momstown Kitchener-Waterloo: community events

Showing posts with label community events. Show all posts

Monday, December 3, 2012

Stitch n Kitsch Winter Sale This Saturday

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Support Right to Play Charity Day with FREE Sportplay

SPORTPLAY “RIGHT TO PLAY” CHARITY DAY – Pulling Together For Right To Play

Come and Play for “RIGHT TO PLAY” on Saturday December 15, 2012!

At Sportplay we believe all kids have a right to play. For this reason, Sportplay has become an official supporter of the amazing children’s charity Right To Play.

Sportplay is hosting a morning of free Multi-sport classes on Saturday December 15^th and we are inviting all current registrants, past registrants, their friends, and the public to come and play for Right to Play. There will be no charge for classes this day. Please see schedules below for locations and classes.

We will be accepting donations at each location, with all proceeds going to Right To Play. Our facilities are donating their space and our coaches are donating their time for this event. Any donation will be gratefully accepted. Every $50.00 we raise provides one child weekly programming for a year.

Coins, cash and cheques (payable to Right To Play) will be accepted on site and tax receipts will be issued by Right To Play for donations of $20 or more.

Waterloo - Northfield Drive West and Weber Street North
Day	Time	Age	Program	Program Date	Cost	Location
Sat	9:00-10:00	3-4	Multi-sport 1	December 15	Free	MLC
Sat	10:00-10:45	2-3	Tot & Parent	December 15	Free	MLC
Sat	10:45-11:30	2-3	Tot & Parent	December 15	Free	MLC
Sat	10:45-11:45	4-6	Multi-sport 2	December 15	Free	MLC
MLC - Messiah Lutheran Church, 700 Glen Forrest Blvd, Waterloo

Sportplay provides multi-sport programs for kids. Our programs develop the gross motor and athletic skills that will give children the confidence and skill to participate in sport and recreational activities for life.

For more information, see our website, www.sportplay.ca.

momstown KW's First Annual Toy Drive supports The Tree of Angels Campaign and The Salvation Army

There is nothing quite as exciting as watching your kids run up to the Christmas Tree on Christmas morning. You smile as they tear open the gifts with breathless anticipation in the hopes that what they asked for when they sat on Santa's lap are inside the packages. The rest of Christmas morning is spent listening to laughter as your kids play with all the amazing gifts they found under the Tree.

Now imagine that there is nothing under the Tree on Christmas morning and that your kids spend Christmas morning wishing that Santa had stopped at their house. This scenario is a reality for hundreds of families in the Tri-City area which is why momstown KW is getting ready for its first annual toy drive!

This year we will be collecting toys for the Tree of Angels at Conestoga Mall in support of the Salvation Army.

Starting December 1st until December 21st, you can drop off any new unwrapped toy at any of our calendar events and help a needy child in our community have Christmas full of love and laughter. If you don't have time to shop around, we would be happy to accept cash donations and do the shopping for you.

Let's help our community and teach our children what the meaning of Christmas is all about!

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Take Time to Remember on November 11th – Local Waterloo Region Ceremonies & Ideas for Children

There are many local Remembrance Day ceremonies taking place across the Region tomorrow on Sunday November 11th. Please take time to remember this important day and those individuals who have dedicated their lives to military service and in some cases, made the ultimate sacrifice, to make Canada the wonderful free place that it is today. Most of these ceremonies include a parade of veterans where you and your children can show your respect by applauding to them on their way.

There are many other ways to get your child involved in Remembrance Day and I strongly encourage you to do so in whatever way is age appropriate. I had the pleasure of attending my children’s elementary school ceremony the other day and it was amazingly moving. They invited a young soldier who has finished two tours of Afghanistan and had lost close friends. He spoke about the dangers of war and impressed upon the children that war is nothing like the video games they play or the movies they see. He let them know that war is not good but that it is necessary to help others who can’t fight for their own freedom like the little girls in Afghanistan he spoke of. He made being a soldier very real and it had the kids full attention. This school ceremony delivered important, powerful messages in simple ways and included a bagpiper, the playing of taps, the singing of Let There Be Peace on Earth and the reciting of Flanders Fields. The children understood and I was very impressed.

