable foundation devoted to helping kids with disabilities reach their full potential, and to help their families overcome the challenges in their everyday lives.

Yet running is not something Michelle does just for her son, it is also her salvation in times of stress. In fact, sports are instrumental in her life, and as well as being a dedicated runner, Michelle is also a keen tennis player and loves to ski in the winter.

Originally from Holland, Michelle says a supportive family, a wealth of good friends and a devout Christian faith are what help her through the rough days. She also says she’s vigilant about carving out ‘me’ time, as her sanity is imperative to everyone’s happiness. “Part of my time for myself is running and if I do not take care of myself then I cannot take care of my son. The best thing I can give Josh is for me to be happy.”

When Michelle speaks of her life and all she wants to achieve, even though she has a soft voice, her determination is palpable. You can sense that she is an ambitious woman who will strive to attain her goals, no matter what obstacles

are in her path. “I want my life to count for something. I want my life to make a difference. Not just for my son but for other people.”

Michelle might not have the notoriety of Oprah, but she has the same drive and is a woman intent on making sure her’s is a life well lived. But behind her strength is vulnerability, which she is not used to expressing, although she is learning to.

“I’ve had to learn to ask for help because I was so fiercely independent, until I was brought to my knees many, many times, because you just can’t do it alone.”

But in reality, Michelle is anything but alone. For she and Josh are so close, and their lives are so intertwined that it is impossible to unravel them. Although Josh has faced so many adversities in his short life, Michelle is resolute that their lives will not be just another sad story. She is already victorious. For when she describes her son, just like any other mom, her voice brims with pride and joy, “Josh is a people person, he’s very clever and very aware, we call him curious Josh.”

Currently Michelle and Josh are training to qualify for the next Boston marathon. You can find out more about there story at www.teamjoshua.ca

A Great Meal is in the Cards

The Ladies of the Best of Bridge

tBy Stephanie MacDonald

he year was 1975, the place was a cottage near Calgary. Eight friends are gathered for a regular getaway to laugh, eat, and play bridge. But they also have a little more ambition than just that. Since one of the highlights of their decade-old bridge group has always been the delicious food they shared, they make a decision to put together a modest little cookbook.

We wanted to make enough money to do our next bridge weekend in Vancouver”, says Mary Halpin, one of the original eight. “That was our ‘mission statement’, though we didn’t know it was called that at the time”.

That modest little cookbook, titled Best of Bridge, was a runaway success, and the group went on to form a very successful partnership resulting in six more books and sales of over 3.2 million copies, and a special place in Canadian publishing history.

We sat down with Mary and Sally Vaughan-Johnston, who has taken over the writing reigns of the operation since the ladies began easing into retirement a few years ago.

WestCoast Families: How do you think the books have evolved over time?

Mary: As new stores opened, there are many more ingredients available to the average person, and as people started to travel, they became used to eating more varied flavours. We worked with what we had at the time, and as we traveled and broadened our tastes, this happens in the books as well.

Sally: People used to joke about the cookbooks being subtitled “The Three M Cookbook” because we used a lot of mushroom soup, mayonnaise and

marshmallows, which really reflected the trends in the 1970’s. We’ve continued to evolve from mushroom soup to chipotle peppers.

WCF: What are your parameters for including a recipe in your books?

Mary: It’s pretty simple really, if you can’t find an ingredient in your average Calgary supermarket, it doesn’t go in the book. These change all the time, as stores react to demand for something, so a recipe that calls for champagne vinegar or something, if it doesn’t make it into one book, five years later is perfectly fine to include.

Sally: And we’ve continued to do that. Edmonton is a more limited market than Vancouver, but if I can’t get it in Edmonton at a normal supermarket, it doesn’t go in.

WCF: You have a brand new book out, the Best of Bridge Slow Cooker Cookbook. Is this a new direction?

Mary: It is the first single-subject cookbook we have done. Though the recipes are all Sally’s, all of the original ladies tested and approved every dish in the book.

Sally: A lot of people have misconceptions about slow cooking. They think you can just throw in a bunch of separate ingredients and a couple hours later they’ll pull out something good to eat, or they think that everything that comes out tasting the same. But the while there are some tricks to getting it right, the slow cooker can do perfect fondues, can bake wonderful side dishes, soups and puddings. The slow cooker is perfect for leaving out on the table while you’re entertaining, and effortless entertaining is how Best of Bridge got started!

Rockin for Research Hyatt Regency

November 3

Adult Events for the Hip Mom Around Town!

Enjoy a gourmet meal and live and silent auctions. Finish your incredible evening by dancing and rockin’ the night away to exciting entertainment while you help raise money to help find a cure for juvenile diabetes.

