How can we become the parents our children need us to be? Four new resource booklets can help First Nations and Métis parents answer this important question. The booklets were collaboratively developed by the National Collaborating Centre on Aboriginal Health (NCCAH) and BC First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) to share important parenting information, strategies, tips, and other resources that will help parents raise healthy, secure, confident, trusting, and resilient children. The series of four booklets can be found on the FNHA website.
From June 2013
Celebrate Longest Day of Play June 21st!
Participaction invites Canadians to take their families to the park this Friday June 21st to celebrate the Longest Day of Play!
Check out their video, and ideas for celebrating here: http://www.participaction.com/get-moving/longest-day-of-play/
Time In, not Time Out
How to use ‘Time In’ instead of ‘Time Out’….The YMCA CCRR Parent Page shows you how to! Also has good ideas for summer fun: Parent Page Summer 2013
Their Child Care Professional also has lots of summer training opportunities. Check it out here: Child Care Professional Summer 2013
Queensborough Children’s Festival June 22nd!
Don’t miss the Teddy Bear Picnic at the Queensborough Children’s Festival on Saturday June 22nd! Details: Children’s Festival & Teddy Bear Picnic
Family Literacy: How to Use a Picture Book
Literacy New West presents ‘How to Use a Picture Book’ on June 26th at 9:45am, at the New West Public Library:
Did you know that you can do more than just read a picture book? Liz, the Children’s Librarian will show us many different ways to use a picture book with our children.
We will meet in the Children’s Department.
Children are welcome to attend, and each child who attends will receive a very nice new book to keep.
This event is part of our Summer Reading Flash Mobs – we will be holding reading events at local parks this summer, and giving away brand new children’s books, but they are flash mobs. That means that the schedule will not be announced in advance. So, if you see a banner with the Literacy New West logo at a park this summer, come over and join us.
More info about Literacy New West:
Uncover Your Creeks: Citizen Science June 16th
New Westminster Parks, Culture and Recreation and Evergreen (www.evergreen.ca) have partnered to offer a two-year Parks Stewardship Program: “Uncover Your Creeks: Citizen Science” in Lower Hume Park
• Learn about local ecology
• Help manage invasive plants
• Plant native plants
• Monitor water quality in the Brunette River
Official Program Launch – Sunday, June 16th
Monthly citizen science training and activities will be offered on the third Sunday of each month. Please check the City of New Westminster Events Calendar, at www.newwestcity.ca
When: Inaugural event, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Future monthly events, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.
Where: Meet at Lower Hume Park Picnic Shelter
New Westminster (Columbia Street & East of Holmes Street)
Who: All ages
REGISTRATION:
This is a free event. For more information or to register, please contact Sharon Johal at sjohal@evergreen.ca or 604.689.0766 ext. 226
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Brunette River watershed is shared between the municipalities of Burnaby, Vancouver, Coquitlam, New Westminster and Port Moody. The watershed is 80% urbanized and is home to 175,000 people. In much of the 20% of the watershed that is made of up of green space, invasive plants are a threat to the urban ecology and biodiversity that support native plant and animal species.
Through “Uncover Your Creeks: Citizen Science”, the urban ecosystem will be rehabilitated by removing invasive plant species such as Blackberry, Ivy and Lamium and planting native species such as Salmonberry and Red-Osier Dogwood.
CONTACTS:
Jennifer Lukianchuk jlukianchuk@newwestcity.ca
Dana McDonald dmcdonald@evergreen.ca
Top 5 free things to do with your kids in New West this summer
By Linda M. Tobias
1. Visit a park
New West has some of the best playgrounds in the Lower Mainland, many of which have spray parks or wading pools and Playground Leaders who add to the fun. Queen’s Park even features a petting farm! (Admission is free; donations are welcome.)
While at your local park, grab some friends, or make new ones, and play a game of hide-and-seek, hopscotch or kick-the-can. Your kids (and you!) can roll down the hills, climb a tree or go on an expedition to find squirrels and other creatures. It’s easy to stay active in the summer!
2. Explore a museum
Many of New Westminster’s museums are kid-friendly and by donation. Travel back in time at Irving House and then visit the museum next door. Go aboard the Samson V, the last floating sternwheeler in North America. Or, stop by the lobby of the New Westminster Police Department (555 Columbia Street) to check out their displays, including the old-time jail and 1958 Harley Davidson motorcycle. The Fraser River Discovery Centre is also one to consider (though it does list suggested amounts for “admission by donation.”)
3. Attend a community event
In New West, there’s something going on all summer long! Here are just a few of the highlights:
- June 9 is the Sapperton Day Street Festival.
- The 12th Street Music Festival is on August 5.
- Pride Week is August 16-19.
- Every Thursday, the Royal City Farmers Market features free activities for kids and live entertainment.
- Every Friday evening, July 12 –August 30, attend a free screening of a family movie at Queen’s Park Stadium (check page 80 of the Active Living Guide)
4. Hang out by the water
You can head to the beach at Port Royal, or go for a bike ride along the Quayside boardwalk, which connects two playgrounds (Quayside and Pier Park.) And, don’t forget, New Westminster’s outdoor pools are free on the weekends!
5. Take advantage of the library
Let’s face it; New West is going to see some rain this summer. And there’s no better place to spend a rainy day than the New Westminster Public Library. There are books aplenty, of course, but you can also rent DVDs, comics and puzzles, and get free access to the Internet. You can also join the Summer Reading Club and keep an eye out for free activities and events thoughout the summer.
For details on these activities and many, many others, check out the popular 2013 Kids New West Summer Activity Guide! Now available through schools, recreations centres, the library and family programs. Don’t miss it!
KNW Visioning Process: Request for Proposals
Kids New West Visioning Process: Request for Proposals
The Kids New West Child Development Committee requests proposals for a consultant to develop a vision for the new Kids New West Committee that encompasses children aged 0-12. This process will unite the work of the previous Early Childhood and Middle Childhood Development Committees. It will be used to establish a framework for strategic plans over the next several years. Detailed Request for Proposals: Consultant to Conduct Kids New West Visioning Process
All proposals must be submitted by 4:30 pm on June 27, 2013.
Send proposals to: Marjorie Staal
New Westminster Family Place
Suite # 101 – 93 Sixth Street,
New Westminster, BC V3L 2Z8
marjorie@nwfamily.bc.ca
Queensborough Community Centre Celebrates June 7th
Queensborough is celebrating the opening of their newly renovated community centre, New Westminster’s first Neighborhood Hub. Please join them this Friday June 7th for a cocktail reception, or on July 6th for a fun family event! Details: QBCelebrations
HELP’s Fall Research Exposition Oct 21st
HELP Announces 2013 Fall Expo
SAVE THE DATE! October 21st, 2013 has been set for our Annual Fall Research Exposition. This full day event will take place at UBC Robson Square in Vancouver.
This year, we will present new research findings that have furthered our understanding of factors that can support and enhance the well-being of children in BC: from policy environments, to communities, to families. This theme was central to Clyde Hertzman’s vision and research. This full day event will include several keynote presentations, and hands-on workshops with researchers that will deepen your understanding of important topics. Please join us as we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of HELP’s Aboriginal Steering Committee.
On-line registration will open in late summer 2013.