There are other simple ways to share the messages of Remembrance Day.

Wear a poppy and talk about it’s importance
Print out some Remembrance Day colouring pages.
Write a letter, postcard or greeting card to our troops. This address will get to troops in Afghanistan

Any Canadian Forces Member
Op Athena
PO Box 5058 Stn Forces
Belleville ON K8N 5W6

Post a message on this online bulletin board for our troops. Let the kids use their own words and just say thank you.

LOCAL CEREMONIES

• Kitchener

Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies branch 50: ceremony at the Kitchener cenotaph, at the corner of Frederick and Duke streets downtown, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Area streets will be closed for the duration of the ceremony. (Rogers TV will be covering the parade).

• Waterloo

Royal Canadian Legion branch 530: parade leaves legion hall 10 a.m., marches along Regina Street 10 a.m., and marches to the Waterloo cenotaph at city hall for a 10:15 a.m. ceremony.

CAMBRIDGE

• Cambridge (Galt) — Royal Canadian Legion branch 121: parade marches away at 9:45 a.m. from legion, 4 Veteran’s Way. Services start 10:30 at Galt cenotaph on Queen’s Square.

• Cambridge (Hespeler) — Royal Canadian Legion branch 272: service begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Tannery and Queen street cenotaph; reception follows at the Schofield Street legion hall

• Cambridge (Preston) — Royal Canadian Legion branch 126: parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the legion hall at Westminster Drive and Margaret Street, and will continue down Westminster Drive to King Street and Argyle Street to the cenotaph. The parade will return along Argyle Street to Duke Street to Westminster Drive.

• Wilmot Township (New Hamburg) — Royal Canadian Legion branch 532: parade forms at 1:30 p.m. at Mark Jutzi Funeral Home, 291 Huron St., with a 2 p.m. service at the New Hamburg Arena, on Boullie Street.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

by Lieutenant Colone John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

Thanks to Guest Blogger Bargain Hunting Momma for compiling all this great information to help us remember and reflect.

Tell Us - Stork or Birth? WIN Your Tickets to the Stork and Stroller Show

Do you want to WIN tickets to the annual Stork and Stroller Show taking place Sunday November 18th at Bingeman's? We hope so, because momstown KW and momstown Guelph are sponsoring the shows' Children's Play Area! (Don't forget to stop by and say hi to us.)

Now let's talk about the myth of the Stork and how it relates to babies for a moment...

As described on tvtropes.com, "The tradition apparently started in Victorian England. The White Stork was considered a symbol of happiness, fertility, and prosperity. Storks were known to nest on chimney tops in England, so the mythology of storks dropping baby humans down the chimney was made quite quickly. (It must also be mentioned that the surgical masks worn by early gynocologists gave them a vaguely storklike face.)

The myth has mostly died down, but the symbology of storks and babies has persisted to this day, where the image of a stork with a bundled baby hanging from its beak is still a symbol of pregnancy, childbirth, and babies."

We all know that moms love to tell their birth story that divulge the challenges, pain, struggles and triumphs they endured to bring their little bundle into the world right? Well we want you to get honest. We want to know if you are thrilled about being able to physically birth your baby or would you have been just as happy to have the Stork bring it? Its okay to be honest :)

Birth or Stork? Tell us below and we will randomly pick 2 sets of winners from all your responses.

(Be sure to leave us your email so that we can contact you)

(photo credit tvtropes)

Thursday, November 8, 2012

The Stork and Stroller Show - November 18th, 2012

Let’s face it, babies don’t come with owner’s manuals - we know that parents need to do their own research to figure out what’s best to raise their children. That’s why we’ve created The Stork and Stroller Show specifically for the parents and parents to be the Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph areas. The second annual show is bringing together over 60+ local and national suppliers, providing parents with the opportunity to buy, try and test all of the products and services needed from prenatal to preschool.

The show will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 18, 2012 and will feature a full day of information sessions on relevant baby topics on our entertainment stage. We will also host a children’s play area and a ‘Diaper Derby’ where crawlers can compete to win a toy gift prize valued at over $250!