604.320.1937 | www.rockinforresearch.com

M.I.M. Tradeshow

Delta Burnaby Hotel, Casino and Conference Centre, Burnaby

November 4, 10am

This is an inspirational and empowering event where moms can connect with business opportunities face to face, providing a variety of workshops and keynote speakers, to educate on the latest in business information and inspire you to take the next step in your business! Stay for the fashion show and lifestyle alley where you can get pampered by pros. http://momincmovement.com/tradeshow/

Circle Craft Christmas Market

Vancouver Convention Centre

November 7-11, Wednesday-Friday 10am-9pm, Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 10am-5pm

Watch artists produce their work and enjoy live demonstrations of pottery throwing, weaving, jewellery making, and more! New this year- a fashion show! www.circlecraft.net

Starry Night

Granville Island Stage

November 10, 8pm (doors open 7pm)

A cavalcade of performers will tantalize, delight, and amuse at the 27th anniversary production of Starry Night. This successful fundraiser offers a whirlwind experience of musical variety that will bring the audience to their feet! Tickets $39 www.shootingstarsfoundation.org

Vancouver Private School Expo

The Westin Bayshore

November 11, 10:30am-12noon & 12noon- 4pm

Canada’s largest private school expo provides information seminars about choosing the best school, how to pay for private school, as well as an opportunity to meet top PS -12 schools. Register now and get 50% off admission tickets. www.ourkids.net/expo

22nd Annual Vancouver Health Show

Vancouver Convention Centre

November 10-11

The Health Shows provide new, reliable and practical diet, supplement, exercise and lifestyle tips that promote healthier living. Enjoy tasty food, learn about cutting-edge health products, services and fitness techniques, relax with a bodywork treatment, shop with special event pricing, and discover the latest trends.

www.healthshows.com

The Lake

Telus Studio Theatre- Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

November 14 & 15, 8pm

The Turning Point Ensemble celebrates the centenary of Barbara Pentland with the first professional public performance (60 years after its composition!) of her 1952 one-act opera The Lake. 604-733-9023 | www.turningpointensemble.ca

Hopscotch Festival

PNE Forum

November 16-17, 6-10pm

Last year’s festival was the greatest so far. It showcased world class products including Scotch and other Whiskies, Premium and Craft Beer from around the globe, and ultra-premium spirits and so much more. This year, Master Classes and Satellite Events are being planned to make this year’s festival even better. This year will show case more brands, more speakers, and more events, so get ready!

www.hopscotchfestival.com

21st Century Flea Market

Croatian Cultural Centre

November 18, 10am-3pm

175 tables of bargains on deluxe 20th century junque! Retro furnishings, antiques, toys, jewelry, china & glass, records, sports items, silverware, paintings & prints, collectibles & much, more. Plus Drop-In Appraisals All Day. General Admission $5 at door. www.21cpromotions.com

Vancouver Aquarium’s

Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown

Vancouver Aquarium

November 21, 7pm

Twelve of the city’s top chefs will go head-to-head for the title of 2012 Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown Champion in this culinary battle. The competing chefs will create delectable chowders paired with craft beer. Guests will vote on their favourite and a winner will be crowned.

www.vanaqua.org/chowder-chowdown

Visit www.westcoastfamilies.com/events_calendar for more family friendly events in June! To have your event included in the WestCoast Families community calendar, please email your details to: admin@westcoastfamilies.com.

Amaluna

Concord Pacific Place

November 23- December 30

Cirque Du Soleil’ Amaluna invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. See the enchanting costumes and beautiful set as well as the always entertaining show only Cirque Du Soleil can provide! Tickets start at $33 www.cirquedusoleil.com

Vancouver Christmas Market

Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza

November 24-December 24

Celebrate the rich and unique German culture! The Vancouver Christmas Market is a showcase of traditional German crafts, delicious food, and entertainment for all ages. Adults (13+ years): $5 General Admission

$2 Monday to Friday 11am-4pm and Child (0-6 years): Free www.vancouverchristmasmarket.com

Waiting Child Information Session

AFABC office, 200-7342 Winston St, Burnaby November 27, 7–9pm

Come and learn about BC’s Waiting Children including who the children are, why and how do they come into care, their special placement needs, the Waiting Child program adoption process, and key issues for families. Cost is free, but please pre-register. www.bcadopt.com

West Coast Christmas Show + Marketplace Tradex, Abbotsford

November 30 & December 1 & 2

This show brings together holiday decor, gifts, food, personal services, festive seminars, and celebrity stage presentations under one roof. www.westcoastchristmasshow.com

Bloom Market Presents: A Handmade Holiday Fort Langley Community Hall

December 1, 10am-6pm & 2, 11am-5pm

Shop for unique handmade gifts from over 40 of BC’s top artisans. Food, music and holiday fun! Admission $3 (kids under 12 free). Free Parking. 604.616.3903 | www.bloommarket.ca

TOQUE

303 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver

December 7, 6-10pm, Reception night! December 8, 11am-4pm

TOQUE is one of Western Front’s annual craft sale and fundraiser. Eco-friendly blocks, cards, felted slippers, and wonderful books and a raffle.

