The holiday season is set to be filled with festive activities in Longueuil, Trois-Rivières, Chevaigné-du-Maine, Galesburg, Gananoque, Barrie, Okotoks, London, Kingston, and Mac Johnson Wildlife Area. In Longueuil, the Christmas Market & Traditions will open on November 24th and welcome approximately 45,000 visitors over four weekends until December 17th. The market will feature 110 artisans spread between the main market at St. Mark Park and the smaller market at the Saint-Charles Community Hall. Each weekend, there will be activities such as visits from Santa Claus, stilt walkers, and mischievous elves. Additionally, a winter square with bonfires, games, and photo booths will be set up in the parking lot of the Maison de la culture. Visitors can also enjoy exhibitions, traditional activities, and games. Dance and singing performances, conferences, demonstrations, and interactive workshops will take place at St. Mark's Church. The churros kiosk will be relocated near the Maison de la culture.
Meanwhile, in Trois-Rivières, the city will be hosting a Christmas train as part of its holiday season celebrations. The train, fully decorated and illuminated, will depart from the port. Families can enjoy various activities, including inflatables, a lumberjack academy, and winter sports initiation. Workshops will also be available for participants to decorate cookies, stockings, and Christmas ornaments. The event will take place on December 2nd from 1pm to 8pm and on December 3rd from 11am to 5pm. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus at the Maritime Station and take photos with him. There will also be a temporary boutique offering unique local gifts. The city is even holding a contest for the best Christmas storefront, with the public invited to vote for their favorite on social media.
In Chevaigné-du-Maine, a village in Nord-Mayenne, the first Christmas market of the department took place on November 19th. The event was organized by the association Chevaigné Animation and aimed to raise funds. Despite the early date, the market was well attended and featured Christmas music, British treats, and workshops. The market served as a way to reduce expenses for the association and was deemed successful.
In Galesburg, the holiday season is also filled with activities. Visitors can enjoy Swedish folk characters, traditional decorations, craft activities, and Christmas gifts for sale. There will also be a working model railroad and a Christmas display at the Steeple Building Museum. Additionally, there will be Merry Markets featuring local artists, live music, and holiday treats. The library will host a special presentation of the movie Boxcar People, with the producers speaking before the film.
In Gananoque, the Thousand Islands Boat Museum hosted its eighth annual Family Day on the waterfront celebrations on February 19th. Activities included a take-home mini-boat craft competition, horse-drawn wagon rides along the waterfront, a meet and greet with Elsa from Frozen at the Thousand Islands History Museum, and face painting. The event took place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Town of Gananoque and the Thousand Islands History Museum participated in the event.
In Barrie, the Family Day Winter Adventure event has started. The event offers various winter activities for families to enjoy, such as ice skating, snowshoeing, and tobogganing. It is organized by the city of Barrie and includes live music, food vendors, and a fireworks display. The event aims to provide a fun and enjoyable experience for families during the winter season. The event started on Family Day, which is observed on the third Monday in February. The event is expected to attract a large number of participants and contribute to the local economy.
In the Okotoks area, there are also plenty of free activities available for Family Day. Families can enjoy various events and attractions, including outdoor activities, arts and culture events, and local attractions. Family Day is a statutory holiday in Alberta and is observed on the third Monday in February. These activities are free and accessible to all families in the Okotoks area.
In London, families enjoyed a solid Family Day with beautifully clear skies and daytime temperatures just above freezing. Activities included sledding at Thames Valley Golf Course, tobogganing, and visiting Boler Mountain. Families from London and nearby Paris brought a combined nine people to Boler Mountain, while others enjoyed sledding at Thames Valley Golf Course. The day was filled with fun and laughter as families spent quality time together.
In Kingston, families flocked to the downtown core to skate, eat, hang out, and catch a Frontenacs game as the city enjoyed Family Day.
The Mac Johnson Wildlife Area in Eastern Ontario held a Winter Family Fun Day on Family Day, February 19, 2024. The event, organized by the Friends of Mac Johnson Wildlife Area, featured various activities such as dog races, snowshoe obstacle courses, snow painting, building bird feeders, scavenger hunts, and geocaching. The event saw a large turnout, with many cars parked both on the lane into the area and on the main road. The highlight of the day was the sled dog races, which were a big draw for families. Cindy Merkley, a sled dog racer from Chesterville, has been participating in sled dog racing for 25 years and emphasized that it is a family affair. Other families, such as the Collard family, attended the event because their children were excited to see the sled dogs after reading the book 'Balto and the Great Race.' The event also featured a canteen serving chili, hotdogs, and warm drinks, as well as campfires where marshmallows were roasted. Overall, the event was a success, thanks to the excellent weather conditions and the added attraction of the huskies on Family Day.
The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and Caledonia Nordic Ski Club held their first Annual BC Family and Lheidli T’enneh Day at Otway. The event took place on Monday, February 19th, 2024. Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan expressed excitement about the partnership agreement between the two organizations. The Caledonia Nordic Ski Club presented the Lheidli T’enneh with a Respectful Acknowledgement pledge and received five Respectful Acknowledgement plaques to be displayed at Otway. The partnership is seen as a step towards reconciliation. Chief Logan hopes the partnership will encourage more youth to participate in outdoor sports and promote family-oriented activities. The Lheidli T’enneh will also be involved in the World Para Biathlon and Para Nordic events in March.
Today is Family Day in Canada, with various provinces celebrating Family Day, Louis Riel Day, and Nova Scotia Heritage Day. Some provinces have a civic holiday, while others do not. The author suggests alternative activities for spending time with family, such as walking the dogs, baking cookies, making a family theme song, going to a movie, having a big family dinner, making loving cards, ordering pizza and having a movie day at home, going through old family photo albums, making macaroni necklaces, and reading. The author also recommends making a big pot of chili and bringing it to someone who doesn't have family. The article concludes with a message to enjoy the day with family and mock each other.
The establishment of Family Day in Quebec has been a topic of debate. The article explores different perspectives on whether Quebec should have a Family Day holiday. The opinions of various individuals and groups are discussed, but no specific names, numbers, dates, or timelines are provided. The article raises questions about the potential benefits and drawbacks of introducing a Family Day holiday in Quebec, considering factors such as cultural differences, existing holidays, and the impact on businesses and workers. The debate reflects the ongoing discussions and considerations surrounding the recognition of Family Day in different regions of Canada.
The third annual Team Addy Family Fun Day will take place at Centre Wellington District High School on Saturday. The event, named after the late Addy Hill, raises awareness and funds for sarcoma cancer research. Addy Hill, an Elora resident, died from a rare sarcoma cancer at 14 years old in 2022. The event will feature sports, games, and food, including cotton candy, popcorn, and BBQ. It will also include a three vs. three basketball tournament and a shuttle bus service from the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex. The event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. [571b68ed]