This year, The Stork and Stroller Show will be in support of KidsAbility, an amazing organization that provides rehabilitation services for children residing in the Waterloo and Guelph-Wellington Region, serving children from birth to 18 years of age with a wide range of special needs. We are very excited to be able to help this organization by donating partial proceeds of the show!

Many local companies have joined forces to help welcome this market, there will be a diaper changing station provided by Diapers n’ More, a comfortable breastfeeding area provided by Knowledge First Financial, a play area sponsored by momstown and our entertainment provided by Diaper Days. 91.5 The Beat radio will also be live at the show and there will be a wealth of grand prizes up for grabs as well as numerous samples and giveaways. It’s definitely a show you won’t want to miss!

The Stork and Stroller Show – all things prenatal to preschool. More information can be found at www.storkandstroller.com

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Swimming is a Sport with Numerous Benefits that Last a Lifetime.

Invest in your children…give them the gift of swimming.

Swimming is a sport with numerous benefits that last a lifetime.

HEALTHY ACTIVITY

Swimming provides a total body, low impact, high resistance workout that once learned, children will keep with them for life. Everybody from one to 100 years of age can enjoy all the health benefits of a good swim.

RECREATIONAL

Besides being a great physical workout, swimming is also a wonderful recreational activity. Swimming provides hours of fun in family pools, water-parks and lakes, with friends and family.

SAFETY

The most important benefit of swimming is learning lifesaving skills. In Canada, drowning is the number one cause of unintentional injury deaths among children one to four years of age and the second leading cause of preventable death for children under 10 years. (http://www.lifesavingsociety.com/who’s-drowning.aspx)

By enrolling your child in swim lessons, you will be arming them with essential tools that could potentially save your child’s life.

The City of Waterloo Swimplex is a great place for all your family members to learn to swim and enjoy all the wonderful benefits swimming has to offer.

Experience the joy of water together with your child (3 months to 5 years) in parent and tot classes.

Increase your children’s safety skills and confidence by enrolling them in one of many Learn to Swim classes.

Enjoy the water together as a family with drop-in programs like Family Swim and Kidsplash.

Moms and dads can also benefit from a water workout with Waterfit classes like Pre and Post Natal classes (pre-registration required), AquaZumba, Kick-boxing, Run Fit and Boot Camp classes. These are great group exercise classes that are easy on the joints, yet provide a high resistance workout! Most classes are available on a drop-in basis. Visit www.waterloo.ca/swim for more information.

Registration opens for all City of Waterloo aquatic programs on September 5, 2012. Register online or in person at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex (101 Father David Bauer Drive), RIM Park (2001 University Ave East), or Albert McCormick Community Centre (500 Parkside Drive).

To view all City of Waterloo aquatic programs and swim schedules visit www.waterloo.ca/programguide.

Monday, August 27, 2012

momstown Supports The Telling Tales Festival at Westfeild Heritage Village

Mark the Date: Sunday, September 16th, 2012 for the Telling Tales Festival!

As you pass through the Westfield Heritage Village "Gates of Time", you will be delighted to discover a world that existed before the internet and video/computer games… Here life can be simple, and stories come alive! Storytellers will hold crowds spellbound in the Native Village.

Preschoolers especially will find a world of things to do in our Large Meadow: Musicians, puppet shows, “learning through play”, crafts and much more. Plan to visit the Telling Tales Giant Book Swap and Shop Tent, a place to bring your slightly worn children's books, donate them to literacy and, if you choose, purchase second hand titles for just loonies and toonies.

Find out more information here: www.TellingTales.org

PLUS! don't forget to like them on Facebook to participate in contests happening from now until the Festival

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Our Big Birthday Bash Fisher Price Play Zone!

A Sneak Peek at our Fisher Price Play Zone for the Birthday Bash!

The Discover n' Grow Jumperoo

Laugh & Learn Musical Table

The Stand Up Ballcano

Laugh & Learn Dance & Play Puppy

Little People Surprise Sounds Fun Park

The Great Quarry Climb

Imaginext Samurai Castle

Jake and the Neverland Pirates Pirate Ship Bucky

PLAY & WIN!