604.876.9343 | www.front.bc.ca

Got Craft?

Croatian Cultural Centre

December 8-9, 10am-5pm

One-of-a-kind items in a casual environment at Vancouver’s largest indie craft fair! First 50 people through the door each day get a swag bag. Admission is $3 www.gotcraft.com

Baby & Family Fair

Pacific National Exhibition

November 3-4, check website for times This show offers an extensive selection of exhibitors, seminars, and hands-on demonstrations on the latest information, innovations, products and services for expecting and families with young children. www.baby-fair.com/

The Belly, Baby and Tot Show

PoCo Inn and Suites

November 4, 10am-4pm

Come out for a great event for the expecting, new and parents of toddlers! Kids activity play centre, kids fashion show, and get a professional photo of your growing belly, baby, toddler or a family shot! Plus Tykes Bikes mini trial course, Cars for Dads, Shop for the latest products and services in your community, and so much more! $3 admission at the door, proceeds go towards Basics for Babies! www.mommyconnections.ca/

Family

Fun Day

Burnaby Heritage Museum

November 4, 11am-3pm

On Family Fun Day, Burnaby Heritage Museum welcomes families with kids of all ages. Free face painting, balloon art, crafts, carousel rides, hot dogs, and drinks for all attendees. Cost is free, but please pre-register. www.bcadopt.com

Reggio-Based Preschool Open House

Vancouver Hebrew Academy

November 7, 1:30-2:45pm

This fully redesigned preschool program is for children ages 3 and 4 and runs from 8:3012:30am Monday through Friday. The Reggio Emilia approach to teaching young children is centered around several fundamental values about how young children learn. 604.266.1245

community

Diwali

West End Community Centre

November 7, 4:30-6:30pm

Celebrate Diwali, an ancient South Asian Festival and participate in activities including; Storytelling, Diya Painting, Mehndi, and Dance Workshops. Free event. All ages welcome. www.vancouver.ca

Culture Babes

51 E Pender Street, Chinatown

November 9, 10am

Visit the Rennie Collection to see the Scottish artist Andrew Grassie exhibition with your toddler in tow. The Rennie is a private gallery, showing the personal art collection of Bob Rennie and is only open for scheduled tours. Tickets are $10 per adult and tots are free. www.culturebabes.ca

Max and Ruby in the Nutcracker Suite Bell Performing Arts Centre Surrey & The Centre In Vancouver For Performing Arts

November 9 & 10

These children’s favorites will be performing in Surrey November 9 at 3:30 & 6:30 and in Vancouver November 10 at 1pm. www.maxandrubyontour.com

The Bright Lights of Broadway! Orpheum

November 16 & 17, 8pm

Called a “mega-talent,” and “one of the best voices on Broadway,” Tony-award winning singing sensation Debbie Gravitte performs a collection of some of the greatest-ever Broadway songs.

604.876.3434 | www.vancouversymphony.ca

Will’s Jams

The Rio Theatre

November 17, 10:30am

Join children’s entertainer Will Stroet and his Backyard Band for a live concert, a series of videos featuring Will’s favourite songs about sports, vegetables, colours, and animals from his highly-acclaimed albums Walk ‘n’ Roll and My Backyard. Tickets are $10 each (1 yr and under free) www.willmusic.ca

Semiahmoo Trail Elementary School Christmas Fair

3040-145A Street, Surrey

November 17, 11am-4pm

A wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit and do your Christmas shopping! Great selection of handmade and home-based business products to choose from. Face painting, activities, and child minding for the kids.

Kids Swap Meet

Cloverdale Fairgrounds

November 17, 9am–12:30pm

Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to buy or sell new & used infant to teen items. Vendors selling everything from maternity items, clothing for all ages, toys, video games, furniture, strollers, bikes, sports equipment and more.

604.588.9919

Toy & Product Fair

The Coast Hotel & Convention Centre

November 21, 1-7pm

This fair provides unique and innovative gifts for children of all ages and abilities. Admission & child minding by donation. Have your picture taken, and you may be chosen to have your child on the cover of WestCoast Families - plus additional prizes available! www.langleycdc.com

Santa Arrives at Brentwood Town Centre

Brentwood Town Centre, London Drugs Court

November 17, 11am

Join in for an interactive show where Santa’s Toymakers need your help, to not only finish their important tasks, but to welcome Santa into the shopping centre! There will be music, dancing, and treats for everyone. www.brentwoodtowncentre.com

calendar

Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival

Kilby Historic Site

November 17 & 18, 2pm

The Vancouver Zoo will be on site with their Birds of Prey, the Bear Aware folks and Cliff Jury from Wild Birds Unlimited will speak, and as always, crafts for the kids. www.fraservalleybaldeaglefestival.ca

Disney on Ice Presents- Dare to Dream Pacific Coliseum

November 21-25, various times

All your favourite princesses take to the ice in a spectacular finale at the ultimate Disney Princess event of a lifetime! Experience the beauty, sparkle, and spirit when Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream comes to Vancouver! 604.757.0345 | www.ticketleader.ca | www. pne.ca

Cirque de la Symphonie Orpheum

November 24, 8pm & 25, 2pm

This thrilling, high-wire production is a mix of light classics and film scores performed by the orchestra. You will marvel at the astonishing talents of these world class athletes and artists, in the most unique and spectacular Symphony experience you can imagine! www.vancouversymphony.ca

Cherie Smith Jewish Book Festival Jewish Community Centre

November 24-29

The week is packed with innovative literary events including unique meet-the-author opportunities, literary readings and panel discussions, a foodie event, the annual bookclub event, writing and self-publishing workshops, children’s authors, film-screenings, and two onsite bookstores – new and used, open throughout the week. This Festival offers something of interest for every age group and every literary taste.

604.257.5111|www.jewishbookfestival.ca

2nd Annual Elsie Roy Green Christmas Toy Sale & Swap

Roundhouse Community CentreExhibition Hall

December 1, 10am-12noon

Who says Christmas can’t be green? Would you like to reduce packaging, keep unused toys out of our landfills, save money, reduce clutter, teach your children to be conscious consumers all while supporting Elsie Roy Elementary?

Admission is $3/adult or $5/family

Osprey Village 5th Annual Tree Lighting

December 2, 6:30pm

There will be carols, crafts, warm beverages and the lighting of the tree. Even Santa will be there to enjoy the festivities. www.ospreyvillage.com

A Christmas Carol - Monster Theatre Centennial Theatre

December 2, 2pm

The Dickens classic as you have never seen it! Using puppetry, masks, original songs, physical comedy, and good old-fashioned storytelling, bookish Ryan and clownish Tara awaken young minds to the literary classics in a way that will inspire kids to dive into the books themselves. Age 5 and up.

604.984.4484 | www.centennialtheatre.com

17th Annual Seasonal Celebration

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

December 6, 5:30-6:30pm

Celebrate with music, dance and interactive family activities.

604.291.6864

Brunch with Santa Cameron Recreation Complex

December 8, 11am-12:30pm

Join Santa, Mrs. Claus and your hosts from the Cameron Seniors’ Society for a hearty pancake brunch, crafts, sing-along and special surprises

604.297.4456

Winter Solstice – Where is this going on?

December 21, 6:30-9:30pm

Winter Solstice family fun night to celebrate the longest day of the year! Bring your instruments and your lanterns and join in our walking lantern procession and musical parade to watch the fire show!

www.vancouver.ca

Winter Wonderland, a Family Sleepover

Vancouver Aquarium

December 29

Bring the family along for a sleepover for a special Winter Wonderland. Learn about the marine mammals before going to bed with the Beluga Whales in the underwater viewing gallery. Night snack and breakfast provided. For children over 6 years and Adults. Price: $93, Member cost $77. Pre-registration required. 604.659.3552 | www.vanaqua.org

Christmas Carnival

Coal Harbour Community Centre

December 8, 10am-12noon

Journey with your children to meet Santa through a magical winter wonderland where holiday games and holiday crafts await each stop along the way. Pre-registration is recommended. Parent participation is required. Drop-in admission $6/child (age2-7)

604.718.8222 | www.coalharbourcc.ca

last look Make it Snappy!

Reusable Party Cracker DIY

By Jodi Iverson

Party crackers are fun for any occasion, but the prizes are often lackluster and they produce a lot of waste. DIY reusable crackers are an easy and fun craft project for the whole family! You can keep them basic for a kids party or use beautiful fabrics for a more formal affair. Try this project and let us know how it turns out, we want to see your pics!

materials

• Fabric – try felt, cloth napkins, or remnants from old projects, etc.

• Paper roll

• Ribbon or string

• Cracker filing items of your choicewooden toys, chocolates, flower seeds, Be creative!

• Paper snappers -available at craft stores or online

• Sissors

• Glue gun

make it!

Step 1

Slide snapper inside paper roll

Step 2

Add cracker filling – wooden toys, chocolates, flower seeds, mini bottles for the adults- Be creative!

Step 3

Wrap cracker in fabric and secure with ribbon

Step 4

Decorate crackers

Step 5 Reuse!

• Party crackers were invented in London in 1847

• The largest cracker ever made was built by school children & parent helpers and measured 63.1 Metres long & 4 Metres in diameter! did you know?

We’re currently building a new, bigger Ronald McDonald House® BC to surround more sick children with the love and support of their parents and siblings.

Find out how you can help at rmhbc.ca