Come to our Big Birthday Bash on Sunday August 12th at McLennan Park in Kitchener and play in the Fisher Price Play Zone!

Let your child play, discover, and enjoy the toys.... and then we are giving them all away!

That's right, you can win one of these great toys at our Birthday Bash!

Head over to our Facebook Fan Event Page and RSVP today! And be sure to register at our Welcome Centre to fill out your ballot to win!

Friday, June 29, 2012

momstown KW Celebrates 5th Birthday with a Big Bash!

momstown.ca turns 5 this year and just like any 5 year old, we want to party, in a BIG WAY!

FREE FAMILY FUN!
Sunday August 12th, McLennan Park Kitchener. 10am-1pm

FREE Photos with Clifford provided by Close Your Eyes Photography
The Birthday Bash Bounce and Ocean Playland Bouncy Castles from Grand River Inflatables
Sweets Table & Cupcakes from Candy Coated
Fun Face Painting with Bre Creative (Our Art and Music Pillar Sponsor!)
Building Blocks with Sunlife Financial, Theresa Devine
Baby Food Making and Tips with Wildberry Nutrition (Our Nutrition Pillar Sponsor!)
Family Photo Booth with Hulahoop Photography
Play Zone with Fisher Price
Bubble Time with the University of Waterloo, Lab for Infant Development and Language
First Aid Hydration Station available from Playing it Safe
Dress-Up Tea Party with Cupcakes and Cowboys (Our Play and Social Pillar Sponsor!)
Dance Party with Oh Baby Fitness (Our Fitness and Adventure Pillar Sponsor!)
Play Doctor with Sage Naturopathic (Our Science and Discovery Pillar Sponsor!)
Reading Corner with Chapters Waterloo (Our Literacy Pillar Sponsor!)
Music and Movement with Kindermusik
Baby Care Centre with The Nesting Instinct
Sports Zone with Sportplay
Water Play and Wonder with Norwex
"Nate on the Road" and Family Vehicles with Bennett GM
Picasso's in the Park with momstown KW
"Me Time" Mojo with Melitta
Yummy Pudding Snacks from ConAgra Foods
100 Loaded Loot Bags to the first 100 Families from Today's Parent
Plus Prizes from all these sponsors, plus our National Sponsors too!

How is that for a BIG BIRTHDAY BASH filled with FREE FAMILY FUN?

***RSVP on our Facebook event page too so you can stay up-to-date with all the latest sponsors, details, and surprises.

WIN:

A Britax Cowmooflage Stroller
more Britax accesories
Clifford Prize Pack
A Thyme Maternity Gift Card (x 2)
8 Fisher Price Toys!
A Gift Certicificate for First Aid Training for 2
A Radio Flyer Ride-On Toy
$100 Photo Session Gift Certificate
Chapters Gift Cards (x2)
A gift certificate for 2 dz cupcakes or cakepops...... and more!

Our National Sponsors are helping to make this a Bash as well:

Check out all the fun we had last year!

Share the date - there's a momstown party happening near your friends too - and you don't want them to miss out!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Celebrate Being Canadian in Waterloo Region! Your Guide to 2012 Fireworks & Festivities!

A guest blog post from Bargain Hunting Momma

Happy Canada Day! We are so fortunate to live in such a wonderful area with many fun and fabulous (and lots are FREE) events to enjoy Canada Day with our families. Whatever you do, take some time kick back this weekend & enjoy being Canadian. We are so blessed in this country so show your pride and scream it from the roof tops, wear red and white, wear silly hats, paint your face, wave your flags and show your pride. YOU ARE CANADIAN!!!!

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Canada Day Festivities Around Waterloo Region

As Canaada celebrates its birthday on Sunday, we are lucky to have lots of amazing choices of how to celebrate the day with our families!

DOWNTOWN KITCHENER CELEBRATIONS & FIREWORKS

Civic Square Sunday July 1st

6:30 – 11 pm Beer Garden, live music featuring The Trews!

10:30 pm – Fireworks Display

Free outdoor all ages event! The downtown Kitchener BIA has partnered with the City to host an “Urban Canada Day” in front of city hall starting at 6 p.m., with live music by The Trews and other local artists. Fireworks will be launched off city hall at 10:30 p.m.

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UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO CELEBRATIONS

2pm – 10 pm Enjoy loads of fun with student-led festivities at the Columbia Lake fields off Columbia Street West in Waterloo beginning at 2 p.m. and running all day. Tons of live music, arts and crafts and children’s games & events. Admission is free, and parking is free in university lots.

10pm Fireworks Display (usually about 18 minutes long!)

RIVERSIDE PARK – CAMBRIDGE

8 am – The fun begins early with the annual fishing derby and goes all day - music, a fishing derby, beer garden, petting zoo and a midway.

1pm – Canada Day Parade! One of the only ones in the area, begins at King and Bishop streets and runs along King Street to the park. *(The Cambridge parade will be aired by Rogers TV at 6 p.m. on Sunday and 3 p.m. on Monday.)

9:30 pm Fireworks Display – Brilliant flashes will light up Cambridge’s Riverside Park

http://www.cambridgecanadaday.ca/

RIVERSIDE PARK – GUELPH

Celebrate Canada Day at Riverside Park, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Guelph. The event runs from 11am-10pm, with fireworks starting at 9:50pm. Live bands all day – including the Royal City Big Band and the Overtones!
Canada Day activities include a petting zoo, duck races, children’s play zone, the Mid-way, pony rides, and inflatable bouncing games! Suggested Donation: $2 per person or $5 per family

Click here for more info..

SCOTT”S PARK – NEW HAMBURG

• Scott’s Park – New Hamburg (off Hunter Street)

10 am the fun starts – Celebrating 30 years of Canada Day festivities at Scott Park. Events include a car show, live entertainment, children’s games & activities, cake and a rubber duck race.

Dusk - Fireworks at dusk conclude a day filled with events.

Organizers advise visitors to park on nearby streets, as there’s no parking in Scott Park.

ELMIRA

Gore Park in Elmira will have live music and activities starting at 4 p.m. with official Canada Day ceremonies and a cake-cutting taking place at 6 p.m.

SPORTSWORLD CROSSING KITCHENER

SATURDAY JULY 30th – 10:30 am – 8pm Activities & Fireworks & Outdoor Movie at dusk

JULY 1st Canada Day – Activities continue! 10:30 am – 5 pm

Over 100 Firefighters from across Canada will compete in the Scott FireFit Championships. Cheer on our local Firefigthers and join in all of the fun. Opening Ceremonies on Saturday at 10 am Lots of activities for the kids on Saturday from 10:30 am to 8 pm and Sunday 10:30 am to 5 pm. FREE Family Movie Night and Fireworks on Saturday June 30 at dusk - Featuring entertainment by Dave FM, along with midway rides and buskers. Bring your own lawn chairs! (Sportsowrld Crossing Stores will be closed on Monday July 2 to celebrate Canada Day.)

Where are the Fireworks?

* Saturday June 30th at Dusk - Sportsworld Crossing

* Sunday July 1st, Canada Day:

• Columbia Lake, Waterloo at 10 p.m.

• Kitchener City Hall at 10:30 p.m.

• Riverside Park, Cambridge at 9:45 p.m.

• Scott Park, New Hamburg at 9:45 p.m.

What You Need to Know About Setting Off Your Own Fireworks

If you choose to light fireworks at home, Waterloo Fire Rescue says that

- a responsible adult should be in charge

- children should be closely supervised if they’re handling sparklers.

- Always read and carefully follow the directions on fireworks packaging

- keep a water hose or pail of water nearby when discharging them.

What’s Open – What’s Closed on Canada Day

• Grand River Transit runs on a Sunday schedule (not all routes have Sunday service)

• Many attractions are open, including The Museum, Joseph Schneider Haus, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, McDougall Cottage, Woodside National Historic Site, Waterloo Region Museum, Bingemans and the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory

• LCBO and Beer stores are closed

• All library branches are closed

Thanks to Bargain Hunting Momma for guest blogging for us and sharing all these family events! Check her blog out for more family fun & living life on less.

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